*PET/CT scan on April 9th to find out if the tumor is gone. Stem cell transplant starts ~end of April. Should be at WPT and WSOP circuits at Bilogio/Ceasers from April 12th-April 19th.*

April 2009

Going to sum up the last couple months. This years chemo has been completely different than last years. Here were some of the more challenging experiences I've had to deal with THIS time around.

I didnt lose my sight this year, instead it was my hearing. This was more annoying than anything. I really stopped noticing it until I would go out in public. Every noise was very muffled, even the sound of my own voice. I still only have about 50% of my hearing, and it should return after the transplant(i apparently will have the mother of all chemos during the transplant...bring it).

The sysplatnom(sp) made me vomit in ways I never thought possible. However after only 3 days from the end of the drip it would slow down. During the first chemo of this stuff, I threw up in the hospital every 30 minutes, for about 36 hours. This was by far the most rediculous experience of the year. Mentally I had reactions to this as well. I can't even turn on certain tv programs, or play any video games (g-bye fableII, and i was 95% through the freaking game) because of the association I have during that experience. So although I feel "tougher" because I got through it, it was a very scary experience and has had mental affects (effects? ftw) on me.

The Rituxan once again had it toll. For 1-2 weeks after each bag I am very on edge, very shaky, and will have insomnia for a few days. Gladly if all plays out, I will could never again receive this ever again.

Besides all that, nothing spectacular. I am very weak most days and unable to work, but when I do get those few days that Im near 100%, I put in my usual 12-16 hours behind the chair and do everything I can to help Jen catch up with the work. After this summer when I get into remission, I will be spending most my time focusing on my new companies which I am setting in motion as we speak. I'm taking my earnings from last years poker to invest in a couple more ways to make income, as my current company only as about a 2 year life span before I have to execute it. If I save properly in the next two years, I should be able to live off of what I am currently making for a solid decade, but I have no plans on sitting back and relaxing. Being a sole proprietor is amazingly fun, and very hard. Yet I seem to love every day of my work. If all plays out ( and it rarely does not in this facet of life (because i never bust) ) I should be able to be back on tour full in January 2010.

Feb 2009

The chemo from 3 weeks ago put me in the ground. I lost most my hearing for a solid 2 weeks, and recovered most of it (80%ish) as of now. This will get worse as I take on the next 2 final chemos. I go in tomorrow for round 2 and will be in for 4-6 days straight. I have a good 50 hours of total chemo during the next 5 days. From my understanding this is some of if not the most brutal type of chemo to endur, as stage 4 treatment usually is apparently. I had a lot of energy after a week or so of the first round, but was very sick throughout the whole last 3 weeks. So needless to say, Im not exactly looking forward to the next couple months.

I was going to take a cruise 2 weeks ago with Disney, but 2 days before the trip I got my bloodwork done and was nutrapenic (I had a few hundred total white blood cells left) and I had a 35 platlet count. Basically that means a simple cut anywhere would of killed me. I was bleeding from my nose and if the count would of fallen to below 20 I would of started to internally bleed in my organs. So I obv. had to cancel the trip and I received Nupagin(sp) shots in the arm to help my counts go back up. I was lucky to get through that week with little to no problems.

Poker Update - Ive spent the last few weeks doing Heads Up play. I went 12-2 in FTOPS $500 and $250 NLH and PLO tourney play and placed both. Then I turned to $130-$230 Heads Up Pot Limit Omaha SitnGos and so far Ive recorded a 23-12 day and a 13-7 day giving me a solid 25% ROI during this run. During hot streaks ive gone 8 straight with a 14-2 run and a 23-5 run which gives me a lot of hope that I can really excel in this part of the poker world. most the players I am playing are solid winning pros, and this is basically the highest level of such play in Omaha (as far as HU SNGS go). So I will keep my attn towards these when I am healthy for the time being.

December 29th, 2008 PetScan update

 In a sad turn of events, the Petscan which was thought to show that I was in remission, showed that there is (almost positively) a new tumor now growing inside a bone in my lower spine. An MRI and a biopsy are upcoming, and will be followed by chemo and a bone marrow transplant. I feel 100% fine, with just a small pinch in my lower back. Besides that I feel wonderful physically. However this spreading to my bone means that it is now Stage 4 Non Hodgkins Lymphoma which has a 26% cure rate after treatment.

 I have not been updating this site as I would have hoped. But for now I will keep updates on this new cancer. Thanks to the dozens who have written on facebook or have emailed me with your prayers. I am at peace with my situation and will never for one second question why it is happening. God is in control and He alone has the choice on this outcome. Whatever He decides I shall accept fully and know that His plan is much greater than mine. My faith is stronger than ever and will remain that way to the end.

 I have played only 3 poker sessions since December 1st, and put in 10 total hours of online play, mostly $10no limit - $25 $50 no limit on stars, and am up a solid amount in very little time, so I will gladly keep poker to a minimum.

 January 2008

January 25th 2008I was diagnosed with Non-Hoskins Lymphoma. I plan on finishing this site and posting my recent results as soon as things settle down. I finished 5 months of chemo , 2 months of radiation and multiple surgeries and biopsies. Soon I find out if I will need more radiation or a bone marrow transplant. Thank you for your prayers.

 Sept. 2008 - PET-scan shows that the old cancer seems to be gone. However a new lymph below my diaphragm is now showing new growth. I see my main doctor next week to see how we are to take care of this new cancer. The most likely scenario is radiation as they have not radiated that part of my body before, and it should take care of the bad cells fairly easily. If this plays out the way we hope, then I will possibly not have to endure a bone marrow transplant at this time, and will be able to get ready for the Christmas rush that will keep me working 70 hours a week until February. This is a blessing as I would have to hire 3-5 more employees if I was in a hospital for 8 weeks. I will also be continuing to go on tour every few weeks as I have been doing whenever possible this year.

January 25th 2008 - Finding out I had cancer

February 2008 - Biopsy;Surgury;First Chemo

April 23rd - 1-2 days away from being able to work/poker.


Finally after a full week I am starting to regain my brain back. Physically I can still barely move around the house still but I am at least able to hold a conversation again. I believe tomorrow I will do a 4 tourney session for around $500(.8% BR)  buyins. Keep it simple and be smart about it for now. My only fear is that it will take most of the 21 days for me to get back to 100% and I will be restarting the whole process way to soon. But today I made plans to out to lunch with my good friends and my wife(designated driver obv) so I am extremely excited. I am still FAR from trusting myself to drive myself around however. My poor 68 still sits in the garage begging for attention.


Interesting side affects from this last round of chemo.

- partial blindness - losing most my lashes. Long story short, most the day I struggle to see clearly, and my eyes are glued shut after every nap.

- body shut down - basically for a solid 7 days I have gone from a 18 hour a day worker to someone who cant move for days on end. Stairing at walls is not a very form of entertainment.

- shakes/ heart rate - I attempted a small cash session briefly , and also attempted to play a PC game; both were simply too much to handle (sounds so odd to say) and I had to disipline myself to not work, or play cards, and very little games during the last week as any ammount of activity meant weird shaking in my hands and my heart pounding through my chest. ...so i rented Muppets take Manhattan. was a perfect pace. lol