September 19, 2001|

Take my Biopsy, Please!

I am happy to say that my biopsy went off without a hitch yesterday. The doctors got the needed nodes and I am still alive with the teeniest of pain. Yesterday after the biopsy, though, I was a useless heap of covers and pillows. I felt so absolutely gross and groggy, that I slept the rest of the day and night, getting up only to use the little boy’s room and take my medication. In the meanwhile, because I was staying at friend’s apartment(Jen’s), life pumped on, as guests (John and Laura Jane, Jenny, Court, Esther, etc) poured through, discussing life after the WTC tragedy and catching up on old times. So maybe I wasn’t completely asleep. I still was majorly groggy.

See, personally, I can deal with pain. (I hope I don’t jinx myself with that last statement!) It’s the feeling sick, brain-dead and groggy deal that I have problems with. Pain is temporary and manageable once I get my mind under control. But when I am the latter, I am can’t get my brain under control, so I feel useless and horrible. I am just praying that the next round of ABVD/MOPP chemo is less brain-messin’. Thankfully, I am back on steriods, which should eleviate any major physical problems with the chemo. The steriods also give me the energy of a two-year old on a Pepsi high, and also the bladder of one. It’s like I need Pampers or something. Hopefully you won’t be going on any long road trips with me:)

The Article

Yeah, I made The Youngstown Vindicator again last Saturday. They even used some of web logs! Scary! I better start spell and grammar checking! They also said I was still in the Youngstown Connection:) Doh! Otherwise the article was great, detailing my experiences in NYC during the WTC tragedy. I will post the article later on in the week. Big congrats to Diane Murphy for the great job!

My Schedule

If you could tell, I am back in Youngstown. I drove back this morning, still a little groggy, but plenty fine to navigate my way through the *empty* streets, parkways and expressways of New York City. Everything was empty! It is heartbreaking to see the City this way. Paralyzed like a pup stung by two fat wasp on the paw. The city (and nation) may never be the same.

But I regress. It looks like I have to go back to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to do my next three sets of chemotherapy treatments. Driving, flying, hovercraft, scooter, however. Before Dr. Moskowitz’s hands me off to a doctor in Ohio, he wants to insure the nodes are shrinking again. On top of that, we just can’t do a BMT now (but one in the future is just about guaranteed it appears). The BMT wouldn’t work, my cancer is too advanced. We need to knock it down first with these chemo treatments. So I will be residing in Youngstown, with a few day trips back to NYC for the next four weeks or so.

Thank you for your continued prayers. I STILL keep getting cards and prayer e-mails all the time. It is unreal. Unreal. In the next few weeks I am going to update my e-mail and site, so look for changes and new emails. Remember to use hte art@artcanning.com email address as the art.canning@gs.com address is no longer accessible. Thank you again, look for another report in a week.

September 13, 2001|

The saga continues…

Day 3 here in NYC, still reeling from Tuesday. Unreal. It’s still like a movie for us. It’s hard for me to go on my roof, look at the downtown skyline and see the gaping hole left by the WTCs. It’s also hard to fathom that 1 Liberty Plaza, a building that has a many floors occupied by Goldman Sachs employees, is teetering over. The city is so different, like a ghost town. Stores closed up. Few regular cars on the streets of Manhattan. Millitary and police vehicles rolling down the street. The people. No one is smiling. Somber looks. To get to my doctor’s appointment I had to walk by the playground across the street from Sloan-Kettering. Laughter from the tikes and tots echoed through the air along with the only other sound of the ambulance siren.

More to the story

Monday night my work teammates and I were scheduled to have dinner. Just us 6 or so. When I got to Village restuarant I was shocked beyond words to see almost my whole group of co-workers there. That Monday night there was a celebration dinner in honor of me, with all of my past co-workers there (around 40 or so in all)! It was unbelievable. I recieved gifts (and steak!) and cards and even a letter of support from the very CEO of Goldman Sachs, Hank Paulson, who sent his regrets that he couldn’t be there because of an important meeting. It was unreal. Afterwards most of us went to Village Karaoke to sing the night away. It was absolutely wild. That’s why I slept in. That’s why my roommate Trac slept in on Tuesday and tried to get to work late, only to be stopped at a subway station in Brooklyn, far from ground zero. It seems so long ago and unfortunately will get lost in my memory bank, as I was will forever remember what happened the next morning, going to my roof and been capsulated by smoke and debris.

I am not sure what I wrote in my last few posts about my experience, but when I retreive them I will fill in gaps to my story.

In the meanwhile…

I had a doctor’s appointment today. My biopsy will be next Tuesday. My biopsy doctor, Dr. Shaha, was in Denver at the time. He took a bus cross country to get back his patients. That deserves much props. Till then I have to occupy myself. Last night we rented movies at our apartment just to relieve ourselves of the steady stream of news. We don’t have cable or a phone line directly into our apartment, so entertainment is sparing. I tried to go shopping to buy some clothes, since almost everything I own is in Ohio (my dad moved me out three weeks ago). Everything was closed by 5pm. Justifiably so. Tonight maybe more movies or a book to fill in the time and get away from the tragedy. For those trying to reach me via cell phone, good luck. The network is incredibly busy. I will be happy to talk, but it may take awhile. Best way to reach me is email, even though I can only check it once or twice a day.

My East Coast trip is cancelled for now. I am not sure what happens after Tuesday. I will post when I know. For now I have to play it by ear. It’s hard to believe I am writing this, but I can’t wait to do chemotherapy, and I can’t wait to get home.

In all of this it is hard to imagine what God might be doing of saying. It makes my drama seem like a B-rated movie. It’s hard to imagine He’s in control and knows what He’s doing – but seeing how humans are reacting to this, seeing the charity, the love, the brotherhood, the respect, there is no doubt God is working through the midst of this, through us. If my web site hasn’t put a perspective on life to you, I can only hope the “Attack on America” has.

Respectfully yours

art

September 12, 2001|

All accounted for…

I am relieved to say that fourth roommate Dan is accounted for. He ended up being trapped in his building, which is four blocks from the WTC, the entire time. I am also relieved to say that all of my friends who were in the neighborhood or building were able to get out in time.

Our cell phones just aren’t working here (overloaded system), so don’t try calling. Send emails with questions or concerns.

I don’t know when I will be able to come home to Youngstown. My biopsy was canceled today. I have an appointment with Dr. Moskowitz to discuss next options.

In terms of what I have observed here in the city, it is so eery and strange. I took the subway up to the Upper East Side this morning (and am still here). The subway was quiet. The streets are empty of cars. Only taxis and buses are on the road. People are very quiet and reserved. It’s beyond anything I have ever seen before.

In a way we are trapped here. Many of bridges have finally opened, but the roadways to get there are closed or jammed with roadblocks. Subways are running, but only above 14th Street. It’s just so surreal.

I will try to give updates as I can. Thanks for the e-mails, concerns, and prayers.

September 11, 2001|

Alive

I am sure you have all heard the news of the going ons here in lower Manhattan. First and foremost, as of 4:25pm 3 of 4 roommates are accounted for. Last night my co-workers held a dinner in my honor and we were out late last night karaoking. Trac, roommate 1, was a little hung over and didn’t make it out of the apartment until 9:30am. By that time the subways weren’t running normally and he got diverted back home.

Patrick, roommate 2, had a doctor’s appointment three blocks from the world trade center at 9:30am. He was there for all of the drama, narrowly escaping being enveloped in by the smoke and debris, outrunning it all the way to the east side and then running uptown. He just got home 20 minutes ago.

Dan, roommate 3, is unaccounted for. He works about 4 blocks from the WTC. No word on him, as our cell phones are not working here in the city.

I slept in till 9:45am. I woke up and tried to use my cell phone to check voicemail. The network was busy, tipping me off to something unusual happening. Before jumping into the shower I turned on the TV and was dumbfounded at the reports. I immediately went climbed to the roof and was overcome by smoke and debris. We live about 5 miles from lower Manhattan, but have an incredible view of the skyline. All you could see was smoke covering the skyline. It was like out of a movie.

Last report was that my building, which is on the east side, on the opposited end of the island, was under lock down at 11am. no word on my co-workers yet. No word on friends who work in the building and area.

I am still aghast at the situation. I can’t fathom the new skyline. I can’t take how many people have become casualties. I am going to try to drive home as soon as I can, doing the biopsy and treatment in Youngstown/Cleveland.

Please pray for all involved. I will try to keep you posted on the latest news. Unfortunately I don’t have my computer or a normal phone line. Cell phones aren’t working well. I can check email on my palm, but I don’t think it sends email out. best way to find out what is happening is to contact my parents (myronfan@aol.com). Thank you and be safe.

September 6, 2001|

NEW! Tenative Dates:

I met with Dr. Shaha, the head and neck doctor at MSKCC who will be doing my biopsy. I am tenatively scheduled to have the biopsy on Wednesday morning, Sept. 12. My last day of work will be Friday, Sept 7th (upon which I am celebrating by seeing the Backstreet Boys in concert that night!). I will be passing through Philly, Lancaster, and Pittsburgh the weekend of the 14th.

In the meanwhile, address all correspondences to art@artcanning.com (no more art.canning@gs.com). I will also be changing my cell phone number in October.

New address:

Art Canning

424 Glacierview Dr.

Youngstown, OH 44509

Thanks!

August 29, 2001|

Ed = Art

I don’t watch TV much. But I do watch one show. It’s called “Ed.” On Wednesdays from 8 – 9pm you will typically find me curled up on the couch laughing at the Letterman-esque humor (Letterman is the executive producer, and his two old producers are the main writers and producers of the show), oogling over Carol Vecesy (the main female character) and ignoring all other distractions. The phone goes straight to voicemail, the e-mails get unchecked…you get my drift.

Basic premise of the show: Ed is a New York City lawyer who gets fired on the same day he finds his wife sleeping with the mailman. Reeling from the blows, he returns to his hometown (Stuckeyville, OH), buys a bowling alley, starts up a law practice, and pursues the girl of his high school dreams. Along the way he has to deal with frustrations of starting over again, of having to restart friendships, of having to adjust himself from the city that never sleeps to the city that is continually napping.

Why do I mention all of this? Well, I will be pulling an “Ed” come mid-Sept. I won’t be getting fired. I surely don’t have a wife, let alone one to get caught in adultery. I don’t have a girl from high school that I am pursuing. But I will be moving from The Big City to smalltown America. I will be experiencing all that Ed has gone through in that transition. Leaving great friends, a phenom company, an awesome church, a quality apartment…to start anew at home.

But I must. As it appears now, I got three months or so of ABVD and/or MOPP chemo awaiting me. Depending on how those treatments work will determine if and when I will need to do a bone marrow transplant.

So more tangibly speaking here’s the deal:

Finish up work – first week of Sept.

Meet with doctor about biopsy – first week of Sept.

Biopsy – second (hopefully) or third week of Sept.

Art’s East Coast Farewell tour (stops in Philly, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, etc)- after biopsy, mid-Sept.

That’s the story.

While I am bummed about leaving NYC and having to do more chemotherapy, I am relieved to at least have a plan of action and a schedule.

The prayer calendar will be going up very soon. Look for a future posting about how to get involved.

I also have a ton of stories and adventures from this summer that I have neglected to share. I will try and do an update solely on those sometime soon.

See you soon!

http://nbc.com/nbc/Ed

www.bowlingshirt.com

August 11, 2001|

It’s been awhile…

It’s been awhile since I last gave a full update of my situation. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much new news to write about till now.

Latest Health News

The wheels are finally in motion. Yesterday I did a CT Scan and PET scan to see how and where the cancer is progressing. Lately my left leg has been getting more painful and a row of lymph nodes have popped up along the right side of neck going all the way up and behind my ear. The nodes are small but tender, so I can internally feel them more than I can see or feel them externally.

“Margaret Thatcher Naked, Margaret Thatcher Naked…”

Nurse Practioner David Rice (a New Wilmington/Mercer guy for you Western Pennsylvanians) is usually the one who examines me to feel for any new growths. We have this joke when it comes to the armpit test. I am extremely ticklish. Extremely ticklish. (Don’t get any ideas:)) When he first started doing the test to feel around for any new popped-up nodes, I would repeat, “Margaret Thatcher naked, Margaret Thatcher naked…” to think of something that would not make me laugh (i.e. seeing Margaret Thatcher naked would be something quite unfunny) while he poking around my armpits.

So anyway, he starts repeating “Margaret Thatcher naked, Margaret Thatcher naked…” when he wants to do the armpit test and wants me not to laugh, and it just so happened that he found some nodes up there very recently.

Decision Time

Obviously having nodes appear is not a good thing, but it actually is. I have learned to deal with uncertainty quite well these past few months, but it is nice to know that now one thing is quite certain: I am going to have to do some form of treatment soon.

It has also allowed me to mentally start preparing me for the upcoming battle. There are a lot of good memories that I still carry around from my stem cell transplant, but there are a lot of bad memories, many of which I have purged from my memory. But now I need these bad memories to prepare me…the rubber tube sticking out of my chest, nurses waking me up every three hours to take my temperature, nurses waking me up at 4:30am to weigh me (how stupid is that??? see my January entries for what that’s all about), losing my hair, not being able to eat…I gotta do it all over again. I’m not going to lie, it’s gonna suck. But if it’ll get me better, than I’ll do it. It’s my choice- live with it, or die without it.

Next Up

I have few more minor tests to take and then by the end of August I should have an idea of where I will be and what I will be doing. Stay tuned!

July 18, 2001|

Bone Marrow? What’s The Deal?

Everyone has been asking me about what are the results of the bone marrow test that my brothers and I took a few weeks back. I include the following transcript from an e-mail from legendary Youngstown hoopster “Ground” Chuck Guerrieri:

“Did the doctor give any indication or idea what he’s going to do next. If you need bone marrow,you better get Frankie to donate his now before it get’s all polluted from marriage and I’m not sure Billy has any, he only weighs 63 pounds. You want some he-man marrow, let me know. Italian marrow will put a little hair on your chest but it might look funny with the sissy clothes you wear. Keep in touch.”

A Lil’ Billy Inside Art

Ladies and gentleman, the results are in. Coming as no surprise to those who know me, and know Frank, we didn’t match up at all. Not one factor matched. But Billy, he’s somewhat of a cross between myself and Frank- maybe he would match, maybe?

When the results came back, he did, on 5 out of 6 factors. Therefore if I need to do BMT, Billy’s the man. Scary to think I would have little Billy’s creeping and crawling in me. My first thought when I heard the news was the my bone marrow (in typical big sibling fashion) would kick the crap out of Billy’s bone marrow in WWF-fashion. I hope that doesn’t happen…

So what does all of these mean? It means that if I need a BMT, I have a potential donor. Being a donor is not that difficult and requires little time and effort. He just has to sit still for four or five hours, which I think Billy has the patience to do.

At my latest appointment, same old, same old, have to wait and see what to do next. I guess my current lesson from the Big Guy is a lesson in patience.

Otherwise, everything is cool here in the Big Apple. Been busy at work and hanging out. I will be home in Ohio the last weekend of July to see everyone. Give me a yell to hang. More on the way…

July 9, 2001|

Latest News

Sorry nothing new to report from my latest doctor’s appointment on July 3rd. Same old answer, “looking fine, blood tests look good, lymph node on neck same size…we’ll have to wait and see.” This week or next we should find out about whether or not my brothers and I have a bone marrow match. I am not exactly sure what will happen if we do, or if we don’t. I guess that is for a later posting.

Other than that, enjoying Brooklyn life (so much more chill than Manhattan life!) and getting settled into the new digs. Had a roof-top American party on July 4th (we bought $90 worth of KFC, had red, white and blue sprinkled Krispy Kremes, watermelon…American fare to the max) Went to the Hamptons on Saturday, beautiful beaches, amazing properties.

Next doctor’s appointment is July 24th, coming home to Ohio for the weekend of July 27-29th, e-mail me to hang out.

June 27, 2001|

Quick Update

I wanted to give a quick update for some of you who haven’t been to the site in awhile. I try to update every two weeks.

Next Tuesday (July 3rd) I go in for my next appointment. It will probably be the same old (“Let’s wait and see…”) but that’s better than the alternative. Look for a July 4th update.

One of the most asked questions is where will I be living next month (being that my lease in Manhattan is up and we didn’t renew). For the next two months I will be hanging out in Brooklyn, chillin’ in a majorly cool brownstone (think Cosby’s)two blocks from the Prospect Park, directly across the street from the Methodist Hospital ER, and a block from a giant Barnes and Noble. What more could you ask for? I will be living with two co-workers who are great guys and filmmakers on the side. Dining room? Who needs a dining room? We’re going to have a giant editing bay! I can just envision the music videos we can make… 🙂 In the meanwhile, if you want to send mail, just send it to my Ohio address.

The Wedding Adventure

I know I probably shouldn’t be telling you all of these stories, but I can’t help it.

To begin my younger brother Frank got married to his college sweetheart Heather last Saturday in eastern Connecticut. A lot transpired, mostly (if not all) on our side of the family. First, cousin Amy gets stranded in DC because of bad weather. Than Uncle Mickey gets a little too excited at Foxwoods Casino, has a few chest pains, and the next thing you know he’s in the ER. His heart medication had expired and wasn’t working. Unfortunately he missed the wedding and reception, but he is doing fine now.

Next my youngest brother Billy is going to France to study abroad for a month. Billy, not the most detailed-oriented individual, didn’t realize he would have to be in France on Sunday. Therefore, as soon as the Frank and Heather cut the cake, my parents grabbed Grandma and Billy, loaded them in the rental Montero Sport and headed back to JFK airport to get Billy on his plane by 9:50pm. (They made it with 2 and 1/2 hours to spare and Billy is there doing quite well).

Lastly, and probably the best of the stories, was the weather. It was so hot, even at 10am when the ceremony took place. So I was sweating like a hog in my tux (c’mon, I have a damaged lymph system and a brand new immune system that doesn’t always work great!), but Frank was really sweating. He wasn’t nervous or anything, it was just really hot. So after the minister pronounces them man and wife, Frank and Heather scurry down the aisle, Frank with his gaze fixed downward. They get to the end of the sanctuary, Frank whispers to Heather (we have all of this on video btw) and then drags her down the hall. He then runs into the bathroom and yaks his brains out. Heather wheels around, looks at the camera, and giggles, hands over mouth. You’ve got to see it.

Moral of the story:

Have a good breakfast and drink lots of water before you wedding ceremony. Art’s personal lesson: I definitely getting married in a fall or winter month, that’s contingent upon a.) finding someone to marry and b.) her wanting to getting married in the fall (“Uh,yes dear, sure we can get married in August, uh, yes ma’am… :)”)

Anyway, Frank washed up and went right back out to the receiving line. The rest of the day went great, it didn’t rain and all is happy in Canningland (I have a sister-in-law, how weird!) You can e-mail Frank and congratulate himat yakko2564@aol.com.

Other Than That…

…nothing much going on. Working hard at work, summer is our busiest month. On the weekends I get to enjoy the City. I can’t believe I am writing this, but the City has kinda grown on me. If I end up having to leave to do more treatments someplace else, I will miss New York City. 🙁

Stay in touch, look for an update next week!