Good morning, shipmates!:
Yes, the title above is correct and was a decision not taken lightly. I wanted to post a comment to the NavySK.com Blog to notify my fellow sailors who have utilized the site as a Navy advancement exam study tool for the 5 years it has been online. It with great regret that I make this decision, but it is the right one.
As I have noted on the Home Page today, 2 reasons have sparked this: I believe the original intent for the site has been met, and of course, my medical situation. It would not be fair to our sailors, when the next advancement exam cycle begins in April, if I am unable to update the site properly.
Thus, I am providing some of my Chief contacts at the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) web site many of my Occupational Reference material to post on the NKO Library as they choose. And an old friend, Tony Monaco, PNC(Ret), will be allowed to utilize any Professional Military Knowledge (PMK) Reference material on his site at PMKTraining.net.
I cannot find any more words other than it has been my absolute pleasure to be able to create the Navy Storekeeper.com web site for our sailors. Although labor-intensive on my own personal time, it was actually great therapy for me during the last 18-months of cancer treatments and working onboard the PCU George H W Bush CVN-77.
I thank you all for your support and will post again soon.
Have a great Navy day,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Best Cancer Support Book I Have Found
Morning shipmates....
Doing well this beginning Monday of the work week....a bit fatigued in the legs but otherwise an all-around what-can-we-do-today type of morning!
Thought I would post something that may help and support others as it has for my wife, Demetria, and over the last year and one-half. It is simply: a book. A great and inspirational book on dealing with cancer.
And if YOU know of someone in your lives: a friend, a shipmate, one of your relatives or neighbors, or the relative of one of your shipmates.....who may be having a hard time dealing with their own cancer, this may be of great help. It is fun reading, it is uplifting reading, and may possibly give someone who may be depressed or unwilling to accept what is happening, a different perspective on what to expect, what to deal with, and how to live with battling cancer.
The name of the book: CRAZY SEXY CANCER TIPS by Ms. Kris Carr. Have to tell you: read thru this book -- it gives another perspective all together in a manner that people can relate to.
The ISBN is 978-1-59921-231-9 and printed by the Morris Publishing Group LLC.
It is inspiring, powerful and informative....geared toward women and cancer, however, it really is a personal template for all.
Have a great day, shipmates:
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Doing well this beginning Monday of the work week....a bit fatigued in the legs but otherwise an all-around what-can-we-do-today type of morning!
Thought I would post something that may help and support others as it has for my wife, Demetria, and over the last year and one-half. It is simply: a book. A great and inspirational book on dealing with cancer.
And if YOU know of someone in your lives: a friend, a shipmate, one of your relatives or neighbors, or the relative of one of your shipmates.....who may be having a hard time dealing with their own cancer, this may be of great help. It is fun reading, it is uplifting reading, and may possibly give someone who may be depressed or unwilling to accept what is happening, a different perspective on what to expect, what to deal with, and how to live with battling cancer.
The name of the book: CRAZY SEXY CANCER TIPS by Ms. Kris Carr. Have to tell you: read thru this book -- it gives another perspective all together in a manner that people can relate to.
The ISBN is 978-1-59921-231-9 and printed by the Morris Publishing Group LLC.
It is inspiring, powerful and informative....geared toward women and cancer, however, it really is a personal template for all.
Have a great day, shipmates:
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Friday, February 22, 2008
A Little Humor To Lighten The Day
Good morning shipmates and friends:
Thought I would log on this morning and share a little story that occured on a conversation with our Navy Oncologist who has been there for us the whole step of the way since my cancer diagnosis in October 2006.
At first, our Doc's bedside manner was a bit abrupt and non-caring. We did not understand this at first since the diagnosis was incurable, but treatable and we were looking for some answers. But as we grew to understand the life of cancer and medical appointments, it became clear he tried to keep a bit emotionally-detached.
Well, that has changed after 17 months of working together and we have developed a GREAT relationship....he has a sense of humor now!
So, although he was bearing not-so-good news last Friday after the full-body PET Scan, he understood my wife's and my humor in getting through all of this and noted:
"Senior Chief.....I think this last chemotherapy treatment we decided to do just PISSED THE DAMN THING OFF!" Had all 3 of us laughing.
Always good to hear that sound.
Have a great Navy day,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Thought I would log on this morning and share a little story that occured on a conversation with our Navy Oncologist who has been there for us the whole step of the way since my cancer diagnosis in October 2006.
At first, our Doc's bedside manner was a bit abrupt and non-caring. We did not understand this at first since the diagnosis was incurable, but treatable and we were looking for some answers. But as we grew to understand the life of cancer and medical appointments, it became clear he tried to keep a bit emotionally-detached.
Well, that has changed after 17 months of working together and we have developed a GREAT relationship....he has a sense of humor now!
So, although he was bearing not-so-good news last Friday after the full-body PET Scan, he understood my wife's and my humor in getting through all of this and noted:
"Senior Chief.....I think this last chemotherapy treatment we decided to do just PISSED THE DAMN THING OFF!" Had all 3 of us laughing.
Always good to hear that sound.
Have a great Navy day,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Monday, February 18, 2008
News Not The Best - But What A Life I've Got
A very good morning to you, shipmates!:
Just spent a superb weekend with old military friends up at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland....including my best Senior Chief pal and his family from Ft. Meade. Met both couples while stationed overseas and still have kept in touch. These are the weekends that recharge your batteries.
Which, my wife and I needed after the full-body PET Scan results came thru this past Friday afternoon. As you know, it has been pretty darn miraculous in fighting off this melanoma cancer for the last 17 months, and hopefully many, many more months to come.
However, we received some less than hopefull news after a full-body PET Scan result showed the cancer is just not stopping in the liver or adrenal glands.....so all current chemo treatments have been halted. So with the Brain lesions, I do not qualify for ANY clinical trial in the country. Just the way it goes. We will, however, do another Brain MRI in March to see if the gamma ray treatment I had in December has made all the brain lesions disappear. If so, game on, boys....the flood gates of clinical trials opens back up.
But, of course, cancer is tricky....and although I am feeling pretty darn good and still working half-days on the BUSH every day...the fatigue is starting to get to me a bit and you never know what will happen one month from now or two years from now.
Yet as we....and my family and shipmates who are supporting us, mind you!.....take it day by day, you can nothing more than enjoy what you've got. Heck, you should see the number of family from around the country, and old shipmates, are starting to fly in within the next couple of months. It's fantastic!
And Demetria and I have a well-developed plan of family/friends scheduling (what a nightmare - smile!), future plans, places to go, people to see, and whatever else we need to add to the calendar. You think after 17 months, I am going to stop what I am doing because of this mindless cancer? -- You can bet, NOT!
Still have knowledge, experiences, opinions, and recommendations to pass on to our junior sailors, junior Chiefs, and junior officers onboard the BUSH. It gives me great pleasure to do this every single day.
So my best to you all today....give that wife and, if you have kids, a huge hug today, shipmates!
Many regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Just spent a superb weekend with old military friends up at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland....including my best Senior Chief pal and his family from Ft. Meade. Met both couples while stationed overseas and still have kept in touch. These are the weekends that recharge your batteries.
Which, my wife and I needed after the full-body PET Scan results came thru this past Friday afternoon. As you know, it has been pretty darn miraculous in fighting off this melanoma cancer for the last 17 months, and hopefully many, many more months to come.
However, we received some less than hopefull news after a full-body PET Scan result showed the cancer is just not stopping in the liver or adrenal glands.....so all current chemo treatments have been halted. So with the Brain lesions, I do not qualify for ANY clinical trial in the country. Just the way it goes. We will, however, do another Brain MRI in March to see if the gamma ray treatment I had in December has made all the brain lesions disappear. If so, game on, boys....the flood gates of clinical trials opens back up.
But, of course, cancer is tricky....and although I am feeling pretty darn good and still working half-days on the BUSH every day...the fatigue is starting to get to me a bit and you never know what will happen one month from now or two years from now.
Yet as we....and my family and shipmates who are supporting us, mind you!.....take it day by day, you can nothing more than enjoy what you've got. Heck, you should see the number of family from around the country, and old shipmates, are starting to fly in within the next couple of months. It's fantastic!
And Demetria and I have a well-developed plan of family/friends scheduling (what a nightmare - smile!), future plans, places to go, people to see, and whatever else we need to add to the calendar. You think after 17 months, I am going to stop what I am doing because of this mindless cancer? -- You can bet, NOT!
Still have knowledge, experiences, opinions, and recommendations to pass on to our junior sailors, junior Chiefs, and junior officers onboard the BUSH. It gives me great pleasure to do this every single day.
So my best to you all today....give that wife and, if you have kids, a huge hug today, shipmates!
Many regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Count Your Blessings
Good Morning Shipmates!,
Before the 3-day holiday weekend, wanted to blog a story from yesterday....it was a pretty emotional day around this house, from here in Virginia, and all the way back home to my family in Chicago. Sitting back at the end of the day had my wife and I counting an enormous amount of blessings.
I had a full-body PET Scan yesterday to see how all the melanoma cancer is doing in my liver and brain, and the results were not good....but, as always, Demetria and I took it all in, talked in detail about the next steps, and hugged & hugged. More on that later....as it all changed from one phone call an hour later.
My wonderfully fun, hard-working older cousin back in Chicago, Bobby, had passed away yesterday morning from something we only heard about, in detail, 5 days prior. Bobby died of esophagal (throat) cancer. It was incurable, but treatable, just like mine.
We only heard Bobby was ill this past December, but had no details. He was doing well. Then, last Monday, one of my other cousins, Bobby's sister, emailed to tell us about his medical situation and that he had his first round of chemotherapy scheduled for 19 February at the Vet Hospital in Chicago -- Bobby was a U.S. Army veteran from the Vietnam War.
Suddenly, on Tuesday, he had a temperature well over 100 degrees and a staph infection and went to the hospital. The doctors could not control the high temp and his body gave up yesterday morning. I did not get a chance to talk with him and that hit me hard.
This family will forever miss this wonderful man who worked hard to take care of his family, and was always at every family function. And our Polish family functions are not small!
But as we discussed it, Bobby only lived 2 1/2 months after diagnosis of his cancer. I have been extremely lucky to be in my 17th month. Count your blessings, shipmates.
As for me....the most important thing right now is my cousin and the family pulling together back home in Chicago. I wish I could have talked with him and shared with him my experiences, if it could have helped. I remember the first 3 months after my diagnosis and it was overwhelming, at first. Demetria and I thought we could help and support. But Bobby is needed elsewhere.
So, in Memoriam for a U.S. Army Veteran: Our thoughts are with you -- Robert (Bobby) Zwierzynski, Romeville, ILL, Died: 15 February, 2008. My cousin. Bobby was 54.
SKCS Charles Zwierzynski
Before the 3-day holiday weekend, wanted to blog a story from yesterday....it was a pretty emotional day around this house, from here in Virginia, and all the way back home to my family in Chicago. Sitting back at the end of the day had my wife and I counting an enormous amount of blessings.
I had a full-body PET Scan yesterday to see how all the melanoma cancer is doing in my liver and brain, and the results were not good....but, as always, Demetria and I took it all in, talked in detail about the next steps, and hugged & hugged. More on that later....as it all changed from one phone call an hour later.
My wonderfully fun, hard-working older cousin back in Chicago, Bobby, had passed away yesterday morning from something we only heard about, in detail, 5 days prior. Bobby died of esophagal (throat) cancer. It was incurable, but treatable, just like mine.
We only heard Bobby was ill this past December, but had no details. He was doing well. Then, last Monday, one of my other cousins, Bobby's sister, emailed to tell us about his medical situation and that he had his first round of chemotherapy scheduled for 19 February at the Vet Hospital in Chicago -- Bobby was a U.S. Army veteran from the Vietnam War.
Suddenly, on Tuesday, he had a temperature well over 100 degrees and a staph infection and went to the hospital. The doctors could not control the high temp and his body gave up yesterday morning. I did not get a chance to talk with him and that hit me hard.
This family will forever miss this wonderful man who worked hard to take care of his family, and was always at every family function. And our Polish family functions are not small!
But as we discussed it, Bobby only lived 2 1/2 months after diagnosis of his cancer. I have been extremely lucky to be in my 17th month. Count your blessings, shipmates.
As for me....the most important thing right now is my cousin and the family pulling together back home in Chicago. I wish I could have talked with him and shared with him my experiences, if it could have helped. I remember the first 3 months after my diagnosis and it was overwhelming, at first. Demetria and I thought we could help and support. But Bobby is needed elsewhere.
So, in Memoriam for a U.S. Army Veteran: Our thoughts are with you -- Robert (Bobby) Zwierzynski, Romeville, ILL, Died: 15 February, 2008. My cousin. Bobby was 54.
SKCS Charles Zwierzynski
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