{Mullets & Mustaches} Slideshow

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Randy Update 4-18-2011

Hello All,

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I have been feeling good and working hard. I am eating lots of soups, pasta and sauce dishes. Have not had a Captain Mo and diet yet. Saving my first for the party.

Several weeks ago I sent out an evite to everyone receiving these updates, and I have heard and been told that some of these evites went to SPAM and were never received. Below is what was in the EVITE:

Mullets and Mustaches for Randy:  

 Please join us at the Mullets and Mustaches event to celebrate not only the end of Randy's second round of radiation and chemotherapy, but also a fundraiser for the PATCH FUND. You know who Randy is. The PATCH FUND is an acronym for Patient Assistance Through Caring & Help. The PATCH FUND directly impacts Head and Neck Cancer patients. Money donated to this fund will be used for nutritional supplements, medical supplies, co-pays, medicines, groceries, rides, gas, etc for those patients that are in need. Check out more information at   www.mulletsandmustaches.blogspot.com 

You do NOT have to bowl!   There will be Food, Drink, a DJ and lots of Fantastic raffle prizes. You can park in the Bank of America lot across the street.

If you did not receive the EVITE I am sorry. If you plan on coming to celebrate with us and have not responded, please reply to this email with your number of peeps attending .  I am looking forward to celebrating with all of you!

Love and Hugs to All,

Randy

Randy Update 3-28-11

Hi everyone,

Sorry about no update last week. Things are improving rapidly. I am now eating cream soups!  Finally something different than soft boiled eggs. I don't need to puree anymore either. . I am slowly tasting different types of soft smooth foods. So far my taste buds are working fine. My weight is now stable and I will soon be gaining some back. I am working  three quarter to full days. I come home tired but enjoy being on the road and things getting back to normal.

Evites were sent out to the Mullet and Mustache Party. It seems lots of you have not opened your invitation and /or responded. Maybe it went to your spam, I don't know what may have happened to them. If you did not receive one , please let me know and I will resend one to you.  I'm looking forward to celebrating with all of you on April 23!  I'd like to get an idea of how many people to plan for so check the evite and respond by April 8th.

Love and Hugs to all

Randy

My Stache

This is what my stache looks like now, but it could be changing over the next few weeks.

Some Good News

Howdy

Just a quick little update. I am still doing just soft eggs and carnation instant breakfast. The big news is that I felt well enough to see a couple of close by accounts today. The 2 hours of work required a 2 1/2 hour nap to catch up. I plan on doing the same the rest of the week.

Also, I know that there are some of you out there that plan on entering the mullets and mustache contest. You need to come forward and email a picture of yourself to Lisa at

lmariespielman@me.com  so she can post it on the blog. You do not need to be on a team, we just want to see your lovely face.

More info always at http://mulletsandmustaches.blogspot.com/

Love and Hugs

Randy

Randy's update 3-5-11

Hello All,

Another week with some positive news.  On Monday the doctor and nurses thought that my intake of fluids was good. They told me to come back in a week. This past week was for trial of new foods. Most were just irritating or burning. Found nothing that would work This irritation  is what caused me to stop or slow down the drinking of water.. By Thursday I was feeling dehydrated and needed fluids. I called one of my favorite nurses, Ellen D., and she came by and hit a vein on the first try. She hooked me up with one bag of fluids and I started feeling better. I felt I should go back to basics. Soft boiled eggs, carnation instant breakfast mixed with water and water mixed with strawberry syrup. By going back to basics, today, Saturday, my throat feels better and  I am able to drink more water and the rest of my basic foods go down a little easier.

Last Saturday, Phil and Ellen stopped by for a visit. When I woke up they were all having a good time, enjoying a couple of drinks. I wanted to join in so I tried a shot of Phil's beer. Tasted good and only burned a little. Got my own bottle and enjoyed it a shot at a time. I did have to stir out the bubbles, but it really tasted good.

I am going to stick to basics and a beer!

Love and Hugs to All,

Randy

Update 2-26-11

Hi Everyone,

Lots of good news this week! On Tuesday, I was able to drink some water without choking. Boy did that taste and feel good. Now that I can consume some of my own water , the doctor has me coming back every other day for IV fluids. I added a few things to my food intake. The soft boiled eggs were getting boring so they are now called omelets. Pureed mushrooms and shredded cheddar are added to the soft boiled eggs and viola, you have a Randy omelet. Pureed  Mac and cheese is enjoyable again..

As you can see from the above, the swelling in my throat is slowly improving. I can see and feel that the redness in my throat in going down. The spitting is not as often so sleeping is easier and for longer periods. Wow Captain and diet seem to be in the near future. Oh that was just  one of those sleep periods --- just a dream!

The bottom line is that I'm on the upswing and loving it!

I would like to thank Ellen Deugs for putting in a new Med Lock last Saturday. The one from the hospital went bad. She was a good as Patty and hit the vein on the first try. This again saved me from going to the emergency room.

Thanks for all the love, support, prayers and emails

Randy

Update 2-19-11

Hello All

It seems that spring is near and these changes are affecting me also. It's nice to bring you all some positive news. I am still eating 6 soft eggs a day but  I have found something I can drink. No, it's not Captain Mo. I was able to eat small  amounts of vanilla pudding so I decided to dilute the pudding with water . Worked like a charm!  One cup of water to 1/4 cup of pudding and now I can drink water. Not too quickly but I am able to do 3 of these a day. Yesterday I was able to drink pureed peas and water. Think of it as pea soup. Still searching for smooth, soft things that don't burn. So far they are eggs, peas and pudding.

I have been back to the hospital each day this week for IV fluids because those few cups of water in my pudding are not enough to keep me hydrated. A special shout out goes to Patty, Weasle's sister, for going above and beyond last Saturday. My Med Lock malfunctioned and wouldn't work so I would not be able to get any fluids. Patty got some new supplies, removed the old one, and was able to stick my vein on the first try. This was a huge accomplishment, in that the phlebotomists at U of MD hospital take 2 to 3 tries to hit my dehydrated veins. Hon, she's a real pro!

This whole process of healing after the radiation has been difficult for me.  It is a full time job trying to minimize the pain in my throat using narcotic lollypops, numbing gargles and just to trying to get food and liquids down.  By the time I get through this, I'm exhausted, sleep, and wake up just to start the whole process again!  The good news is that I know this will get better in time. As a matter of fact , I feel I have less pain in my throat today than yesterday.

So please keep up the positive vibes, prayers and comments.

Love and Hugs.

Randy

Radiation

Randy is being set up for radiation. His head is bolted to the table with a mask so it is in the same position each time.

Randy update 2-12-11

Hi Everybody,

 

As you know, I finished my treatments on Tuesday.  Logically, you assume that I will slowly start to get better.  Unfortunately, that has not been the case.  Beginning on Super Bowl Sunday, I lost my ability to swallow anything!  That has been the case for most of this week.  Weasle has been taking me down to University of Maryland Hospital each morning to get an IV infusion of fluids to keep me hydrated.  The doctor has been monitoring me hoping that the inflammation will subside enough to allow me to avoid getting a tube down my nose to feed me.  I have been trying to swallow anything. On Thursday I was able to drink a pureed soft boiled egg and Thursday evening I did 2 eggs. Wow I thought the doctor was right, that by Friday the swelling would start receding. Things went downhill fast.On Friday I was only able to do 1/2 cup of cream of mushroom soup and in the evening 1/2 cup pureed mashed potatoes with cheese. I wasn't happy with the progress. I was going the wrong way. This morning surprised me. I mixed a carnation instant shake with ice cream. The whole shake was finished with a little work. I wanted to keep going so I boiled up 2 soft eggs and as usual, pureed them. I also was able to work them down. This has made me very happy! What to eat next?

 

Love and hugs to all

 

Randy

Update 2-8-11

Hi All

I just got back from graduating from radiation!!!!! Yeah, no more chemo or radiation. A quick update on what is happening. My esophagus has swollen to the point that I am unable to swallow anything. Since Sunday I have not had any food or liquids. On Monday the doctor gave me through an IV of 2 bags of fluids. Today was only one bag. The doctor does not want to put in a feeding tube at this point. He feels that since the radiation ends today, the swelling should start subsiding by Friday. At that point, I should be able to begin taking in some nutrition by mouth. In the meantime I will be back each day for a bag or two of fluids.

Love to all

Randy

Graduation Day

Princess Jill and King Jack at my pre-IV party

Randy update 2-5-11

Lets start with some good news.  Two days of radiation treatments left!!  That's 4 sessions or 24 times the radiation beam will come on. NO more chemo. I have lost about 15 pounds. This is not an easy way to do it. My swallowing is very limited due to swelling of the esophagus, sores and pain. I take teaspoon size bits of very smooth food. I hope the following isn't too much information but people are asking for details. My breakfast meals for the last week and a half have been 3 soft boiled eggs, a milkshake containing 2 scoops vanilla ice cream, 1 cup of milk and a packet of Carnation instant breakfast. Lunch is creamy yogurt and dinner is a repeat of breakfast.Water is too thin for me to drink. Water goes down the wrong pipe and I aspirate it. I am trying to drink pear and peach nectar, as these have a thicker consistency, but they burn. A catch 22, drink and be in pain or don't drink and dehydrate. I am choosing a little of each. Fatigue is constant, so all I want to do is sleep. Can't sleep longer than an hour because of mucous that builds up that I can't swallow. I wake up choking, spit and try to get back to sleep. On a positive note: This go round with chemo and radiation is much easier than 5 1/2 years ago.

 

On Friday Weasle and I met with Dr Zimrin, chemo, and she said I was scheduled for 1 more chemo session. WHAT, I know how to count to 5 and I had my 5. Weasle was going to get her wish, extra chemo, because I was handling everything so well. Dr Zimrin thought I had 3 days left next week but I only have 2 days left. The 2 days were because I started on a Tuesday and MLK Day pushed a day out. The doctor saw the light and gave me a reprieve. WOW that was a close call.

Lots of love and hugs

 

Randy

Christmas Photo

Randy and his supporters after loosing a beer pong bet on Christmas 2010. 

Scott, Randy, Michael and Kenny

Mullets and Mustaches: And so it begins......

Mullets and Mustaches has officially begun in honor of Randy Fine!   As we all know, Randy is undergoing chemo and radiation for the second time in his life, and we also know that over the years he has grown some very impressive mullets and mustaches.  For 3 months, men (and women if you can!) will be growing their mustaches and mullets proudly in honor of Randy.  In conjunction, we will be raising money by having a bowl-a-thon on  Saturday April 23, 2011.  Our goal is to raise $5000, and the proceeds will be donated to the PATCH Fund,  Patient Assistance Through Caring & Help Fund.  The PATCH Fund directly impacts Head and Neck Cancer patients. Money donated to this fund is tax deductible and will be used for nutritional supplements, medical supplies, co-pay, medicines, groceries, rides ,gas. etc for those patients that are in need. Randy and Weasle have a wonderful support system of family and friends. It is hard to imagine not having rides to and from treatments, working all day and having to prepare meals for yourself and/or family or not being able to afford some of the above that become necessities.   Winners of the Mullet and Mustache contest will be announced at the bowl-a-thon, with Randy and Weasle being the judges (no bribing them please!).  So our goal is 10 teams of 5 people for each team, $500 per team raised, $5,000 raised.  At the bottom of this webpage you can see each team and how much money they have raised so far.  When you create a team, I will create a donation box for you so family and friends can donate by clicking the "ChipIn" button in your teams box.

The details in a nut shell:

1- Message me if you would like to participate in growing a mustache or mullet. You can email me at lmariespielman@me.com.  I will need a starting picture that I can post. You will automaticity become captain of a bowling team so pick your team name as well. You will need to recruit 4 more people for your team. Your team will then raise money on your facebook pages or by email by simply sharing this blog link and having them find your team and hitting the "ChipIn' button.

2- If you can't grow a mustache or mullet, you can still become a team captain of a bowling team. You will need to recruit 4 more people for your team. I will create a team for you on the blog so you can send out the link for people to donate to your team. Each teams goal is to raise $500.

3- If you can't do either above, but would like to help in some other way, give me a shout!

4- Prizes will be awarded to the team that raised the most money, and for the winner of the Mullets and Mustache contest. 

5- Have fun, spread the word, and lets grow some mullets and mustaches!