My layout and the future

[Terry Toenges]

I just wanted to give shout out to all the folks here on the Bachmann board and the Bach Man who I've had the pleasure of interacting with over the years. I've enjoyed our conversations and I'm glad I had this place to talk trains.
After all this planning and playing around with my layout, I finally gave myself a reality check and asked myself what I was doing. I'm not going to go forward with it.
I've been in denial and having a hard time coming to terms with the inevitable. A couple of weeks ago the doc diagnosed me with severe emphysema. I was in the hospital for a couple days last month with exacerbation of COPD. After I got out, I had to go see a respiratory specialist. He said I'm at the the final stage of emphysema and all he can do is give me meds to try to slow it down. Apparently, it's a matter of months not years.
I'll keep checking in here. If you don't see my posts anymore, then you know my time has come.
It's been fun.

[Penn1974]

Terry,
          I am sorry to here about the report on your illness. I hope you do not give up and try what you can to beat it. As I have not been on the forum as long as you, I just want to say I have enjoyed your layout and posts as they have given me many ideas and suggestions for mine. God Bless you  and I hope for the best. Jim

[jward]

That's a tough break Terry. I feel for you. I hope that you will continue to do what makes you happy in the time you have left, and pray for some miracle that will spare you.

[Terry Toenges]

I figure I'll take down all risers and hills and stuff and just put a couple of flat ovals on the board so I can have the trains go around when the great grand kids come over. I won't worry about doing any scenery. That will make it easier on my wife later.

[Maletrain]

Doctors don't have crystal balls that are any clearer than yours.  My dad was a doctor, and that is what he told me. "X months to live" is usually off by quite a bit, and sometimes off by several years.  So, while it is good to become more realistic about prioritizing fun now vs work now to have more fun later, it is important to never give up on having fun.  Often it seems that the more fun you have, the longer you last.  It sounds like you are figuring it out in a reasonable way.  Take care of yourself as best you can, and enjoy as much as you can.  Wishing you good luck and lots more fun.

[Terry Toenges]

Some other folks were telling that they had the same thing and they have been around for a while. I called the pulmonary doc this morn for some clarification. The doc had me really scared. Today, the receptionist said I wasn't going to die from this anytime soon as long as I keep taking my meds. I told her that he sure gave me the wrong impression. I'm glad I decided to get it straightened out.

[Len]

Now go widen that tunnel portal and get some scenery started.

Len

[Hunt]

Terry,
(I was made aware of your post since I do not get by here much anymore.)

Do not count the time but make the time count by doing what you enjoy with the doctor's go ahead. Hopefully with accurate info you are not as close to your terminal station as you were thinking. 

[Terry Toenges]

What got me to thinking the worst was that my primary care doc (after I got out of the hospital)  told my wife and I  that, in 6 months I probably wouldn't be able to get enough oxygen to be able to breath. She referred me to the pulmonary doc. He did the breathing tests and said it's severe emphysema and all he can do is hit it with all the drugs he can to slow the process. When I put those two statements together, I figured I was a goner. Apparently, my primary doc was wrong.

[Morgun 30]

Terry, Remember the words of basketball coach Jimmy Valvano. "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

[the Bach-man]

Dear Terry,
I remember meeting you at a WGH show years ago.
You are a great man!
Take Morgun's words to heart!
Praying for you!
the Bach-man

[Terry Toenges]

Thanks Bach Man. I remember the train show and the meeting.

[Terry Toenges]

That show was January, 2005 in St. Louis. I took my wife and grand kids to it. I have some pics from the show but, unfortunately, none of the Bach Man.
Here they are on the riding train.