September 30, 2025 - Back at Mayo

      I realize that it has been many weeks since I have written a blog.  I said at the beginning of these posts that I wouldn’t write one unless I thought I had something of value to say.  I hadn’t felt that until the last couple of hours. 
 
      Most of you know that I am back at Mayo Clinic for a couple of days of testing and doctors’ appointments. 
 
      I entered the Clinic both days with the same answer I usually give when the security guard looked at my laptop case and asked, “Do you have any knives, guns, or weapons?”
 
      “Just these hands of steel.”  It brings a laugh every time.  It might not if I was 6’6” and 250 pounds. 
 
      So far things have gone as well as we could hope.  My thyroid is functioning rather normally. Dr. Brito said to me, “I will see you in 12 months.”  That is very welcome news.
 
      I had four hours between Dr. Brito and Dr. Leung so I stopped by Mayo 12th floor to see if by chance Dr. Tran 1.) might still be practicing and 2.) might be in the clinic today instead of surgery.  I didn’t have an appointment, but I told the lady at the check-in desk who I was and why I wanted to see Dr. Tran.
 
      Dr. Tran was the plastic surgeon who put my knee/leg back together after the surgeon, Dr. Shives, cut the “girls’ softball size” hole out of my leg to remove the sarcoma 25 years ago this year.  I hadn’t seen Dr. Tran in several years. 
 
       He was as thrilled to see me as I was to see him.  He greeted me, “Reverend Cooper,” which all the Mayo staff did 25 years ago.  Now it’s Chuck—the name my chart says that I prefer.
 
       Dr. Tran did exactly what I thought he might do.  Of course, he wanted to look at my leg.  He was more than pleased with how his work has held up for 25 years.  So am I.
 
      And he asked if some pictures could be taken of my leg.  I wasn’t surprised.
 
      Well, it was considerably different than 20 or 25 years ago.  Then they pulled out a nice camera and shot a few pictures.  Today was a first for me: I was in a photo op in a studio.  The photographer must have taken 15 or 20 pictures.

      Mayo is a bit ahead of their time in lots of ways, especially medically.  But here’s another one. 
 
      I don’t get out much past Gatti’s and Texas Roadhouse.  Maybe a stop at Chick Fil A now and then.
 
      When I walked in the cafeteria I saw some maybe three-foot-tall robots.  I finally figured out that they were delivering food to people.  You make your order and then you’re given a “token.”  When your food is ready, the robot brings it to your table.  There’s more than one way to reduce staff.
 
      The funniest thing to me was to see three of these robots return to the area where the food is prepared.  These three robots were in a line next to each other waiting patiently without saying a word until their next assignment.   They’d make a good husband.
 
      I have one more appointment at 4:15 EST.  It is the big one.  We will see what is transpiring with the multiple myeloma.  I’ve tried to not get overly hopeful.
 
      I do feel better than I have in quite some time.  I am in the best shape that I have been in since all this started almost three years ago.  I have been swimming every day possible, including both mornings here. 
 
      My skin smells like chlorine after two days in the pool here.  Not so at home.
 
      Exercise and diet do make a difference.  Maybe someday I might add rest to the triad.
 
      Thanks for your continued support, especially prayer support.  I know that it isn’t as fervent as it was two years ago when it looked like a stem cell transplant was in the making.
 
      I firmly believe that I am doing as well as I am because of great medical care—here and at home—and the power of God released through your prayers.
 
      As I have shared in these blogs, I am a very blessed man by God’s grace.  I am very underserving, but very much grateful.   There is rarely a day that goes by that I don’t express that gratitude.
 
      I will hit the road immediately after seeing Dr. Leung.  Teresa will have the information on how that appointment went.
 
      Thanks for loving me.