Lee Ackerman and Moe Ackerman

This is Lee’s story that he posted and I feel he said it best!

4 years ago I had 3 weeks to live. I had a 19 hour procedure that, within itself, contained 18 individual procedures. One of these is called the HIPEC. A year and a half later I had it done again and have lead a relatively healthy life so far. (Although I will say this winter was a bit difficult as my weakened immune system showed itself for the first time and it felt like I was getting sick with something every other week. I can honestly say I didn’t feel like myself much of the time and I apologize if I seemed not mentally present at certain moments).

Complications along the way, sure, but I’m still out doing most of the things I like to do. But it has come time for me to have the procedure done a third time. My doctor has been working with patients with Pseudomyxoma peritonei for decades and has done the procedure three times on only a handful of people. Soon I will get to be one of those people.

Ultimately, I have two spots on my liver that need to go and two spots above the diaphragm that need to go. He says that I am a perfect candidate to have it done a third time as I am in really great health otherwise and the fact that I don’t smoke. If I was a smoker I would have 100% died on the table back in 2014. That decision to not smoke way back when I was younger has finally shown it’s true value in real form in my 30’s. (Don’t smoke, as it creates an environment in which you cannot take on the oxygen you need to recover efficiently from illnesses and injuries and I’m not even talking about the lungs).

Anyway, so the time has come for me to have the procedure done a third time. It happens on the 30th. Hopefully it will be the final time. I imagine I should be in Spokane for up to two weeks and then lost of downtime afterwards. I should be able to eat and walk around just fine but I will not be allowed to work for what will most likely be a couple months.

The downside to this is I will be super broke. The upside to this is that I will have most of my summer off! Lots of yoga, dog parks and hopefully chill bike rides will fill my days.

It may be hard to meet up before my surgery but please feel free to hit me up anytime and I will get back to you as quick as I can. If you have any questions feel free to ask me anything about whatever and I will explain best I can. People ask how they can help so here are the top three ways you can help:

1. Please stop sharing your cancer stories
unless they have a super positive outcome. I cannot stress this enough. I don’t need to hear about the one person you know of that has cancer or died of cancer. I know other people have it, and you are not relating at all to my (or anyone else’s) cancer experience at all. It tends to refuel the dread and sadness associated with it. Unless it has a good ending, I don’t want (or need) to hear it.
2. Just be present. Call me up or shoot a text or just hang out for a bit. One of the best things you can do is take my mind OFF of it. I have no problem talking about it, but ultimately I want to move on and enjoy this summer.
3. I’m going to be pretty dang broke so I guess that is one way to help. It’s hard for me to ask for money but if want to bring snacks by me and Bear will def appreciate it.

Here is to hoping that this goes away for good and me and Bear can get back to taking hikes and eating snacks. It took me a bit to accept that I had to do this again but, well ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Lets get this over with.

Thanks everybody. I figured I would let ya’ll know. I appreciate you taking the time to read. I hope to see some of ya soon.

Bear says hi.