Medical Adventure - 2022-2023
On Memorial Day, 2022, the world turned upside down for me! I was discovered with a BENIGN tumor in my head called meningioma between my skull and my brain. I won't go into much detail, but in the summer of 2022, I was successfully operated on to remove the tumor (yes, in my head) and recovered.
My family and friends were absolutely wonderful helping me get back to normal. I'm most grateful to Lisa, who stayed with me for two months, the always present Judy who was a godsend, Laura, Tommy, Mary and Henry and a score of others. Between August and October, I was pretty much back to normal, hence the delightful time at Tommy and Nina's wedding!
In
October a
small residual
part of the
tumor was
discovered in
a follow-up
MRI and I went
into a very
modern and
extremely
accurate
radiological
treatment to
take care of
the tumor with
almost zero
effect on the
brain around
it. The
process is
called
Stereotactic
Radiotherapy,
which
consisted a 6
minute dose of
radiation each
weekday for 6
weeks! Why
were the doses
so short and
repeated so
frequently?
Because the
residual tumor
area was very
close to the
left optic
nerve and this
was the only
way to protect
it. The
process was
very easy to
endure and
resulted in no
typical
reaction one
could get from
a normal
higher dose
treatment. No
nausea, no
inability to
eat well, no
pain, and most
important - no
fatigue!
I completed
the treatment
in February
2023 and have
had no
physical or
emotional
effects. Here
is a picture
of me on the
machine.
Tommy and Nina Wedding - 2022
On
August 19,
2022,
Tommy and Nina
"tied the
knot" in
Plantation,
Florida. Being
of Pakistani
heritage, the
ceremony had
many aspects
of the bride's
fascinating
culture as
well as
traditional
American.
Nina, whose
actual name is
Nimra, is a
fabulous
family member
and all of us
just love
her.
To see more, click the picture below or simply....
Covid
- 2020
- Present
In March 2020, Covid came to the USA and the country and much of the world was pretty much shut down two days after Judy and I returned from Mexico City (see below). It was quite a scary time and like many, we were concerned about getting it and infecting others. Much time was spent at home, protecting our face and hands. Judy and I felt that since we were traveling together just before everything closed down, we were comfortable that we didn't have Covid to pass on to one another. Both of us were quite diligent and we did not develop Covid early in the pandemic. All of our friends and family were vaccinated.
This is being written in November 2022 and many of our friends and family have developed Covid, but recovered well. Judy still has not developed Covid. Thank goodness for the good judgement of all the people I know. I made it until Memorial Day weekend 2022 and tested positive. The fascinating part is that I was totally asymptomatic!
In March 2020, Covid came to the USA and the country and much of the world was pretty much shut down two days after Judy and I returned from Mexico City (see below). It was quite a scary time and like many, we were concerned about getting it and infecting others. Much time was spent at home, protecting our face and hands. Judy and I felt that since we were traveling together just before everything closed down, we were comfortable that we didn't have Covid to pass on to one another. Both of us were quite diligent and we did not develop Covid early in the pandemic. All of our friends and family were vaccinated.
This is being written in November 2022 and many of our friends and family have developed Covid, but recovered well. Judy still has not developed Covid. Thank goodness for the good judgement of all the people I know. I made it until Memorial Day weekend 2022 and tested positive. The fascinating part is that I was totally asymptomatic!
Mexico City - 2020
In March 2020, we made our third trip to Mexico. This time it was Mexico City! We went to the center of the city, called El Zocalo. In the massive square are the main Cathedral and the National Palace. Much of the trip consisted of the historical and cultural aspects, including Frida Kahlo's house where we ate in her patio converted to a delightful restaurant, the Hipodromo where there were delightful places to shop and eat. We then went to a fabulous pyramid complex on the outside of town called San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán. Mexico City was a true delight!.
Ireland - 2019
In September-October 2019, Judy and I went to Ireland on a CIE Tour of the southern half of the island. From Dublin, we went down to the south coast through Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork and Kinsale, then up the west coast to Killarney, Limerick and out to the Dingle Peninsula. Then we visited the Cliffs of Moher, up to Galway and then east to return to Dublin. Dublin was an amazing historical city, where I was delighted to see the Book of Kells and the Guiness brewery. All the Irish culture was delightful, including the people and pubs!
Lazio, Italia - 2019
In
April-May 2019,
Judy and I went to
Lazio Province,
just to the east
of Rome. One of
Judy's work
colleagues lived
in a delightful
country house near
Frascati and
invited a number
of fellow
colleagues to come
and spend a little
over a week at
Casale Sonnino .
We went on a
number of short
drives to Castel
Gondolfo, where
the Pope
vacations,
Ninfa, the great
gardens at Tivoli,
Frascati, Orvieto
and a brief trip
into Rome to see
the Jewish Ghetto
near the Tevere
(Tiber) River.
