The Zipperleg Chronicles - Fighting cancer with style!

Birth of ZipperlegPosted on Wed, Sep 29, 2010

Hi Everyone,

It’s your favorite invalid with news from the front line!

Kristin and I went in to go see Dr. Healey this morning, and I am now cast-free! They took the cast off, took the stitches out and taped me up. I looked like Frankenstein’s monster (Hence: Zipperleg.) but they did a motion test and the assistant declared we were already way off the charts with expectations for range of motion. He didn’t test it, but I have some motion in a direction they said I shouldn’t even have any. So, lots of good news there.

Then Dr. Healey came in and had a long chat with us, and there’s even better news. In his professional opinion, I’m cured! As in all modern medicine, there are some caveats to that, with odds of this and chances of that, but we’ll deal with those in the coming months. For now, the big news is that I’m out of the woods.

It turns out the cancer that I had is different from the type they thought I had. Turns out I had a Myxiod Liposarcoma, which behaves slightly differently in how it spreads, so I’m due for an MRI in a few months after I’ve recovered some to check my spine for any little nasties hiding out, but he said he doesn’t believe that would be the case, and this is a guy who really covers his butt. He also said it’s much less aggressive than initially diagnosed. So, score another one for our team.

I will not be a candidate for chemotherapy, thank God, and there are some decisions to be made concerning radiation, but I have a consultation scheduled and we’ll deal with that as it happens.

I will be on crutches for two more weeks. I can start working out my leg now, but will have to wait until then to properly start PT. Theoretically, according to Dr Healey, I can put half my weight on it, so I can stand, but not walk. However, as it’s been immobile for two weeks, and has had some major reorganization of the muscles, that’s going to take some work. I was advised to knock off hopping around as much as I have been, and get it elevated higher and more often.

That’s the news from Lake Woebegone. Where all the men are strong, the women are good looking and you better believe Izzy is above average. For those of you not in the know: her Birthday is on Friday. Just warning you in case there’s a rush for best Aunt and/or Uncle with all of the expanded competition this year.

All my love,

– Ben

About the Author

An actor trained in physical theater, living in New York City, livin' the dream. I am married to an amazing woman without whom I'd probably be dead by now, and step-dad to the irrepressible Izzy! I sculpt masks, I juggle, I act, I design graphically-type-stuff, and when offered the choice between two evils, I take the one I've never tried before. I listen, I fly planes, I bike to the beach, I am a tea brewing ninja, I design new board games with my daughter, and I tell stories... too many stories. And while I used to be trying to learn to juggle my work, living in this city, my dreams, my wife, but now I am reminded every day they are all one, all my life, and every day is one more day I get to live it.