Jim Warman Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 With more than a little irony, it was Friday 13th and I was running some errands when I blacked out and hit a parked car Whilst driving my F150. Thankfully, I had slowed t a crawl snd there were no injuries - other than my pride. In retrospect, it was quite evident that I shouldn't be driving at all as both my balance and coordination were steadily getting poorer and poorer over over the previous couple of weeks. After a night in the hospital with no clues as to what happened, I was sent home. It soon became apparent that I could no longer get out of bed or chair unassisted. As luck would have it, I was already scheduled for an MRI and CT scan on Monday in preparation for my entry into an experimental drug trial program. The MRI revealed a new tumor pushing on yhe parts that are s'posed to be busy thinking I underline the word new since this let's them do some radiation therapy with less worry about cooking my brain around old tumours previously irradiated last year. The oncologist gave me some steroids to reduce swelling in my brain. I can now do most everything with little or no assistance - other than being disqualified from driving. I start radiation ( my hair was growing back nicely, thank you ) at months end- after that we can revisit the drug trial idea.. My truck? One of the things it needs is a steering knuckle - if I insist on a new one , it'll turn the truck into a write - off ( 2002 with less than 60 K miles). I can't help but think of a old friend I worked with in the .80s. One sorry winter day, with a loaded propane truck lying on it's side in a ditch, a broken down 5 axle loaded with diesel fuel 150 miles away blocking an oil patch road 3 drilling rigs and two rig camps running out of propane and fuelJ looked across my desk and calmly uttered " Cheer up, Jimmy - things are never so bad that they can't get worse". I miss that old fart. Stay safe guys... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Good to hear from you! Keep up the fight Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmantech Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Missing your input and thoughts lately, Good to hear from you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Not only are you in our thoughts and prayers, but we all wish you the best of luck in your battle. Keep your chin up! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 Thanks guys. I go back Monday. 6 more treatments over 8 days...... I'm gonna glow in the friggin dark at this rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Clyde Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Good to hear from you Jim, keep up the battle ! You are a true inspiration to all, both in knowledge and determination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 So....... My last treatment for this session is the 9th - thankfully it's 1st thing in the AM. We can launch straight away from the Cancer institue, dash by Lee Valley Tools (this is a candy store for woodworkers) and zip home. Hopfully with enough spare change to get somewhat shit faced. Did I mention that I am NOT citified? This is going to be mega boring. I'm staying about a half hour from the WW Cross cancer institute and the 6 remaing treatments take less than 5 minutes each ( closer to 2 if I don't fidget ). Using a net mask custom molded to this handsome physique, my head gets clamped to a moveable table, the table adjusted to my coordinates and PFFFFT! - " Was it good for you?". The rest of the time I am staring abjectly at YouTube videos ( wondering about their veracity), visiting the Walmart 5 buck movie bin, and simply annoying the piss out of everybody. So, with about one hour and two minutes of each day accounted for, there is a wee surplus of time on an old mans hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 too bad I'm not closer. We could bench race for a few hours at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Hang in there Jim, I wish you the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 So my loving bride made it safely to Edmonton, albeit with a huge crack in the windshield of this borrowed car - still no word on when my truck will be ready.. 8 AM for my last radiation treatment..... the top of my head is just burnin'. Then Lee Valley tools => Costco => home for a stiff whiskey and play with doggy. They have me on a steroid ( I change to a different one tomorrow ) that has me eating everything in sight. A big bowl of cold cereal at 4ish, another at 6:30ish, soup and toast by 10, sandwich at noon. Afternoons are spent returning to the fridge and pantry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 OK!!!! I travel to Edmonton on August 8th for a CT scan and MRI. This will base-line my problem sreas and they will slip me into the drug trial. I just wish that I could be guarrnteed a spot in the actual drug rather than the control group. On a lighter note, I spent $500 that I really shouldn't have. My new toy is a DeWalt 20 inch scroll saw. This is the saw I should have bought when I bought the saw I'm scrapping now. Perhaps I can convert some wasted time into beverage money 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Good to hear that you are keeping busy through this. If I was not working I would go out of my mind. Sometimes when I take a week off from work I have had enough rest by the time a week comes to an end and I am itching to get back to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Me too.! I would be in my glory to be "back in the saddle", as it were. Chatting with my family doctor on Friday, we touched on my black-out and subsequent disqualification from driving, , He was quite candid about my chances for recovering my driving privileges.. <SIGH> simply getting on the road and driving for the sake of driving was always a source of joy, for me. Now I am "passenger". No more scooter in my future. Life is sometimes cruel and having such a basic freedom snatched from you is rude, indeed.. Can't slip out for a gallon of milk or a cone. One almost feels like a child wishing he could run away from home except he's not allowed to cross the street.. Dennis' cars (the 69 Charger, the Vette, the Viper.). My buddy Gregs Shelby... All of them - gone from my hands.....Ahhhhhh , crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kridd12 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 For all of you here that had the pleasure of knowing Grampy Jim and his quick witted banter he lost his fight with cancer today. He had a long hard battle but it got the best of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy57 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I hate to hear this. All the peace and tranquility to his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I'll never forget one of his most famous sayings that I used to hear him say at least twice or three times a week to numerous people in the shop: Chear up Sunshine! Life is never so bad that it can't get worse! So with that being said folks, take his advise to reflect on all the good things in life and cherish every moment of it that you can. It's way too short! RIP Grampy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Rip buddy. You will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Well that is a bummer. R.I.P Jim. A 5-Grampy Salute! Make that a 21 Grampy Salute! :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: :grampy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I'm very sad to hear this. Even though we had not met, I still considered him a friend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchan68 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Wow how time flies. I am very sorry to hear this as well. It only hits harder home for me due to my father passing this January past as well. Cancer SUCKS!!!! RIP Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmantech Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Sorry to hear that. I will say a prayer for him. I never met him in person but he did have an impact on how I think about things. At work and in life in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmorris Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Very sad news. RIP Grampy. Your input and wit will be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Saunoras Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Wow that is so sad. Jim's presence on the boards will be missed for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_E Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I still fondly remember how he got banned from the Ford boards for informing a certain Ralph that he was being a wiener... And how everybody agreed but Jim was the only person to actually come out and say it. Jim had a way with cars, and a way with people. Our trade lost a giant, and we lost a friend. Rest in peace Grampy Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Bruene Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Jim was certainly a mentor to many of us. I'm sorry to hear about his loss, but the pain and suffering has ended for him. May he rest in peace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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