The Navy Storekeeper.com Blog

Few More Days for Navy Storekeeper.com

2008-03-29T02:32:00.000-07:00

Shipmates:

As I have said the last few months, it has been my honor and pleasure to create the Navy Storekeeper.com for our sailors, and in 2 days I will taking it offline. My stength is decreasing quite a bit but I have awesome wife, some awesome friends, and some fantastic family coming back and forth from Chicago and New York (especially my brother) and it has been a godsend. You can't ask for anymore. And your personal prayers and support comments on this Blog adds more to all that.

If you wish, shipmates, you may email directly to my home email at czwierzynski@yahoo.com, and if I do not reply for sometime, please feel free to email my wife, Demetria, at demetria@usa.com. Our 8th anniversary is in April ---- I was I met this wonderful woman 10 years ago instead! She is an absolute joy!

So for now, have a great Navy Day! Your prayers and support are always a great part of our days!

Regards,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski

Doing Well Health-Wise, Shipmates!

2008-03-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Shipmates!:

Been receiving a large amount of emails and cards lately wishing my family and I well with prayers and support. It's like receiving holiday presents every day! My wife reads all of them as well and cannot believe how many sailors and friends we have met over the years who keep in contact .... and new ones that we have only met online or have heard about us. What great therapy!

So if I may, let you all know my current medical status as it is today --- as said in an earlier blog, it simply appears, after 18 months, that we have exhausted all treatment options for the melanoma cancer in the liver and brain, and actually, I am doing pretty good except for a few side effects. Legs are week, but am mobile getting around the house. Have entered into a TRICARE-sponsored Hospice program this month (30-day CONV Leave) and have a great 24/7 nurse living here (my gorgeous wife, Demetria!) that is ENSURING I stay with the after-care & follow-up programs. She does not miss a trick.

But not a worry, shipmates.... Demetria and I have PLENTY of family from Chicago, AZ and New York visiting the last 6 weeks...some great Chiefs and my bosses aboard the BUSH visiting all the time...and this house is NEVER without loads of noise, food, and partying almost every day. We are taking all this a day at a time, and have to tell you again: if you have anyone in your family now experiencing cancer or friends, neighbors, etc. the most important support group you can ever have is simply to create your own

We're not quitting and simply letting this crazy cancer get to us as you just never now what it's going to do. We're simply living our lives.

You all have a Great Navy Day! Demetria and I sure are.

SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski

An Important Leadership Trait -- Commitment

2008-03-22T01:04:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Shipmates:

Was inspired for this blog post after attending a Supply Corp Birthday Ball recently where the guest speaker was one of my heroes...former NFL Coach Mike Dikta (I am a life-long Bears fan!). And he made note of a very popular life & leadership training principle called "ACE" - Attitude, Commitment and Enthusiasm. The word that popped out at me (one of our Core Values, of course) was Commitment.

Why? Because it is one of the most important leadership principles I use in passing on my experiences to our young Chiefs, LPOs and upcoming Second Class Petty Officers. Take a look at what the Chief of Naval Operations defines as Commitment: simply, "Taking Care of our Sailors".

You, as a leader, make a Commitment to your sailors.....all the time. For example: I faithfully, for each sailor in one of my divisions, put together an Every 3-Month Review Program. It includes the following for discussion, follow-up, correction, and advice:

* Review last Career Development Board or schedule
* Ensure Semi-Annual Review scheduled & ensure sailor is aware
* Provide schedule for next Eval/FITREP & ensure sailor aware of prepping brag sheet
* Discuss: Qualifications (i.e. 3M, DC, etc.) including any rating school/course qualifications
* Discuss: Job Satisfaction (interested in learning other portions of rating)
* Division Officer Notebook updates, as needed
* Discuss: Personal (i.e. family, financial, time issues, command issues, etc.)
* Discuss: Career Plans Status (i.e. college, special programs, etc.)
* Provide review of sailor's leadership and mentor skills
* Discuss: Navy advancement exam study skills, references, any problems or questions

10 simple items that will take only about 15 minutes per sailor in your division -- and don't forget to delgate the junior personnel to your CPOs and LPOs so they learn this program as well. It pays ENORMOUS dividends.

Now I understand most of the above should be discussed at CDBs. However, over the year's period, things change, you get busy, and this program may suddenly, if you do not make a COMMITMENT to it, will fall by the way-side. Do it one period, and then the second, but then your schedule overwhelms you, and you forget the third 3-Month Period Review.

Don't let that happen! Why? Sailors will notice --- I guarantee it!

They will then think it simply was another program, with good intentions, that meant nothing.

Make a COMMITMENT to your sailors. Once you do, you will easily see a bunch of "ACE"s in your division.

Have a great Navy Day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski

A Bit Of Humor To Lighten The Day

2008-03-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning shipmates:

Thought I would share a short story that happened the other day that gave Demetria and I a good laugh.

Occured at the PCU BUSH weekly Department Head meeting with the CO & XO, when a fairly uninformed RP Chief wrote a note and passed it down the table to the CO. It said: "Senior Chief Z can go at anytime". The CO, who had just visited me the day before, chuckled, and forwarded the note to my Suppo, who promptly read the note to all and said: "Just so all are aware, Senior Chief is doing just fine".

Our Command Master Chief, Jon Port, looking startled, immediately piped up: "I sure hope so, I'm supposed to go over to his house at 6 o'clock for dinner tonight!!! He better be there!!!"

Geezz, I love this command.

Have a great Navy day!,
SKCS Chuck Zwierzynski

Not Giving Up, Shipmates

2008-03-06T06:23:00.000-08:00

Good morning shipmates:

A nice and understanding response to my decision to take Navy Storekeeper.com offline and provide the information to other sources to continue providing our sailors direction, advice, and tips on their navy advancement exam studies. Your thoughts, prayers, and kind words are truly appreciated as well. And not a worry -- this old Senior Chief is not giving up yet!

As a matter of fact -- GOOD LUCK to all our active duty sailors participating in the March 2008 exam cycle....First Class Petty Officer tomorrow, Second Class Petty Officer next week, and Third Class Petty Officer the following week. I know you have been studying hard, take a relaxing night the evening prior to the exam, and go get 'em!

Although, currently, all treatment options have been exhausted, my wife and I have options if a successful, and clear, Brain MRI results come out in 2 weeks. So hope never ends....neither do family and friends who are there every single day for us. How can you not love that?

Right now, I am pretty limber, feeling a little fatigued, but otherwise, each day is a blessing. Demetria and I do not dwell on this each and every day. It would be useless. Matter of fact, we have plenty to do each day, and my wife is one awesome cook! She even changed a famous recipe by Chef Wolfgang Puck the other day --- trust me, her's was better! Got an extra 4 pounds on my frame!

So have a great day, shipmates, and of course, your emails of support have been heartfelt and appreciated.

SKCS Charles (Chuck) Zwierzynski

Navy Storekeeper.com Offline As of 1 April 2008

2008-02-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

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

Best Cancer Support Book I Have Found

2008-02-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

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

A Little Humor To Lighten The Day

2008-02-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

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

News Not The Best - But What A Life I've Got

2008-02-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

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

Count Your Blessings

2008-02-16T01:53:00.001-08:00

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

A Good Bit of Advice, Shipmates

2008-01-31T22:38:00.001-08:00

Good morning to you all....

Am recuperating at home for a couple of days after my 2nd of 3 chemotherapy treatments went down on Wednesday, and am doing quite well, actually. With all the medicine that is available out there, and the cancer research technology that comes along, it seems, every 3 months, I feel quite a lucky sailor for the last 16 months fighting this melanoma cancer disease. In many ways shipmate, I am a very lucky man.

And let me tell you why --- it was because of a long sit-down talk with my wonderful wife, Demetria, a few days ago. I was thinking of all the different protocol treatments we have participated in since October 2006 -- the chemo, the biotherapies, the brain radiation, and gamma radiation -- and at this time, our wonderful Navy Oncologist is looking for different ways to keep it going. As long as the treatment STOPS the growth (it may not shrink it for over a few months period....so be patient), then it's a success. Those are the little successes we are experiencing.

Well, to get back to my wife -- I was thinking, on our monthly health check-up with our Oncologist to ask....down and dirty, sir, with all we're doing, how much time do you think I have left? My wife almost tossed me out the kitchen window! I don't know everything, but I know when the time is right to listen to your life partner!

Demetria said: Why do you want to know? Who cares, actually. We are enjoying every single day together, your quality of life is pretty good right now, we have lots to plan for ourselves and with the family for at least the next 4 months..... and you have to get the leaves out of the gutters when spring time comes.

Now that was a slap in the face I truly needed. She's right. Why worry. That is why, whenever we finish a treatment, I email the entire Friends and Family address book with the update -- and then tell them when they call, just want to hear about how your life is going.... and don't forget the family gossip.

I love my wife.

Regards and have a great Navy day, shipmates ---
SKCS Charles (Chuck) Zwierzynski

Great Holiday Season - Now Back to Work

2008-01-09T02:55:00.000-08:00

Shipmates:

Did not realize, until this morning, that I had not posted anything on the Blog since the day before Christmas. Just goes to show you we... and hopefully all of you as well ... had a great time with family and friends. Took a break from the cancer for several weeks and simply enjoyed good food and good company. My wife... who has turned into one of the best cooks of all time ... saw a prime rib recipe on TV for Christmas Dinner that was developed by Wolfgang Puck -- one of the most famous chefs in the world. And what does my wife do? -- well, she takes the receipe and says: I can do better than that! and proceeds to change the receipe, just ever-so slightly to the way she cooks. Could not believe it. But have to say: it turned out awesome! Go figure.

All is well on the PCU George H W Bush too as we continue construction of this great warship. One item, concerning our youngest sailors right out of Storekeeper "A" school had concerned me ... at first. I recall, 20 years ago, when the SK "A" school was 8 weeks long and we had tests twice a week with a huge final exam. Today .... the school is self-paced, and many of us senior enlisted were worried about the quality of supply knowledge these sailors were getting. Well, we can dispell that myth! ... we have received 8 young SKs from the school in the last 9 months and I have to say -- they are some awesome young men and women. They are like sponges and want to learn more. Send us another 8! ... these are the kind of sailors that make you proud to have aboard.

Now to update on a personal level -- I am definitely doing well, shipmates. My wife is great therapy, my family in ILL, NY and AZ are therapy, and so is going to work in between treatments. Can't ask for anything more. Today -- I go in for another chemotherapy treatment at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.... a 9-week package every 3 weeks to go after the melanoma cancer in the liver and adrenal gland area. Loads of other options are available if this treatment is only partial success ... but Demetria and I are looking at all of this with a positive attitude and just see where it takes us if there is be a next step. The only disappointment? -- I have had hair on my head for the last 2 months....and all that growth will most likely go away in the next month. Thank goodness my wife still thinks I look good as a bald guy!

Again, will keep you posted, shipmates, and wish you a great Navy day!

Many regards,
SKCS Charles (Chuck) Zwierzynski

Happy Holidays & New Year, shipmates!

2007-12-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

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

Gamma Knife Treatment Completed

2007-12-18T05:51:00.000-08:00

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

Good, Bad News - Just One Day At A Time

2007-12-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

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

It's A Truism: Chiefs Train Their Replacements

2007-12-05T04:06:00.000-08:00

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

Recuperating Very Well

2007-12-03T01:13:00.000-08:00

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

Cards From Shipmates

2007-11-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

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!

What Cancer Cannot Do!

2007-11-09T23:26:00.000-08:00

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!

Home From Hospital - Thank You For Emails

2007-11-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

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

Entering Hospital Tomorrow - APPRECIATE Email Support, Shipmates!

2007-10-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

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

Apologize for delays in updating the site

2007-10-25T11:51:00.001-07:00

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