Light The Night Walk Lymphoma & Leukemia Society

I was honored to be asked to lead a group in this years 2010 Light The Night walk to be held October 9th starting at 5:30 in Houston's Discovery Green Park. Part of my responsibilities included fund raising. With my ongoing health problems I failed miserably in that area. The funds go to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's ,mission to cure blood cancers and improve quality of life of patients and their families. They have personally helped me the last three years and I hope to return the favor.

I had hoped to walk with my cousin, friends and family, but my close cousin who is a whiz at fundraising is not feeling up to the walk. She battles her own cancer while supporting me in more ways than one.

So now I have simplified my goal. I hope to attend and walk as much as possible. All walkers who raise $100 will receive a wristband which entitles them to a light the night T-Shirt, illuminated balloon & refreshments.

Although my friends and family can not join me, maybe I can get my daughter off work. I want to be there. My goal is $100. for the walk. At this late date I can collect a check at my daughters this weekend or it could be Paypaled to txplumber@gmail.com

The following day the Texans will be playing the Giants and the Grilling Tail Gaters will be offering koozies and wristbands to raise funds. More information will follow but that is sure to be a blast and an opportunity to send a check to LLS.

Time is of the essence and I hope you can help spread the word. Friends and family have been remarkable. Bringing tears to my eyes to see the shear numbers that come out to support in time of need.

I hope you can help fell free to call me at (832) 496-1453. Roger

If you have questions about LLS Please contact

Jennifer Tucker

Campaign Director, Light the Night

(713) 680-8088

New parts

If this font looks large to you it is because it is. By the time I get back to work this 40 something body is going to have newer parts than my 15 year old pick up truck. I just had a stem cell transplant, thats where they drain all the fluids getting all the old stuff out of your system ie. blood and replacing it with a new better operating system. Now that I think about it chasing 21 year olds aint that bad. Heck, I was born again in March of 2009. Now that the motor starts working looks like the vision might need a new windshield. The crazy part is now I need a new right hip. The steroids that saved my life fighting my last graft versus host disease deteriorated my right hip bone. I need a new one, quick. Checking eBay want it candy apple red, in titanium with a small diamond in the middle. Might as well make it bullet proof and add hydraulics. I definitely want it to turn 360 degrees, that would be so cool.

In all honesty I am scared out of my mind, I have cried, held back tears and bit my tongue til it bled. I do not know what the future holds, that will be discussed the 2nd of next month with an orthopedic surgeon.

I know I feel like I did something really bad before and must continue to fight for my life. Cancer (MDS at that, a rare form), infections, Diabetes, now fluid in my hip. I am a poster child for fund raising. My windows do not go down in my truck and I have no A/C. I should be in the hospital soon for heat stroke if I keep driving it. But I do not think they will change my compressor or thermostat for heat exhaustion.

I am not the first to say it nor will I be the last but "Cancer Sucks". It is not a tragic novel you read only to find the prince to save the fair maiden. It is not a trilogy, but a comprised set of lifes offerings. The cards you are dealt, the only distance is this is for more than money or a bracelet and I can not "FOLD" I have to play what has been dealt. Because every hands a winner, its just a matter of how you play that hand. My cards will be dealt on the 2nd and it may be my "all in moment" but like my baby girl told me on the phone, we have come to far, we beat cancer. My baby is my ROCK. She put me in check and dried my tears. I taught her to play Texas Hold 'em on the beaches of Southwest Florida when I go get these new cards she will be at my side. We play pretty good together, its been a while but it's like riding a bike. A beat-up one.

My cousins have opened their hearts and home to me since before this began. I was hoping to be at work first week of October. I really am turning into Alan from "Two & 1/2 Men"

So tired of being tired

"Out of the deep depths of misfortune comes bliss. " Author unknown

sac·ri·fice /ˈsækrəˌfaɪs/ Show Spelled [sak-ruh-fahys] noun, verb, -ficed, -fic·ing.

the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

I find it hard to hang on some times. I am at the peak of the mountain trying to climb and make it to the top, but I am hampered by mother nature. To let go now would mean certain death. Yet the peak seems so far.

I have trapped myself into a form of isolation. Going what I went through runs you through the gamut of emotions. Its seems most have been spent and I still have two months until I see my doctor. How soon will I get my life back? As time passes I find other complications, my left leg has a searing pain that run for about five minutes every time I stand on. I need a cane but vanity will not allow it. I have yet to see a man wear a hard hat and depend on a cane. Therefore I grit my teeth and hobble along.

Trying to balance a budget when you do not have an income makes things difficult some things are mandatory, gas in the truck, hygiene products, food but than there are the ones you have to weight the importance of. Medicines versus paying phone bill (phone bill, lost this month. Please do not think I am ignoring you, it's just that it is a luxury I can not afford at this time. The future looks less bright with payments going to Medicare part A & B. If my cousins did not allow me to live in a room in their home I am sure I would have eaten the 40 plus bottles of prescriptions along with a bottle of Jack Daniels.

My family loves and cares for me but here I am allowed to walk into this room and stick my head in the pillows and cry til I fall asleep. My cousin is fighting her own battle with cancer. She and I were inseparable growing up and now in the prime of our lives we are diagnosed with this. She was the model patient/warrior facing chemotherapy and radiation on a daily basis. I went with her once to a treatment and she asked for little and fought through what ever pain she had. Her vitality and love of life are contagious.

October 5 is when I go to MD Anderson. I hope for a clean bill of health, I am taking my prescriptions and trying to eat better. But the sleep patterns continue to cause havoc. I am wide awake 40 minutes past midnight.

The 28th of this month I will be hosting a blood drive at Gabby's on Telephone. Donors saved my life and most donate on a regular basis. I want this time to be special I would like to offer some type of goodie bag to express my thanks. So I am asking for help in that department. Anything you could share would be great. Monetary donation are going to pay for catered lunches. If this means my tools and laptop go back to the Pawn Shop than so be it. This is important to me. It is also the closest date I could get to the Birthday of my sister. She gave me life, I need to give back.

DONATE ETANOD DONATE PLEASE

I have been asked how people can help out with the blood drive if they can not give blood. The next blood drive will be at Gabby's on Telephone Road, August 28. I was hoping to put together some goodie bags for the donors. If you or your company have coupons or other items please let me know. I am also accepting cash donations to pay for some catered food items. When the donor leaves from Gabby's that day I want them to know how much I appreciate them. Basically, I want to reward those donors that come out to give the gift of life. I can take Paypal with the link above or you can send to txplumber@gmail.com no gift is too small.

Thank you very much,

Roger Contreras
(832) 848-6705

Without these blood drives I would not be alive today. It is a cause that is very important to me. My sister and I were chosen to be in the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Bank's 2010 calendar. We are Mr. & Mrs. November. I was able to get a few extras that will be available on the day of the event.

Run like a girl

Inspiration can come in many forms and from many different sources. As I continue taking my medication to strengthen and develop my immune system they drag me down, making me lethargic, tired, and sleepy. Yesterday I read a post from D'Ann about her jogging before work. A cousin I have grown up with is in her own fight against cancer and just completed five rounds of chemotherapy. She took the diagnosis for what it was and decided to take it head on and fight. She had daily radiation treatments, something I never had to endure. She continues to drive to work, care for her daughter and prepared dinner last night.

Both are women but how they conduct their lives makes me want to do something. Like Forrest Gump, I was just running and running. I am determined to sleep no more than 8 hours and start daily calisthenics. Although I am under doctors orders with my treatment, I could easily use that as a crutch. I do not want crutches. It will be two months til I can work again and make an income. I have to choose whether I need a cell phone or do I need 12 more prescriptions. Obvious choice, I will resort to using smoke signals from the Weber grill out back.

I am heading to my sisters to watch my nieces and nephew while she works. She has been the shoulder that has felt my tears. I feel like I reached a point in my recovery where things will go positive. As long as I can find inspiration I am invincible. I like girls.

Insomnia consumes me

After this much time you would think I could control my own sleep patterns, but I find myself at their mercy. It is 2 am. and I am wide awake. Home alone which is rare, so I do not know what to do. Am thinking of cleaning the freezer or going out to the driveway and wash my truck. TV is boring unless there is a sport on. I have seen todays edition of Sportscenter so I find myself with idle hands and time. I think alot about what might have been, how my life would be changed. April 10, 2008 is a day I will never forget, it is the date I was admitted to Tomball Regional Hospital in Texas.

Being admitted stripped me of many things. Dignity was the biggest. I find myself asking why me. I try to volunteer to help others, I read to escape but I keep coming back to the same place where I want to feel sorry for myself. Like life owes me something. I saw cancer, fought it and am winning, I deserve something. A sticker, I got. Maybe a happy face drawn on my arm.

Do not take your health for granted, and hopefully you are sound asleep as I type this.

Clouds overhead, rain forecast, & still taking pills

I refuse to let cancer define me as a person. It will not be what is rememnered of me when I am gone. My experience with it has made me stronger, not physically, yet. But mentally and more determined. There is too much out there to be hindered and shackled by this illness. I received a transplant over a year ago that has allowed me to discontinue what were weekly and bi-weekly blood transfusions. My immune system was obliterated and I had to start from scratch. I am still on antibiotics, antifungals, antivirus and just about every other anti medicine that can be prescribed.

I want to wake up before dawn and prepare my lunch. Put on my Wranglers, boots and a Commit for Life T-shirt. Drive my truck to a muddy field that I will help convert to a hospital, school or other building. I need to transform these smooth palms to the blistered, calloused hands that grip pipe wrenches as if it were second nature. To feel the sweat drip down the back and hoping for a slight breeze to cool you down. The weight of my hard hat multiplying as the day progresses. This is what a man should be doing.

After receiving only my second round of vaccinations this has been placed on hold. All I can do is try and fight the lethargy that the prescriptions bring. Try to regulate my sleep so that I am not awake at midnight and taking naps like a child during the day. I am having to learn to control my anxiety.