GROINSTRONG

Hello and welcome to the GROINSTRONG guestbook. Thank you for visiting! Please leave me a message if you are so inclined.

If you include an email with your post, I'll add you to the mailing list for the GROINSTRONG newsletter.

All entries are public. If you would like to send me a private message, you can email me at jonah (dot) ei (at) gmail (dot) com.

Good idea. I didn't want to add some comments publicly. The reason for the swelling in your leg is the removal of some of the lymph structure. Moving fluids around is what the lymph system does. Eventually your body will figure out an alternate way to do this. You are doing the best thing -- keeping on with exercise. Long ago I was caring for a woman after breast cancer surgery. She had the same problem in her arm. The therapy we used was to ask those women to brush their own hair. She thought I was the cruelest thing alive and wasn't shy about saying so!

You are doing all the right things. Keep it up.

We're reading all the time... Aaron & Leah say hey! Aaron knows you're big & strong & up to it! "Groinstrong" is such a great idea!

PS. Regarding the cancer tourist label..... Even though this will be a one time thing, I"m pretty sure that you'll be a cancer "survivor" after all of this. You'll have earned the title - you should totally own it!

I've been thinking of you constantly since Jen told me your news. I'm sending lots of love your way.

Please don't worry about your posts. If people don't like it, they don't have to read it. I think it's fine to say what's on your mind. You are indeed facing a challenge!

A few things..... Kicking & screaming at the Universe is part of this too. Don't hold back when it's the only thing that helps. (Take comfort that you're not in the presence of the stoic mid-westerners! Let loose!) Next, please plan on a night with us when you'll be in town the end of July. Finally, we'll over load you with photos if we can get some. Boo wants one!! Send me the order info & I'll order a bunch for us and your parents (& for you to give away when you're back here this summer). I'd be happy to.

Hey, didn't someone help you come up with the groinstrong campaign?

Good to hear your spirits are up!

You were recently bummed out by going for appointments for service that didn't end up with services you expected. It is all part of the non-system of health care we have in this country. Today I went with my older daughter to an appointment as a source of emotional support for a difficult procedure she needed. We arrived 5 minutes before our scheduled time, waited until 10 minutes after the scheduled time to be acknowledged and asked to review some paper work, then we sat until 35 minutes after the appointment before she was called. A medical assistant took her height and blood pressure and then we were put in an exam room, where we waited for another 50 minutes! This kind of wait does nothing for someone anxious about an upcoming procedure. I can hardly wait for this whole system to be turned upside down.

i would just like to comment that i really, really lerve the new tagline. Or is it a motto? Whatevs. I dig it.

Day one.... we'll cross off each one. Do good work!

Jonah!!!! Mike Beck told me about this - I love your spirit and hilarious energy! If the GroinStrong tour makes it out west, you know you have a HUGE following out here! Much love baby!

Hey Jonah! I LOVE this site and your Adventures In Brooklyn blog! I just learned about your melanoma adventures while I was on Star Island for RE Week in July. I know you know that I know, from experience, that We CAN do anything we BELIEVE we can! As Glinda once wisely said to some green bitch (Substitute the challenge you are facing on any given day for that green bitch!), for the benefit of Dorothy Gale (who was within earshot): "BE GONE, you have no POWER here!!!" You have a substantial and passionate contingent of Boston area Groinstrong supporters sending you LOVE and Believing in you! Come visit anytime (plenty of warm loving homes and guestbeds for you!). Some of us are good cooks too. And this particular Fairy Godfather & cook is no stranger to needing to eat to gain/maintain weight!!! How much $$$ do I send for a gross of your bracelets? (I also have a marketing suggestion for you that is closely related to one pronunciation of the name "groinstrong"!)
Love & Blessings, Brian

Hi Jonah,
Damn! Sending our strength your direction. You're in our thoughts. Love, Lynn & Bob

Dear Jonah,

You know Ashley, Alexis, Maureen and I love you and are hoping for the best.

Hang in there.

Jay

hey jonah,

wanted to wish you a successful surgery and a quick healing.

good luck!
rose

Jonah!

I've been thinking of you for a while but will be thinking extra hard about you this week.

Carl Cade

Jonah, I'm sending you the good vibrations. Lynn

Don't know you but found your website via Myspace... glad I did. I've been so busy bitching about my upcoming knee surgery... so minor in comparison what you're going though. Sending healing thoughts your way.

Peace and health,
Linda

Jonah - all my good thoughts are for you today. hang in there!

Dearest Jonah,
I'm wishing you the speediest recovery from your surgery and sending you every bit of cosmic energy I can muster. I think about you all the time, and I absolutely love your blog.
All my love,
Benny

Jonah, Hi!
You look good, especially is that snazzy shirt. Must be some very talented grandchildren that made it.
Very thankful that the surgery went so well. We breathed a big sigh.
Rest, and recover. I'll keep checking on you. Thanks for having this web site.
Lynn

Hi Jonah. Karen here -- your friend from Magnetic Field days.

Katherine told me the latest a couple weeks ago.
i just wanted to let you know that we (me and Richard - the English bloke) are thinking about you and I am happy to hear that your surgery went well.

see you soon.

bigfatkiss,
Karen

our prayers are with you.

Jonah!

Love the blog, you're a great writer. Thanks for sharing your journey with the world...so many people love you and are praying for your health.

Lots of love from tropical Minnesota,

Jo(seph) and Tara LaFerla

Hi Jonah,

You probably hear this a lot: "I don't know you, but..." and I am about to start the same way! My husband and I attend Unity church where your lovely parents minister, and your dad gave the most heartfelt and wonderful sermon yesterday. I don't know if YOU know this, but you were mentioned in it several times. I knew that there was a son named Jonah who was battling melanoma, but that was the extent of it. After the sermon, I wanted to know more. I found out about your blog and have been captivated ever since. You have such a wonderful sense of humor and wit. I found myself laughing out loud in my kitchen late at night last night as I read your accounts of this journey. Of course, it was not all funny. Scary and icky stuff in there too. I just wanted to say you are a brave soul, and I admire you! And, I am just touched by your journey and the way in which you are traveling on that journey. Many, many blessings to you and your beloved Kathryn out in New York. And know that your parents speak of you with such love in our congregation! I'm sending good, healing vibes from the cold, cold land of Minnesota!