My Health Update - Dan

Due to a recent surgery that I underwent, all of this has come about!

During the surgery my surgeon noticed that my liver was seriously damaged. It looked just like cirrhosis of the liver.  A biopsy was taken and sent out for pathology.  While in the hospital recovering my doctor advised me to follow up with my family doctor and a Gastroenterology.

Heather made an appointment for me to see my primary care doctor.  We saw him for an appointment and he made the appointment with the Gastroenterology.  The Gastroenterology ordered a second biopsy to be completed and he ordered me to have several blood tests to insure I didn't have any strains of Hepatitis or anything.  He did a full liver panel. The results came back and he learned I was free of those issues and I drink very little anymore so that was ruled out, as well.  Heather and I both felt that the doctor seemed pretty disappointed.  He seemed to feel that since I have LOT's of tattoo's I would test positive for Hepatitis C.

Then he noticed my iron levels were very high.  At around 875 (normal is around 140) So off I went for some more blood work to test for a genetic disorder.  We just got the results and it came back positive.  My liver is being damaged by a genetic mutation common to Irish people.  I have Hereditary Hemochromatosis.  The genetic mutation is known as C282Y.  There is an additional mutation for being Northern Irish (H63D.)  That one I have seem to avoid.  Most of my family comes from Northern Europe (Ireland) so I take that as having some Luck of the Irish.  Ha-Ha!

There is no pill to cure this.  I have to have blood drawn at a blood center every two weeks until my Iron levels are reduced to safe levels. Then I can donate every 2-3 months for the rest of my life to manage the levels.

I'm really worried about my daughter's Danielle Maria Bowen and Emma Erin Bowen. I hope my ex-wife is reading this blog and contacts me.  The girls need to have genetic testing completed to avoid current and future liver damage.  In addition, they could be a DNA carrier and pass it along to my future grand children, if they have any.  Maria, please email me the girls doctors contact information. Court documents show and the judge said that you have to share this information with me until the girls reach the age of 18.  They are still MY DAUGHTER and I LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART!  You have my contact information, PLEASE USE IT!

Dan

Update #1:  She e-mailed me and still refuses to send me the girls info.  Here is my e-mail response:

Here is a link to Our Family's Blog: http://thebowenknot.blogspot.com/. In the blog we address my health and the concerns for the girls. It's a life blog. By the way, we are Moving to Ecuador, next month. Even though I'm moving they are still my daughters and I Love Them With All My Heart. Keeping them from me is so evil, nasty, and wrong. You will face God for your actions, Maria. I will always have a place in my heart and home for the girls. If they every ask, I will be right there. They are part of me!!! Please share the blog with my daughters...it's the right thing to do. Tell the girls I LOVE THEM!!!!

Dan

Update #2:  Maria e-mailed us and she has spoken to the girls doctor and she is taking them to a specialist.  Thank you, Maria.  Please keep in contact with Dan and I.  Hopefully, this is the only health concern the girls face.  I promise to always keep you up on any concerns that may come up (I pray nothing else.)  We do honestly care and want the best for Emma and Danielle. Please e-mail us pictures so we can see how they are growing and changing.  Thanks Again, Heather

It's Official...Our Truck is up for sale on CraigsList and on eBay

It's Official...Our Truck is up for sale on CraigsList and on eBay.  If anyone is looking for a great truck, let us know.  So Excited, the next step in the big move to Cuenca, Ecuador is in progress.  We will be listing our Toyota Yaris, soon :-)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181653518269?forcerRptr=true&item=181653518269&viewitem=

or

http://ocala.craigslist.org/cto/4854138035.html

    

Our Carnival Liberty Mini-Honeymoon Cruise Review: Monday, January 12, 2015 - Day 2 - Freeport, Bahamas (Picture Heavy Post)

We arrived in Freeport, Bahamas at about 9:00am.  This was my second trip to this port and to be honest not much had changed since the first time I was there back in August 1991.  Dan and I had already decided that we were not going to get off the boat for any paid excursions in any of our ports Freeport, Nassau, or Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.  We do plan to get off the boat in Nassau and shop a little and then do a beach break on Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

At about 9:30am, our Rise and Shine Stateroom Continental Breakfast arrived.  We had filled out the door hanger card the night before and placed it outside our cabin on the door handle.  This was an enjoyable, fun, and a Romantic Honeymoon way to start the day.

At about 11:00am, Dan and I headed up to the top deck to get our first look at Freeport, Bahamas. The weather was beautiful, not to hot, not to humid, and bright sunshine.  The water wasn't the same Caribbean Blue as it was during my first trip.  I'm thinking it may be because this visit was during the winter. 

  

 I have to say that the Carnival Liberty is the ugliest ship I have ever been on.  Granted I have yet to try any other cruise line.  The ship is a jumbled up mess of metal and clutter!  It didn't seem to have any type of style or theme the layout was confusing and completely disorganized.

    

While we were exploring the top decks of the ship we came across the Mini Golf course.  It was a pretty plain design.  It had 10 holes, the golf clubs were filthy, and they only had 2 colors of golf balls (green and purple.)  We both thought it would be fun to play, so we did.  Out of the 10 holes, I managed to make 2 hole-in-ones.  However, I did make a Honeymoon rule I could redo my first try as many times as I needed and they didn't count LOL.  The hole-in-ones were actually on my first try:-)

After we finished playing, we decided to go get a bite to eat.  So, I headed back to Guy's for another yummy burger and Dan headed to the Deli.  Dan was being a good boy and I was being a Guy's Burger Addict!

Just before 5:00pm, the Captain sounded the horn and then he completed a 3 point turn and OMG did he come close to the dock.  Then we sailed out of port and back to the the rocky rough waters of the Atlantic.

We headed back to our cabin to relax and get ready for our Cruise Elegant dinner.  We also talked about whether or not we wanted to watch a movie up on the Seaside jumbo movie screen.  .

The first nights movies were:  "Grown Ups 2" and "Ride Along"

Then tonight's movies were:  "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"

Needless to say, we had no interested in watching any of these movies.  Hopefully, there will be better options for us coming up during the next few nights.

It was fun getting ready for dinner because I was wearing my beach floral print wedding dress.

* Appetizer *

Tart with Braised Kale, Blackened Pork Tenderloin with Citrus Cream

"Heather Picked"

* Appetizer *

Shrimp Cocktail

"Dan Picked"

* Dinner *

Maine Lobster Tail with Orzo & Shrimp

and

Prime Rib with Baked Potato

"Both Dan and I ordered both Entrees"

* Dessert *

Vanille Creme Brulee

"Heather Picked"

 * Dessert *

Malted Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Warm Chocolate Sauce

"Dan Picked"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

After dinner we took a stroll around the ship and then retired to our stateroom.

We once again set an alarm and fell asleep to the yucky rocking of the boat.  Have I mentioned how much the ship rolled during the cruise.  The water was so choppy!  We are looking forward to our second Caribbean port of call, Nassau, Bahama's. 

To Be Continued...