My Friend, Traveler001

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Rheaeliza
Posts: 421
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:42 pm
Location: New York, New York

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby Rheaeliza » Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:24 am

This is so sad. So very sorry. I didn't realize things had gotten so bad for him.
12/7/12: 30 yrs. old, Dx stage 4b.mets to liver, ovary, nodes, ommentum.
7 months chemo, shrinkage!
8/26/13 HIPEC, colon resection,hysterectomy, appndx, gallbladder out.
9/12/13:leak in colon, temp. loop ileost, home 9/18
11/3/13: liver resect.
1/2014 Ostomy reversal, one week later, abcess surg., fistula, tpn.
No more chemo, NED since 11/13

Eric J. VanDyke
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 3:35 pm

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby Eric J. VanDyke » Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:59 am

Hi folks. I never intended to post and never return, so I apologize. Aside from the craziness of last week (two back to back trips to Chicago, etc.) I also found out that I was promoted at work, effective "immediately." Actually, about 1/2 hour after leaving the cemetary I received the phone call. So, it's been crazy and non-stop. Very strange to have co-workers congratulate you then immediately say, with genuine sympathy, "Oh, and I'm really sorry about your friend." Lots of emotions. I had discussed this work stuff with Eric and now he'd be proud.

However, I just wanted to say that I am appreciative of all the kind words about Eric. Please, continue to post and ask quesitons if you have any. One thing of note is regarding the avatar. I asked him about this and I believe it was just taken on a bus in Chicago. I'm not positive because he rarely rode the bus, but I believe that's what he said.

I will also say that sympathies extened to me was humbling. However, as sad as I still am, I'm filled with joy. So happy to have known my friend and so happy that, aside from the grueling journey he took, his life was full of excitement, fun, and of course music, friends and laughter.

I must run for now, but will check back soon.

User avatar
kellywin
Posts: 492
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:46 pm
Location: Northern CA

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby kellywin » Thu Apr 03, 2014 12:15 pm

While I didn't "know" him as others here, my heart sank reading this post. As many others here have said, thank you Eric for posting this and telling his story. I have no words. My thoughts go out to his friends and family.
Kelly, mom 14 yo girl
Dx 11/15/12 Rectal Cancer @ age 40
Stage IIIC
5.5 weeks Xeloda & Radiation - complete 2/5/13
Colectomy 3/12/13, 7 of 14 nodes positive - no ileo
4/24/13-8/20/13 - 5 rounds Xelox, 1 Xeloda only

NWgirl
Posts: 6659
Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:24 am
Facebook Username: Belle Piazza
Location: Battle Ground, Washington

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby NWgirl » Thu Apr 03, 2014 6:48 pm

Thank you so much for letting us know of his passing. I didn't realize his disease was so far along. It sounds as if he went quickly; I hope for the same myself. What a wonderful tribute to your friend you shared with us. Again, many thanks and may he rest in peace.
Belle - "Don't Retreat - Reload"DX 10/07 Stage III Rectal
Surgery 11/07; 27 of 38 nodes
Perm Colostomy 8/11
12/10 recurrence lungs & LN's
VATS Jan 2011
Radiation Oct 2013
Chemo for Life
2012 Colondar Model

User avatar
BrownBagger
Posts: 7954
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:56 pm
Location: Central NYS

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby BrownBagger » Thu Apr 03, 2014 9:36 pm

I drive through Chicago usually a couple of times a year, and I always thought, "I should try to hook up with Trav just to say hi." But I never did. My bad.

It was a great avatar--a classic shot. That got you interested, but once you read on and got to know Trav, he was obviously a special individual. A real cool cookie.
Eric, 58
Dx: 3/09, Stage 4 RC
Recurrences: (ongoing, lung, bronchial cavity, ribs)
Major Ops: 6/ RFA: 3 /bronchoscopies: 8
Pelvic radiation: 5 wks. Bronchial radiation—brachytheray: 3 treatments
Chemo Rounds (career):136
Current Chemo Cocktail: Xeloda & Erbitux & Irinotecan biweekly
Current Cocktail; On the Wagon (mostly)
Bicycle miles post-dx 10,477
Motto: Live your life like it's going to be a long one, because it just might, and then you'll be glad you did.

User avatar
kirac
Posts: 258
Joined: Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:34 pm

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby kirac » Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:43 pm

I remembered his avatar, too (because I love travel!). And, he did always seem upbeat. I will miss him. Thanks for letting us know.
Husband (Age 36) 1/13 Dx Stage 3B rectal cancer
3/13 Chemoradiation
6/13 Tumor removed, Temp ileo, 1/15 nodes
7/13 Chemo = Oxaliplatin, Xeloda
1/14 Reversal
7/14 NED, CEA 1.8
12/14 CLEAR CT scan! NED

http://kickingasscancer.com/

User avatar
Kathleen808
Posts: 1761
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:49 am
Location: Hawaii

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby Kathleen808 » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:28 am

Thank you for sharing with us about Eric. You are a true friend. Eric was a wonderful member of this board. He will be missed.

Aloha,
Kathleen
Kathleen
DH 1/09 3c 51yr rsct
Folfx 3/09
1 l nd 9/09 Flfri Avstn
PET clr 6/10
Folfri Avstn 7/10
ND 10/10
1/11 lng mets Flfri Avastn
ND 2/12
9/12 Flfri Avastn
10/12 grwth lng mts Erbtx Avstn Irintcn
1/13 stabl
9/13 grwth
8/16/14 passed into eternal peace

so-scared
Posts: 1059
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:53 pm

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby so-scared » Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:29 am

I also want to thank you for letting us know. I always felt so bad about his circumstances and how it all went down, yet he remained so upbeat. I am so sorry for the loss that all that loved him are feeling. May he rest in peace.
DH 51 yo
dx 5/16/11 stg 4 RC
mets both lobes liver & lung
6/11 chem/rad
FOLFOX 9-12/11
12/11 TME/liver resect/rfa (15 tumors)
more Folfox w/Avastin
5/12 innumerable mets liver
Folfox/Avas FAIL
9/12 FOLFIRI/Erb FAIL
HAI pump 12/12
Had to leave 5/23/14

User avatar
jgall
Posts: 814
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:44 pm
Location: New York City

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby jgall » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:31 pm

I'm very sorry to hear about this. I don't post often, but I do check in and I always read his posts with interest. He seemed like a really great guy and I'm very sad about how things ended for him. I'm happy he had friends like you in his life.

Julia
DH Chris, 50, Dx Nov '10 Stg 4
cardiac arrest from 5-FU
Iri/Erbi, RFA, liver/colon resection, more Iri/Erbi
Oct14-Feb15 clinical trial
SIRT Apr15-unsuccessful
Stopped treatment May15
Hospice July15
Passed 8/15/15
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisandjulia

jacekica
Posts: 733
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:43 pm
Facebook Username: jasminka marout

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby jacekica » Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:08 pm

Thank you for saying this sad News, I am so sad, Traveller001 was loved here, I was waiting for his post with joy, he was so brave and I was hoping he will be better and good enough to stay here for few more years. Unfortunately it was not the case. May God bless his familiy and friends in these hard days which follow.
Last edited by jacekica on Fri Apr 11, 2014 5:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Dx 2/11
surgery 5/11, T2N0MX, G2, SRC rectal ca, 22 cm removed
CT- numerous mets in abdomen - LN, 2 big ones on pancreas, one penetrated right urether. Surgery, they just take samples for PHD, 6 roundds 5FU, refuse further chemos

lauragb
Posts: 899
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:25 pm

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby lauragb » Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:14 pm

I was so sad to see this news. I remember when he first came to the board. He always seemed so full of life. I remember worrying about him when he talked about his difficulties with keeping on weight.
He was so upbeat for what he was going through.

Hope he's playing music in some other dimension.
RC 3B 7/2011 @ 53
Chemoradiation 5 weeks 8/11
LAR-Hysterect-temp ileo
pCR, 0/23 nodes
Folfox 1/12, Xeloda 2/12 to 5/12
Reversal 5/12
SBO,lysis of adhesions 12/12
NED 11/12, 11/13, 6/16

LurkingWife
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:55 pm

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby LurkingWife » Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:01 am

Eric, thank you so much for letting us know. Trav was so young, like my husband, and I always followed him with great interest. He was a model for how you deal with something terrible with humor, dignity, and love.

I remember when he was "commuting" down to MD Anderson for treatment, he was always working to figure out what he was going to do with his cat! That always struck me as a great indicator of what a kind person he was...going through all of this crap, but his kitty was top of mind. I'm sure he treated his friends with the same consideration.

Such a sweet man, we have truly lost something great.

Ajane
Posts: 427
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:03 am

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby Ajane » Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:30 am

Eric, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I'm one of those recent additions to this board just this past year, so I didn't't "know" Trav. Although I don't post often, I do try to follow everyone so thank you for your post. Yes, we would have all wondered. Cancer is the beast that keeps taking, some way too young. Trav was way too young. Sending a prayer of peace and comfort out to all of his friends and family. God bless you all.
7/13, T2, G3, Ultra-low. CEA 5.7 KRAS Wild, MSS
8-9/13 6 wks Xeloda/radiation
12/13 TEM pCR NED
5/15 CEA 4.6 PET 1.5 cm met, UL Lobectomy
6-10/15: Rounds 1-2 Xelox+Avastin; 3-8 Folfox+Avastin
10/15-4/16: 12 rounds Avastin
9/2016 CEA 4.2, 12 mm AP node
11/2016 CEA 4.3. PET/CT. 16mm AP nodal met removed
4 wks chemorad
2/2017 NED CEA 2.4
Carafate to tx esophageal ulcers caused by rad
Avastin maintenance postponed

2 Corinthians 12:9

Val*pal
Posts: 860
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:24 pm
Facebook Username: Valerie Barkus Kantner
Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby Val*pal » Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:45 am

It's been a few days since I learned of Traveler's passing, but I still find it shocking. Though we all knew he was facing huge challenges and tremendous odds, there was something in his avatar picture that gave you the feeling he would beat this. His love for life and humanity came through, even in that tiny photo. It just makes you think that even death cannot stop that spirit.
DH dx'ed May '11, age 62
Jul '11: resection Stage IV
10/11: 6 mo Folfox
8/12:thyr canc, surg/tx
2/13: peri mets
2/13: Firi/Avas
6/13: Ok
8/13: break
10/13: Lung, peri, mets
10/13: Firi/Erb
1/14: Erb Fail; spread
5/14: Tx stopped
6/20/14: At rest

Yvetoro
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:59 pm

Re: My Friend, Traveler001

Postby Yvetoro » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:03 pm

I'm honestly shocked and so sad. I don't post often but check regularly. I've been following his journey with great interest for a long time. I don't know why but I always looked for his updates. He had a great attitude and always seemed determined. I'm honestly at a lost for words. I was hoping and praying for his well being. This news is just so upsetting.

Thank you for posting and letting us know. My deepest condolences to you and his family. May he rest in peace.

Yvette
caregiver to auntie Angie
Stage IV CC


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 121 guests