Gratitude

[skipro]

as those of you who know me on this format, I've had my share of challenges that have been devastating in someways.

Today I want to express gratitude to everyone for all of their help and also share some light at the end of the tunnel that experiencing now.

I have not felt this good for over 4 1/2 years.

I stopped V seven months early ( 17 or 24 months) because the disease was progressing as opposed to regressing.

So I'm enjoying a treatment free interval. After dealing with influenza a for the second time which lasted 3 to 4 weeks, followed by Covid, which lasted five weeks, I have finally reached the point where I feel amazing. I had forgotten how good felt.

As you know, I love the mountains, and over the past two days I've skied far more time, terrain, double black diamond runs and had the stamina and energy to do more, by nearly double or triple I could over the last four or five years.

so thanks to God, and to modern science and new treatments, I'm in a good place at least for hopefully a few years.

After having been through treatment twice and had every complication, you can imagine, I've learned to appreciate every precious happy moment. I didn't know how to do this before I had CLL, so maybe it's been a bit of a blessing in disguise

just wanted to share that and share a beautiful picture offer some hope for better times ahead to those of you who are currently in the middle of your struggles.

God bless and good luck to all of you

Ski pro

[Mina2021]

Skipro , glad you are feeling good and back to doing what you love. Great outlook you have thanks for sharing!

[Walkingtall62]

wow, that’s so lovely to hear. Well done to you, and again the photo is amazing. Onwards and upwards!

[ygtgo]

Thank you for the pictures, from someone who is basically housebound now ...

I can 'taste' that cold, crisp mountain air ...

On the other hand ... bbbrrrr ... I think I'll put on an extra layer now 😎

[skipro in reply to ygtgo]

Awe sad to hear you are house bound

how can I help

[Maya2007]

Glad to hear you're feeling so well and enjoying your skiing.Once again thanks v much for the beautiful pic.🥰🥰🥰

[Spark_Plug]

So, glad for this rejuvenation. Savor it, make it a place you can focus on when times get rough. May it continue to bring the peace you so badly held out for. 😌

[Thundercat2]

Nice to hear skipro! Especially knowing that you have come through some tough times and yet are able to do what you love. Gives us all hope that we can too!

[CycleWonder]

You have been and remain an inspiration. Your photography makes me feel like I was there!

[skipro in reply to CycleWonder]

🙏👍

[Homebody123]

How lovely and congratulations on feeling well and enjoying life!

[Stamphappy]

Another stunning photo, Skipro! So glad to hear you're doing better. 🤗

[spi3]

So happy to hear you are doing amazing-praying for a long feel-great break for you too. As always I'm hoping you are finally displaying your beautiful pictures with your community too

[skipro in reply to spi3]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏thx

[Zia2]

Always enjoy your posts. Hope you feel well and gratitude for a long time to come.

[MontanaLover]

Attitude and determination, my friend, is what gets us through and I have to say that yours is always inspirational. Neverthessl, I'm sorry for what you have and are presently dealing with. However, I'm so glad you got outdoors and did something you enjoy. Unfortunately, I'm back in the desert due to a broken humerus...not so humorous in my opinion. Nevertheless, I'm missing my mountains, lakes and winter. As a desert dweller born and raised, I was so looking forward to my winter activities this year. Take care and enjoy this well deserved treatment break while you can. Maybe head up our way next year for a change of scenery.

Mountain and lake

[skipro in reply to MontanaLover]

beautiful

[skipro in reply to MontanaLover]

Awe sorry to hear about that

Did you have it surgically fixed ( the orthopedic surgeon in me says that this would lead to a much faster recovery)

[MontanaLover in reply to skipro]

Not as of yet. I return to the Ortho in 2 weeks to determine if surgery is needed. Last visit he said the fracture is lined up but it hasn't healed as much as he would have expected. I'm assuming CLL has some impact on the speed of recovery of our injuries. However, I'm hopeful that there will be more progress at my next appointment now that the compression sleeve has also been removed.

[skipro in reply to MontanaLover]

Hmm,

How long ago was it fractured?

Which part is fractured, upper, middle or lower?

How painful and limiting is it?

If it were mine, I would push to have them fix it right away in the beginning as the surgery would render it immediately stable and allow much more rapid return to function.

Good luck to you and God bless

Skipro

PS Where is Montanna are you? I live at the base of the canyons in SLC because it gives immediate access to the mountains, but it is so crowded here, the smog is getting horrible and I've thought of moving to a place near Whitefish or Kalispell.

[MontanaLover in reply to skipro]

The orthopedic surgeon side of you just can't help himself can he. Hehehe!

The fracture was a displaced fractured in the middle part of the humerus. This is now week 8 and I am getting more mobility but still have pain with inner and outer lateral movements as well as shoulder and elbow. It happened right before Thanksgiving and by the time we actually received a callback from an Orthopedic, it was 2 weeks later. If I knew it would have taken this long to heal, I probably would have pushed more for surgery earlier but here we are.

We are a little over an hours drive outside of Whitefish towards the Canadian border. When we were driving to Montana, SLC was my least favorite parts because it is 100 miles of traffic from Spanish Fork to North Ogden. Whitefish and Kalispell have become pretty congested as well but not like that. I'm hoping a few really good Montana winters will thin the herd. We don't get much smog but we do get the smoke from fires in the surrounding areas and Canada. Sometimes, it just hangs there for days and it gets pretty miserable if one has allergies or any respiratory issues. Have you already starting researching areas? If so, what areas were you looking at?

Enjoy your winter activites!

[Miller1960]

Happy for you.

Beautiful photo

[Palmetto]

So happy you are feeling so well. I tried skiing so many times and could not master even being president of the Miami Ski Club lol. I planned the trips but my times were the apris ski events. You sound much happier than a few weeks ago. Husband had influenza A in July and almost didn’t make it. Twice I can’t imagine!!

[Agfar]

Excellent news and stunning photo, thanks for sharing this with us. Did you ever make a website for your photos?

[laurieq]

It’s great to hear you sound happy and content. Long may it continue! And thanks for the picture!

[CLLCalifornia-USA]

Your post is inspiring as well as your photography. May God continue to bless you. 🙏Sally

[Tangolover]

Bravo!!

[Danie50]

omg !! That's amazing 🧡🤎!! Yes!! Keep enjoying life ! And thank you for sharing!!

[Bornagain514]

Skipro

Thank you for your post and encouragement when it comes to seeing life with CLL and all its beauty. You are an inspiration and your post came at the EXACT time in my life. Thank you, thank you! Be well and safe!

[skipro in reply to Bornagain514]

👍🙏

[skipro in reply to Bornagain514]

Awe so glad to hear

❤️🙏👍

[Goldenperson14]

Thanks for the amazing photo :). I look forward to your posts and positivity. Wishing you many feel good days.

[Smakwater]

The Double Blacks! I remember them well.

At Alta the chutes at the Eagles Nest are considered single black. Back in the day, I remember having to hike for 30 minutes to get there. There was one day when I woke up in the parking lot with 2 feet of fresh Fluff and the powder below the nest was untouched, aaaaaAAhhH....

Glad You feel so good Skipro.

I miss the bumps on the plunge at Telluride too. I remember it looking like a mile of 1966 Volkswagen Beatles covered in powdered sugar. mmmm And, then a Huckleberry beer at the half point lodge around 2:30 as a reward.

No lift lines, and $38.00 to ride all day.

JM

[skipro in reply to Smakwater]

Awe me too

How about the VW bumps at Mary Jane at Winter Park⛷️

[Smakwater in reply to skipro]

Have not made Winter Park, The only other areas I was able to ski in Co were Durango and Wolf Creek.

[skipro in reply to Smakwater]

Awe, what are Durango and Wolf Creek like?

Where is Wolf Creek?

Thx

[Smakwater in reply to skipro]

Durango is pretty intermediate. There is a some terrain at Wolf Creek but not a lot. Wolf Creek used to get great powder. There are deep narrow Gullies lined with cliff rocks. On the right powder day it's fun rock hopping and dropping into the tight chutes. Once in a while the face will provide a 20 ft cornice jump.

[Smakwater in reply to skipro]

Wolf creek is North of Pagosa Springs and South of South Fork

[Fastbike14]

Great to see and hear the excitement in your voice. Made up for you and long my the double black diamonds continue

[Wonderwoman23]

What a beautiful post. God Bless you my friend. Stay in his presence. Gratitude is a powerful medicine indeed!!

[skipro in reply to Wonderwoman23]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your faith, and positivity. It is so uplifting!!!!