Done . . .

dbahn said:
The smart patient and the smart doctor will read the link that Piperonca posted above and realize that pharmacy benefit managers are making millions by keeping people from paying out of pocket for drugs that are horribly inflated in cost through third party handlers but are relatively inexpensive to distribute if purchased outright without insurance copays.

Read how Martin Shkreli was caught in one of these scams and jailed for raising drug prices by 5,000%
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There was another prescription that I filled at a CVS, and they charged me about 8X what Amazon charged after I switched to the latter.
 
Halfway through radiation/chemo, I'm acutely aware of one of the side effects: ;)

(Two or three days of raking up fallout. At least it's gray, not blond, which it would have been many years ago . . . )


hair.jpg
 
dbahn said:
Halfway through radiation/chemo, I'm acutely aware of one of the side effects: ;)

(Two or three days of raking up fallout. At least it's gray, not blond, which it would have been many years ago . . . )


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That's from your head, right? Right?! Lol. Sorry you've joined those of us who didn't have the lovely locks anymore.
 
NealRomeoGolf said:
I went into KBED (Bedford) and they waived nothing. Some places are just jerks. Signature at Mayo has been the best.

Sorry to hear of the diagnosis. It's the same that took my grandfather at age 81. I wish you and family peace and enjoyment for the time you have with them.
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Everything involving Mayo is the best.
 
Half Fast said:
Dave, how’s it going? Any updates on your treatment?

Pulling for you.
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Thanks for asking and thanks for pulling.

I finished radiation and chemo a week ago and have just started to feel better a day or two ago. Despite being forced to eat I lost about 20 pounds, but some food has finally become appealing again as the nausea subsides. I'm thankful that I didn't have headaches, which is a very common side effect. Now we just let things settle down for three weeks before a follow up MRI and neuro oncologist visit in Pittsburgh where we should get a better idea of where it goes from here . . .

I sold my hangar and Cub as a package and have a deposit on the C206, which will head to Alaska if the sale is finalized. With fond memories of two trips there from Vermont, I like to think it belongs there.

For anyone going through this, I think it's much harder on the family than it is on the patient. At least that's been my experience.
 
dbahn said:
I am planning to stick around, here and elsewhere. Social media can be informative and constructive at the same time, even though it can go haywire every now and then.​
​
In the middle of the night a few days ago I conjured up a plan. I have to return to Pittsburgh a few weeks after my brain biopsy. It's a 600 mile drive and there are some direct flights, and then I thought, "why not charter - in my own plane?" in which case it's not a charter if I have a commercial pilot acting as PIC an I have oversight of the operation. I have quite a few former student either teaching or now in the airlines, so I'm exploring that possibility before I sell the C206. It might work out well all the way around, and would certainly be convenient with more flexibility.​
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That sounds like a great plan. One of the huge benefits of having instructed for a lot of years is you have a great network of pilots to network with. Keep your CFI up to date, there will always be pilots that would love to log some PIC time with an experienced instructor, and even better if you help them with the cost of doing so.

Having had to take a 9 month Hiatus from PIC ops for a medical issue, I found a couple pilots wanting to build cross country time for their Instrument Rating and or work on their Commercial Rating. It was a great moral boost to be able to continue to instruct and fly with them.

I wish we could get the FAA to come around at let CFI's fly with solo rated Students and/or let CFII's act as Safety pilots with a valid Medical.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
 
dbahn said:
Not too much to report. We’re in Greece now on a luxury vacation before things go really downhill, so we think the treatments have helped.
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Good news on help from the treatments. I visitied Greece almost forty years ago now. Beautiful place ...
 
Well, succumbing to family pressures I went ahead with an application for the Wright Brothers' Master Pilot Award, which arrived a few weeks ago. I was reminded of my 50 years of flying with no accidents, incidents or violations and many fond memories in airplanes, gliders, and floatplanes. I logged over 4,000 hours during that time, with no gaps in activity. I owned the C206 for forty years, with two trips from Vermont to Alaska and trips to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island the Bahamas and most of the lower 50 states. I loved flying the Pawnee at Sugarbush and was reminded of over 3700 glider tows there.

mpa.jpglsst flight.jpgIMG_2748 - frame at 0m6s.jpg




It's SOOO hard to to give it up, but I've had a fabulous time getting there. ;) :cheers:
 
Dave,

It is hard to give up. I'm 72, I know I won't make it to 50 years, but it's been fun so far. Keep up the posting, you have much to share with the rest of us. And I'm glad you are enjoying the cruise.
 
I send my compliments and best wishes to you. I hope you can reflect on those fifty years and recall memories that provide some comfort and sustenance during your challenges.
 
dbahn said:
For anyone going through this, I think it's much harder on the family than it is on the patient. At least that's been my experience.
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To me that's compelling evidence that's you're a good guy....and earned that support system around you.

Congrats on that award, and hope you have a great time in Greece!
 
dbahn said:
Hell, I plan to maximize death itself. Vermont has a liberal "death with dignity" policy, which I will use, and my advance directive includes my request to fire my ashes from one of the bronze cannons I made years ago. My daughter's not wild about that, but my wife is on board and I think my daughter will come around. ;)

I made the bore size to be able to shoot golf balls, which happen to be the same size as a one pound lead ball.

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Great idea. Sorry to hear prognosis.

I made a bowling ball mortar years ago. I have shot quite a few friends and relatives heaven bound.
I bore out the finger holes to make room for a cup full of ashes. When ball rotates it leaves a dual contrail of ashes.

This is my sister's oldest living son sending her off with a bang.
 

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Half Fast said:
@dbahn

Hey, Dave - haven’t seen an update from you for a while. Any news? Still undergoing treatment?
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Technically, I'm still being treated but at substantial risk of fatal side effects. If one of those occurs I have the option of assisted suicide, which I would likely utilize.
 
dbahn said:
Technically, I'm still being treated but at substantial risk of fatal side effects. If one of those occurs I have the option of assisted suicide, which I would likely utilize.
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All the best, Dave. We are all thinking of you and your family. Hang in there.
 
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Great! Beatin’ the odds!

Remember - you don’t have to “survive the tumor.” You just have to slow it down enough until you die of something else, like being shot by a jealous husband when you’re pushing 100. :biggrin:

Hang in there, and enjoy however much time God grants you. Prayers sent.
 
Since posting last year, I've had to hang it up, as well. I passed out in February and the MRI that followed found a slight irregularity. My PCP (who has also done my physicals for Basic Med in the past) agreed (as did my wife) that I should not serve as PIC in the future. He has put me on an anti-seizure medicine that is 100% effective, so that won't be a problem in the future, however... It's been fun for the last almost 25 years, but my membership in the local flying club has been sold and I will now do other things. Rats, but it's better to be down here wishing you were up there than the reverse.
 
I know of more than one pilot who just flew with another qualified pilot in the other seat.

But, good luck and hope it all works out.
 
Thanks for sharing. A life fully lived for others and self. Peace to all family & friends.
 
I really enjoyed reading Dave's recounting of his Alaskan adventures. I choose to remember him that way.
 
RIP Dave... you had a good run, and obviously appreciated the magnitude of the wonders of flight, and how it positively affected your life.
 
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