I have been fortunate enough to have my work shared with the readers of Granite Grok for over four years. Every day, for over 1,600, I have been writing my thoughts and have enjoyed your responses. I have had my work published on over 70 websites across the internet, but no site out there has the readers we enjoy at the Grok. You are not just readers, but interactive participants. I enjoy going back through my stories, reading your comments and getting in on the conversation. From day one, my goal was never to be a definitive voice, but to stimulate conversation and debate. No place has that been as prevalent as the Grok. You, the readers, need to be congratulated for your knowledge, insights, and willingness to speak up. I have enjoyed you all and thank you.
A couple of weeks ago, I got some unexpected news that rocked my world. I had a routine Endoscopy, as I have every few years for decades and fully expected this one to be as routine. It was not. The surgeon came into the recovery room and delivered the bad news. She could not be 100% sure, and we would have to wait for pathology. About a week later, my cellphone started to burn up with calls from my PCP, Oncologist, and the surgeon who did the procedure. All of them delivered the same news that nobody wants to hear. We are sorry, but you have Esophageal Cancer, and we need to move quickly to schedule more tests. I looked at my girlfriend, we hugged, we cried, and we vowed to win this battle.
The quick tests are not so quick and with our broken medical system, they are not scheduled until the first week in March. In the meantime, we are adrift with our thoughts, trying to stay grounded but fearing more bad news. We have a tremendous support team in Maine, which is why we are in the process of making Maine our new year-round home. The circle of friends we found in the last few summers we spent on Bear Pond made us crave to be with them for the entire trip around the sun. These folks have brought our Faith and love of God to a new level. They prayed me through a scare of Blood Cancer in 2024, and they are ready to go to battle again, these special, loving people have no quit in their DNA. I looked at forward to ringing the bell the day this cancer has left my body surrounded by these special people.
Writing is my passion and also my release and way of dealing with stress and now this challenge facing us. I invite you to subscribe to my Substack page https://cardello.substack.com/ where I am chronicling my journey. I thank you for your support over these years and ask for your continued support in my battle. I will continue to write daily on Conservative View From New Hampshire as long as I am healthy enough, and I vow to write on My Fight to Remission With Esophageal Cancer until I ring that bell.
God Bless you all, Ray.
