This is the photo of Leanna and I as the sole participants in the "seniors dance" at the wedding. It was intended to be the final dance of the night for people married 20 years or more to show the young people including the wedding couple that love can endure for a lifetime.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, August 31, 2015 - 01:53 pm: Edit

Full disclosure: my ability to dance is limited to hugging the girl and shuffling my feet. On a crowded dance floor nobody knows you're not actually doing a foxtrot/waltz.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 02:38 pm: Edit

Steve Cole is fine. Let's start there before any of the rest of this upsets anyone. Fine means cured, full recovery in progress, no problems. Now, as for what happened.

Last Friday a brilliant surgeon removed my left kidney which had a big tumor. This kind of cancer is self-contained and non-invasive (at least it would have been for another year) so there is no follow up, no radiation, and no chemotherapy. I'm done, cured, back to a normal life. Home and safe.

I did not mention this earlier because I knew that it was a simple procedure with odds of success at 100%. Easy fix. I wasn't worried and you didn't need to worry either. If I seemed distracted in the last few weeks, this was why. (Unlike TV doctors who schedule your surgery for the third commercial, real world cancers wait several weeks for a surgical appointment.)

I am telling you now because ADB, Inc. has always been totally honest and transparent, and because just maybe it will inspire a few of you who don't currently take care of your health to see a doctor regularly and keep track of your blood pressure and blood sugar. My blood pressure had been stable for a decade when I noticed a sudden climb that steadied at a higher number. When it didn't go away, I asked my doctor to check into it, and a few specialists and tests later they found a tumor the size of a tennis ball (which was causing my blood pressure to rise).

I am going to take the four-day holiday weekend to rest and let a few places heal. It hurts when I laugh -- but not even enough to take pain pills. I will be fine. See you all Monday.

By A. David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 02:47 pm: Edit

Glad to hear that everything went well.

By Randy Blair (Randyblair) on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 03:21 pm: Edit

McCoy says keep your eyes peeled for possible post-op infection. And take it easy!
Welcome back.

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 03:33 pm: Edit

Excellent news, glad it went well and everything is a-ok! Get well soon!

By Charles Chapel (Ctchapel) on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 - 09:46 pm: Edit

GOOD! Cancer sux I know, bilateral lung and colon resections later I hate it. Another victory for life. Wolf'll have you up walking all over in no time, weather permitting.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, November 26, 2015 - 12:40 am: Edit

The point is that but for my monitoring my own numbers I would have a terminal condition and not even know it. Because of my records, I am cured.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, November 26, 2015 - 01:06 am: Edit

I am sorry to hear you lost a kidney. I am glad however that the cancer was removed.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, November 26, 2015 - 01:11 am: Edit

That is how I feel. and it feels strange.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, November 26, 2015 - 06:09 pm: Edit

Glad you are OK. Not the recommended way to lose weight though.

But like the USS Cole, a hole in the side ain't gonna stop you.

By Mark Hutton (Trynda1701) on Thursday, November 26, 2015 - 06:13 pm: Edit

Good to hear you are recovering. Good thoughts being sent your way for you and Leanna.

Remember, what Leanna says, goes!