Shipmates:
Thought I would post an item just before the holidays kick right into gear to wish you ALL a Happy Holiday Season & a Happier New Year! My wife, Demetria, and I thank all our friends, family, and shipmates on their support, good wishes, and prayers that will be hold for us at masses all over the world on Christmas Day. How you can you not be a happy-camper hearing all of that.
Nothing to be concerned with the melanoma cancer until our next Brain MRI appointment on 7 January..... so we can simply enjoy the holidays, and hope the same for all of you.
Many best wishes and regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski & Demetria Zwierzynski
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Gamma Knife Treatment Completed
To all my shipmates:
A good day this morning recuperating at home for a couple of days. Feeling tired but the treatment with the Gamma Knife at a local civilian hospital to kick those 7 lesions out of my brain went very, very well yesterday. An interesting machine that has a wonderful 90-95% success rate, and we will find out results with another Brain MRI in about a month. All in all, shipmates, this week is going very well.
Now..... since I probably will not have any radiation or chemotherapy treatments for about a month.... time to enjoy the holidays with family, friends, and shipmates! And not have to think about cancer for 30 days. Back to work on Thursday and boy, is that ever great therapy for me as well. We have a SUPERB group of sailors constructing the PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) here in Newsport News, VA.... and if you are looking for orders, you cannot find a better carrier out there, my friends. Contact your rating's detailer to release you to the PCU Detailers if interested. You will not regret it.
Have a great Navy Day and a wonderful holiday season -
SKCS Charles Zwierzynski
A good day this morning recuperating at home for a couple of days. Feeling tired but the treatment with the Gamma Knife at a local civilian hospital to kick those 7 lesions out of my brain went very, very well yesterday. An interesting machine that has a wonderful 90-95% success rate, and we will find out results with another Brain MRI in about a month. All in all, shipmates, this week is going very well.
Now..... since I probably will not have any radiation or chemotherapy treatments for about a month.... time to enjoy the holidays with family, friends, and shipmates! And not have to think about cancer for 30 days. Back to work on Thursday and boy, is that ever great therapy for me as well. We have a SUPERB group of sailors constructing the PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) here in Newsport News, VA.... and if you are looking for orders, you cannot find a better carrier out there, my friends. Contact your rating's detailer to release you to the PCU Detailers if interested. You will not regret it.
Have a great Navy Day and a wonderful holiday season -
SKCS Charles Zwierzynski
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Good, Bad News - Just One Day At A Time
Good morning shipmates!,
Going back to work aboard PCU George H.W. Bush CVN-77 tomorrow for the first time after 30 days CONV Leave following the IL-2 cancer treatment in early November. Feels like the first day of school -- but also, will be great to be amongst Navy sailors again. My billet replacement, an outstanding fellow Senior Chief, has reported and he is taking charge at the right time when you are growing, weekly, in a PCU environment. I will remain in a TAD role to support this superb group of SKs in the Supply Readiness divisions -- guess I am now that all-around billet assignment: Special Projects Officer. As long as I can be a part of this great ship under construction, that's all I need.
Now for an update on my cancer situation: the IL-2 cancer treatment was a partial eesponse ....not as good as the doctors wanted. Although it knocked some of the spreading back, shrunk or disappeared on the small lesions, 1 has doubled in size on my brain and 1 has doubled in size on my liver. Demetria and I, when we learned this last Thursday, are doing exactly what we've done since Octoberr 2006 -- cry, support, call some of the family, give loads of hugs and say: O.K. -- what's the next option? As Demetria ALWAYS says: One day at a time, my husband, this will not consume us on a daily basis. She is right.
So we have options. Going to a consultation appointment this afternoon to have the brain spot taken care of with a civilian system called the Gamma Knife machine. 90-90% success rate -- would love those odds on the number of my SKs that advance each exam cycle! And then we will work on a new chemo package on the liver at the end of the month.
We've had successes and we've had some disappointments. But I've been fighting this for 14 months now and as my Oncologist said last week: You're not giving up, Senior Chief, and neither am I. How can that not inspire you?
One last item, shipmates: Holiday season, but I sure do hope our First Class Petty Officers are making time for a study plan for the January 2008 CPO exam. I want to be here for ANOTHER CPO Transition Season next September! We trained some great Chiefs this past one and I want to do that again!
Have a great Navy day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Going back to work aboard PCU George H.W. Bush CVN-77 tomorrow for the first time after 30 days CONV Leave following the IL-2 cancer treatment in early November. Feels like the first day of school -- but also, will be great to be amongst Navy sailors again. My billet replacement, an outstanding fellow Senior Chief, has reported and he is taking charge at the right time when you are growing, weekly, in a PCU environment. I will remain in a TAD role to support this superb group of SKs in the Supply Readiness divisions -- guess I am now that all-around billet assignment: Special Projects Officer. As long as I can be a part of this great ship under construction, that's all I need.
Now for an update on my cancer situation: the IL-2 cancer treatment was a partial eesponse ....not as good as the doctors wanted. Although it knocked some of the spreading back, shrunk or disappeared on the small lesions, 1 has doubled in size on my brain and 1 has doubled in size on my liver. Demetria and I, when we learned this last Thursday, are doing exactly what we've done since Octoberr 2006 -- cry, support, call some of the family, give loads of hugs and say: O.K. -- what's the next option? As Demetria ALWAYS says: One day at a time, my husband, this will not consume us on a daily basis. She is right.
So we have options. Going to a consultation appointment this afternoon to have the brain spot taken care of with a civilian system called the Gamma Knife machine. 90-90% success rate -- would love those odds on the number of my SKs that advance each exam cycle! And then we will work on a new chemo package on the liver at the end of the month.
We've had successes and we've had some disappointments. But I've been fighting this for 14 months now and as my Oncologist said last week: You're not giving up, Senior Chief, and neither am I. How can that not inspire you?
One last item, shipmates: Holiday season, but I sure do hope our First Class Petty Officers are making time for a study plan for the January 2008 CPO exam. I want to be here for ANOTHER CPO Transition Season next September! We trained some great Chiefs this past one and I want to do that again!
Have a great Navy day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
It's A Truism: Chiefs Train Their Replacements
Good Morning, shipmates!:
Recuperation from my very first round of IL-2 cancer treatments is going very, very well. Have appointment tomorrow to determine next steps and see if we will go for a second round. Not nervous actually....because of all the prayers and positive spirits that surround my family each and every day.
Now a quick comment on the title of this posting -- You bet! Chiefs train their replacements. And in the 5 weeks I have been away from my post as Supply Readiness LCPO onboard the PCU George H.W. Bush CVN-77 during treatments and CONV Leave, I cannot tell you how PROUD I am of the Supply Chiefs I work with and the Supply Petty Officers who have jumped right into the fray without Senior Chief Zwierzynski passing out schedules, advice, and just plain last-minute projects needing to be completed TODAY! They are what make that Supply Readiness department run....I just happen to be the Advisor / Consultant.
Which is what, when I return to the ship this Friday, will be my support role. My superb replacement has reported onboard, and my job will be as advisor and in supportive role, as any Senior Chief should be in this pre-construction enviroment. It's not easy, shipmates...but let me tell you, there is nothing more rewarding then assisting in constructing your own ship, and sailing it for the very first time.
That's my goal, too.
Regards and have a great Navy Day,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Recuperation from my very first round of IL-2 cancer treatments is going very, very well. Have appointment tomorrow to determine next steps and see if we will go for a second round. Not nervous actually....because of all the prayers and positive spirits that surround my family each and every day.
Now a quick comment on the title of this posting -- You bet! Chiefs train their replacements. And in the 5 weeks I have been away from my post as Supply Readiness LCPO onboard the PCU George H.W. Bush CVN-77 during treatments and CONV Leave, I cannot tell you how PROUD I am of the Supply Chiefs I work with and the Supply Petty Officers who have jumped right into the fray without Senior Chief Zwierzynski passing out schedules, advice, and just plain last-minute projects needing to be completed TODAY! They are what make that Supply Readiness department run....I just happen to be the Advisor / Consultant.
Which is what, when I return to the ship this Friday, will be my support role. My superb replacement has reported onboard, and my job will be as advisor and in supportive role, as any Senior Chief should be in this pre-construction enviroment. It's not easy, shipmates...but let me tell you, there is nothing more rewarding then assisting in constructing your own ship, and sailing it for the very first time.
That's my goal, too.
Regards and have a great Navy Day,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Monday, December 3, 2007
Recuperating Very Well
Morning Shipmates:
Has taken me a couple of weeks to post again to this Blog with some updates --- only because I was allowed to take my wonderful wife and I, after over 7 years of marriage, on a honeymoon to an all-inclusive resort spa in the Dominican Republic. Got back Saturday. Finally, and I know many husbands/wives understand this -- with deployments, work-ups, etc. over the years, we never had a chance to go on a Honeymooon. Worth every penny and am convinced this trip helped my recuperating from the IL-2 cancer treatments in early November. Now time to determine the next steps.
Schedule is a full-body PET Scan this morning (Monday) to check the results, sit down with the Oncologist on Thursday to go over the details and what we are going to do next. If first IL-2 round successful, we'll go for a second. I'll know, from this exteremly toxic treatment how the side effects will go this time, so my wife and I are ready.
Will be back at work onboard PCU George H.W. Bush this Friday with my shipmates....and I know that my fellow Chiefs, some of the greatest young Chiefs you will ever have the honor to work with/for, have taken care of business without me for 5 weeks. You should remember this: a Pre-Commissioning Unit environment is one of the most exciting, frustrating, overloading, and proud work you can ever accomplish in the Navy (this from a 21-year Senior Chief who has found that you learn even MORE than you ever have before in the SK rating). It is extremly satisfying though once you develop a GREAT team as new personnel check onboard.
So have a great Navy Day today.....will post more tomorrow on my thoughts and advice on developing a GREAT team in a PCU environment.
Many regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Has taken me a couple of weeks to post again to this Blog with some updates --- only because I was allowed to take my wonderful wife and I, after over 7 years of marriage, on a honeymoon to an all-inclusive resort spa in the Dominican Republic. Got back Saturday. Finally, and I know many husbands/wives understand this -- with deployments, work-ups, etc. over the years, we never had a chance to go on a Honeymooon. Worth every penny and am convinced this trip helped my recuperating from the IL-2 cancer treatments in early November. Now time to determine the next steps.
Schedule is a full-body PET Scan this morning (Monday) to check the results, sit down with the Oncologist on Thursday to go over the details and what we are going to do next. If first IL-2 round successful, we'll go for a second. I'll know, from this exteremly toxic treatment how the side effects will go this time, so my wife and I are ready.
Will be back at work onboard PCU George H.W. Bush this Friday with my shipmates....and I know that my fellow Chiefs, some of the greatest young Chiefs you will ever have the honor to work with/for, have taken care of business without me for 5 weeks. You should remember this: a Pre-Commissioning Unit environment is one of the most exciting, frustrating, overloading, and proud work you can ever accomplish in the Navy (this from a 21-year Senior Chief who has found that you learn even MORE than you ever have before in the SK rating). It is extremly satisfying though once you develop a GREAT team as new personnel check onboard.
So have a great Navy Day today.....will post more tomorrow on my thoughts and advice on developing a GREAT team in a PCU environment.
Many regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Cards From Shipmates
One thing that never ceases to amaze me, as my wife and I live with the fact that I have "treatable" Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma Cancer, but not "curable".... is when the Navy family comes together when one of their own is hurting. I have received so many cards and emails from current -- and even shipmates from 15 years ago! -- of prayer and support, that I am simply overwhelmed.
I have to share one of the best I received today -- from a sailor who has been a part of the Navy Storekeeper.com web site since its inception in 2004. SK1 Joshua Palmer and his great command in San Diego, ACU-1, sent me an absolutely hysterical card (need a laugh once in awhile during all this!) -- signed by a few handfuls of sailors from the command (even the CO & XO) who do NOT even know me personally.
It simply shows you why I am staying active duty as long as possible. How can you not have love and respect for sailors such as this.
Have a great day, shipmates!
I have to share one of the best I received today -- from a sailor who has been a part of the Navy Storekeeper.com web site since its inception in 2004. SK1 Joshua Palmer and his great command in San Diego, ACU-1, sent me an absolutely hysterical card (need a laugh once in awhile during all this!) -- signed by a few handfuls of sailors from the command (even the CO & XO) who do NOT even know me personally.
It simply shows you why I am staying active duty as long as possible. How can you not have love and respect for sailors such as this.
Have a great day, shipmates!
Friday, November 9, 2007
What Cancer Cannot Do!
Shipmates -- I was thinking of a post to the BLOG today and thought.....you know, there are others in Navy...maybe yourself, maybe a friend, maybe someone else in your family, who may also be fighting cancer. So I thought I would share with you a great saying my wife, Demetria, found one day recently when I was just not having a great day....
WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith, it cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill riendship, it cannot suppress memories.
It cannot silence courage, it cannot invade the soul.
It cannot teal eternal life, it cannot conquer the spirit.
My day changed after reading that. Have a great day!
WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith, it cannot destroy peace.
It cannot kill riendship, it cannot suppress memories.
It cannot silence courage, it cannot invade the soul.
It cannot teal eternal life, it cannot conquer the spirit.
My day changed after reading that. Have a great day!
Home From Hospital - Thank You For Emails
Shipmates:
Good morning.....finally have a bit of strength back in order to post an update to you on my return home from the Portsmouth VA Naval Hospital after my IL-2 treatments for my melanoma cancer. And I have to say 2 things that I have learned this past week and one-half:
* There are some terrific and caring sailors in our Navy who passed on some wonderfully kind words via email to my wife and I...and it shows you why the Navy family is the best in the world.
* And two: there are some enormously dedicated and supportive Doctors, Nurses, and Corpsman in both the Cancer Ward and in ICU at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. My wife and I could not have been happier with the attention I received, especially when I had to be sent at one point to ICU due to low blood pressure. They were all wonderful people and provided fantastic care.
So I am home for now. On 30 day CONV Leave and recuperating to see in a month or so how this treatment may have worked.
Will do my best to keep updating the web site for you all in preparation for your next exams.
For now, thank you again.....I have a great wife, family, friends, AND command keeping watch over me. Your prayers and short emails of support --- you just don't realize how important those are.
Regards, SKCS(SW/AW) Chuck Zwierzynski
Good morning.....finally have a bit of strength back in order to post an update to you on my return home from the Portsmouth VA Naval Hospital after my IL-2 treatments for my melanoma cancer. And I have to say 2 things that I have learned this past week and one-half:
* There are some terrific and caring sailors in our Navy who passed on some wonderfully kind words via email to my wife and I...and it shows you why the Navy family is the best in the world.
* And two: there are some enormously dedicated and supportive Doctors, Nurses, and Corpsman in both the Cancer Ward and in ICU at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. My wife and I could not have been happier with the attention I received, especially when I had to be sent at one point to ICU due to low blood pressure. They were all wonderful people and provided fantastic care.
So I am home for now. On 30 day CONV Leave and recuperating to see in a month or so how this treatment may have worked.
Will do my best to keep updating the web site for you all in preparation for your next exams.
For now, thank you again.....I have a great wife, family, friends, AND command keeping watch over me. Your prayers and short emails of support --- you just don't realize how important those are.
Regards, SKCS(SW/AW) Chuck Zwierzynski
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Entering Hospital Tomorrow - APPRECIATE Email Support, Shipmates!
You know, there are times in everyone's life that we may have need for the support of family and friends more than ever. This is definitely the time for myself and my family, I cannot tell you, shipmates, how many emails I have received in the last few days since I posted my medical situation online at Navy Storekeeper.com this past week. You are some amazing human beings!
Demetria (my wife) and I are going to the Portsmouth Naval Hospital at 0800 tomorrow, Monday, 29 October, to start my Interlueken-2 Cancer treatment for a month....and I have nothing but great feelings that we will all come thru this together! Just so you know: my wife has picked her lucky number "7" --- reason being: that 7% of people who accept this type of cancer treatment are actually cured for at least over 5 years. That's our number, then!
To you, my shipmates --- keep studying --- now, not one month before the exam! I hope, in my heart, that I have given you some support as well and motivated you in some way.
Many regards -- and most likely, my wife, for the next week or so may do some posting on this Navy Storekeeper.com BLOG for me. She is the rock of this family.
Regards to all,
SKCS(SW/AW) Chuck Zwierzynski, your shipmate
Demetria (my wife) and I are going to the Portsmouth Naval Hospital at 0800 tomorrow, Monday, 29 October, to start my Interlueken-2 Cancer treatment for a month....and I have nothing but great feelings that we will all come thru this together! Just so you know: my wife has picked her lucky number "7" --- reason being: that 7% of people who accept this type of cancer treatment are actually cured for at least over 5 years. That's our number, then!
To you, my shipmates --- keep studying --- now, not one month before the exam! I hope, in my heart, that I have given you some support as well and motivated you in some way.
Many regards -- and most likely, my wife, for the next week or so may do some posting on this Navy Storekeeper.com BLOG for me. She is the rock of this family.
Regards to all,
SKCS(SW/AW) Chuck Zwierzynski, your shipmate
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Apologize for delays in updating the site
Good Day, shipmates! I believe, as the Navy Storekeeper.com web site has not been updated since August 2007 that I would inform you all on the status of this delay. And respecfully request your patience. My Navy shipmates are enormously important and this site, as I very much appreciate, is being utilized for every advancement exam cycle to its fullest. Hearing comments about how this site has helped in your advancement studies has given me great pride in creating this site for all of you and they sailors you share it with.
However, as the only editor of this site, it has been hard to maintain consistently for you. And at some times in your life, you may reach an important CrossRoad, which I recently have.
I do wish to let you all know that, since October 2006, I have been diagnosed with a pretty severe cancer....Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma Cancer in my liver and brain areas. BUT I remain on active duty, serving onboard the PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and am not about to medically retire, in any shape or form, after 20+ years of service unless I absolutely am required. That will not occur anytime soon!
This is my CrossRoad and am not going to take it lying down and enjoying the life that I have had. No regrets, shipmates --- none at all. This is simply a time to bear down a bit more.
I have gone through all the normal cancer treatments thus far: chemotherapy, a new chemo pill, searched for possible Clinical Trials, and whole brain radiation. And all the while I am still committed to my wife, my family, my friends...and on a daily basis: showing up at work onboard the BUSH and PT 3 times a week with the crew. I am having as normal a life as possible and enjoying every single moment I can...between all the treatments, that is. I refused to be sent to a shore command and sit at a desk if I am still able to serve onboard the 5th aircraft carrier in my career.
Well, after over a full year fighting this cancer, I am now having to go for the BIG ONE as the cancer is only stable in most locations, and increasing in others within my body. My wife and I have made the decision to go for a pretty aggressive treatment called Interlueken-2 at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. It will be for 4 weeks starting 29 October and I know I have so many people (and the command!) supporting my wife and I.
Shipmates, I will do my best to update this site for you as much as possible in preparation for your exams. You must know: that is just as important for me too.
And I want you to know, as you read this, that your support and prayers are ENORMOUSLY appreciated, shipmates. That is all my family and I need right now, and trust me: I wouldn't still be on active duty in the Navy on this day if I did not feel you are some of the finest sailors in the world today. I am proud to work with each and every one of you on a daily basis.
Many regards, and will post updates when I can.
SKCS(SW/AW) Chuck Zwierzynski
However, as the only editor of this site, it has been hard to maintain consistently for you. And at some times in your life, you may reach an important CrossRoad, which I recently have.
I do wish to let you all know that, since October 2006, I have been diagnosed with a pretty severe cancer....Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma Cancer in my liver and brain areas. BUT I remain on active duty, serving onboard the PCU George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and am not about to medically retire, in any shape or form, after 20+ years of service unless I absolutely am required. That will not occur anytime soon!
This is my CrossRoad and am not going to take it lying down and enjoying the life that I have had. No regrets, shipmates --- none at all. This is simply a time to bear down a bit more.
I have gone through all the normal cancer treatments thus far: chemotherapy, a new chemo pill, searched for possible Clinical Trials, and whole brain radiation. And all the while I am still committed to my wife, my family, my friends...and on a daily basis: showing up at work onboard the BUSH and PT 3 times a week with the crew. I am having as normal a life as possible and enjoying every single moment I can...between all the treatments, that is. I refused to be sent to a shore command and sit at a desk if I am still able to serve onboard the 5th aircraft carrier in my career.
Well, after over a full year fighting this cancer, I am now having to go for the BIG ONE as the cancer is only stable in most locations, and increasing in others within my body. My wife and I have made the decision to go for a pretty aggressive treatment called Interlueken-2 at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. It will be for 4 weeks starting 29 October and I know I have so many people (and the command!) supporting my wife and I.
Shipmates, I will do my best to update this site for you as much as possible in preparation for your exams. You must know: that is just as important for me too.
And I want you to know, as you read this, that your support and prayers are ENORMOUSLY appreciated, shipmates. That is all my family and I need right now, and trust me: I wouldn't still be on active duty in the Navy on this day if I did not feel you are some of the finest sailors in the world today. I am proud to work with each and every one of you on a daily basis.
Many regards, and will post updates when I can.
SKCS(SW/AW) Chuck Zwierzynski
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