For the past few months I’ve been dealing with some serious health issues. They were series enough to keep private and only share with my immediate family. Up to now. Now, with some good news under my belt, is the time to come clean to all of you, my fans, readers and good friends.

Back in Jan. I came down with a bad case of pneumonia that really tore into my lungs in a bad way. After an extended period on antibiotics, and a good doctor’s care, it looked like things were starting to clear up. All but a very nasty and persistent cough. Eventually, Valerie, my better half, got me to see the Doc one more time. I did. He suggested an X-ray to
determine the pneumonia was gone. I went and had the X-rays taken. Sure enough, the X-rays showed no more pneumonia. Hooray. They also showed some anomalies, ala two spots on my lungs. Bad.

At this point, my doctor recommended I go for a catscan. Obviously he was concerned the spots were cancer. When the catscan results came in, they only confirmed that I had two lesions of unknown matter on my lungs. I was then sent to a pulminary specialist. You can guess that by now things were getting very tense in the old Fortier household. Last week, this specialist stuck a tube down my throat and took a biopsy from the lesions. Then it was time to come home and wait. Lung Cancer is still the number one cause of death in adults in our country. At 58, I am candidate for this malady. Wisely, I am not a smoker. This past week was one of deep soul searching and prayer for this particular Christian. I didn’t so much pray for some miracle, as much as the strength to deal with whatever would come at me. Good or bad. I’ve always been a person of faith, thanks to my loving parents. It kept me sane this past week.

A few hours ago, Valerie and I were in the specialist office being told the result of the biopsy. I do not have cancer. Just like that, in just so few words, my heart skipped a beat.
I, with the grace of God, had dodged a bullet.
What I do have seems to be a really weird infection that the doctor was still at a loss to explain away. I’m now on a two week severe antibiotic treatment to flush this out of my system. In 3 months I’ll be going back for a second catscan. If the spots are gone, then we close the book on this chapter of my life. If not, then there will be more test to take. I understand that, but for right now we are just celebrating some awfully good-good news. And I am so looking forward to Easter Sunday like you
wouldn’t believe.

So there you go. Ron’s brush with the big C and mortality. Please, learn from this. Get regular check ups and don’t ever put yourself in
harms way needless. Life is too sweet a miracle
not to cherish and cling to. HAPPY EASTER one and all.

Till next time, ha, over & out, Ron.