My Sanning Project

My Scanning Project Defined

I just thought some of you might like to have a little more detail about my genealogy scanning project. While helping a friend a few years ago, I came across a 4 volume set of books about Massachusetts Genealogy published in 1911. Sadly the books are not in good shape. While the information is valuable for those of us who are interested in Massachusetts genealogy the actual paper is not of value.

So my thought is take advantage of modern technology.  Carefully take apart the books and page by page scan them into the computer and then burn them onto a memory stick or two. Each volume is about 650 pages. So getting that scanned is the first part of my project. I am only in the first of the four volumes.

After I complete that I will work on my personal collection of notes. Please allow me to explain. I have the learning disability of dyslexia, (alpha part). This makes reading very difficult. So over the years when I went into libraries to do research if I thought I had found a connection to my family I would photo copy the pages and take them home to study and see if I was correct. Well in about 48 years this has added up to a lot of paper. Again the actual paper is not of value but the information is. Or it is at least to me.

I also have hand written notes made by my Uncle Dan Post, my dad Harold Shultis and other family members. (some of my own too.)  I plan to take all of these notes and scan them has well.

When I started this project I was simply thinking of reducing the amount of paper in the house. It takes up a lot of space. But of course now I have a different view of the whole thing.  I truly believe that if anyone else in my family is interested in having this information having it on memory sticks will make it easy to share and to store.

I plan to organize my personal notes into two main files, one for my mom’s side of the family and one for my dad’s side of the family. I think this will make it easier to share with my cousins or their children.

One of the nice things about this project is that I can work on it in my bedroom at any hour of the day and not disturb my Mom. So like this morning when I can’t sleep I can scan some pages and then try to get back to sleep.

Now that I am medically retired I can work at my own schedule. No more time clock to punch. Because orgainizing the personal notes will take a lot more thought I am going to get the books done first. I am going to set myself a goal of doing 50 pages over the course of a day.

After I get the genealogy notes scanned then I will work on the family photos and scrapbooking.

I think the scrapbooking will be the most fun but it will take longer to be creative and think of the memories and notes I will want to put on each page.

I believe that having these goals for my self will make the time I have left here on earth more meaningful. It will give me things to look forward to doing and accomplishing.

If any of you have creative ideas for my projects I would love to hear them. Although I think I am fairly creative I always love new ideas. Besides if you send my ideas not only will you help with the actualy project you will encourage me both in the project and in living. 

I know at a time like this many people wish there was something they could do for someone in my shoes. Maybe this will give some of you a way to do that and actually feel like you are helping. Cause you really will be.

It is going on 5:30 am so I think I will try to get some sleep.

Here is where I am at with my project: I have scan the first 250 pages of volume 1 of the Massachusetts Genealogy.

I hope that by midnight of the 6^th of March  2012 to get to page 300. Cheer for me.

Sadly the Test Results are here

Well, the news is in and it is not good.

The test results confirm that I have Adrenal Cortical Caner at stage 4!!

Surgery is only a minor option. There is no chance of surgery curing me. Because of the likely hood that other organs are involved, it increases the chances of complications to the surgery. Bringing the chance of complications up to 50%!  It is also very questionable if surgery would improve the quality of life.

The doctor, (Dr. Jabiev; endocrine surgery, "Dr. J") says that I have about 2 years to live. I told him that I want to participate in any clinical trials that I can. They are not doing any trials at Baystate Medical Center. He is going to contact the doctors at the Dana-Faber Cancer Center to see if they are doing any trials I could participate in.

He,("Dr. J") says that I am very courageous wanting to be part of clinical trials. I also told him that I want to donate my body to science world after I am done with it.

The doctor, ("Dr. J") has tentatively planed surgery for me on March 14th. They would then go in laposcopicly  with a camera and see if they can tell if the tumor can be resected. But first he is going to consult with other doctors from other specialties. Unless they give me a real good reason not to have the surgery I think I will go ahead with it.

The biggest question is what will my quality of life be after the surgery.  I have time between now and the 14th to change my mind.

If you are the type to pray, and I know some of my friends and family are not, please pray that what ever time I have left will be a good quality of life, NOT a longer life. I would also request your prayers that I will be able to accomplish the goals that I have listed below.

I want to thank each one of you for your love and friendship.

MY ATTITUDE

Okay, don't pity me!

Although if I die in two I will only be 62 years old, I believe that my life has been very fulfilling. I am at peace with the Lord. I found Him long ago. Will I make it to the Celestial Kingdom? I don't know, but I don't think that there is a huge change that I need to make in my life to get there.  My Latter-Day Saint friends and family will understand this best but I will say how I feel anyway. I believe that my mission here was to do a great deal of genealogical research. I have been working on tracing my family tree since I was 12 years old. Between now and my death I want to take all of my information and scan it into my computer and then burn it onto a memory stick, or two. I pray that someone in my family will want to have the information.

I will make scanning my information a top priority in the remainder of my life. One of the things that I have done in the last few years that has brought me great joy, is to donate my time and knowledge at the Glasgow Scottish Games, each summer in Northampton; MA. It looks like this summer may be my last year. I will start looking for someone to take over my genealogy booth. While I am still alive I will do what I can to help whomever is interested in taking over my booth.

If any of you know anyone living in the Western Mass area that might be interested in taking over my booth please contact either them or me or both of us.

I also want to take all of my family photos and scan them and save them onto a memory stick.  I would like to find the time to scrap book some of those photos. Anyone in the area that would like to help me your help would be very welcome.

I think I will also write a letter to my family about my love for them and my love of the Lord.

Peaceful Sunday

Today the pain kept me home from Church. I missed my friends, but church pews are tough to sit in when you are in pain.

This week I have done a lot of thinking about what is the quality of life that I want to have. I gave my middle son my definition so know has my health care proxy he knows what I want.

I want to know who is visiting me and be able to do the basics, dress, feed and clothe myself. It would be great to also be able to do things on my computer.

Tomorrow is the big day. I pray that the doctor has already scheduled me for surgery so that this monster can be cut out of my body.

I need to thank the Lord for my grateful heart. I know others who are filled with envy and don't count any of their blessing. Therefore they are not happy. I feel sad for those types of people because I don't believe they will ever find happiness in this life.

With my doctors appointment being at the end of the day it won't be until after super before I will be able to post the results of all the test and let you know what the battle plan to slay this monster will be. 

I think it will take a long time for 4pm to here tomorrow. So till then thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

quiet day waiting for news

Nothing to tell. I had a quiet day. Being a Saturday, no calls from doctors with any news. I expect tomorrow will be the same. I look forward to attending Church tomorrow. I don't know what will do me more good, the lessons or the fellowship of my Church family.

I am making time to watch videos and do things that have nothing to do with this cancer. Getting my mind off if it so I don't loose what little sanity I have left. (LOL!!!)

Just an update

No news to report, just thought I would drop a line to let you know how my emotional health is doing. I am praying that on Monday the doctor will give me a surgery date for some time next week.

I don't want to wait any longer than I have to for this surgery. I don't want to give the tumor time to grow any larger that it already is, after all 7 cm is big enough.




I believe that if I can maintain a positive attitude than I can win this fight. Many of my friends and family members have posted messages on facebook. Your thoughts and are greatly helpful to my attitude.

You are right that I am frustrated with having to wait until Monday.

I love all of you and thank you for your support.

What I have learned so Far!!

I figure that many of you may have done your own research on my illness so I thought I would let you know that I know what you are finding out on the web.


What I have learned is very scary. Leave it to me to get an extremely rare form of cancer!!!

According to The ATAC Research Fund website (www.adrenalcancer.org) only 1 out of 1.7 million get this form of cancer!!! So in the last 40 years little progress in treatment has been made.

What does this mean for me? My odds are not very good, if I am at stage 4, which the doctor thinks I am at, (we will know more on Monday), I may have less than a year to live.

NOW WAIT ONE MINUTE  I don't like those odds so I am going to FIGHT!!!

But make no mistake this makes me more scared than I was yesterday. I think I will look into what they are experimenting with for treatments. I don't think I have much to loose.

A friend who is a nurse practitioner stopped by today with some information and it will take me a while to read and digest it all.  But at least now I know what I am up against.  I finally told my Mom what I have been told and she was not surprised. I had thought about sparing her feelings until the doctors told me for certain on Monday, but we got talking and the right moment came so I told her.

Boy did I hate to tell you she most likely will have to watch me die. What a rotten thing to have to tell your mother. Please pray for her to have the strength needed to stay by my side. She won't leave me now unless she was dragged away.

Dear friends and family please do NOT feel like to have to soft soap what is going on. Don't "walk on eggshells" with me. The best way to help me through all this is to help me deal with the facts and then move forward.


Right now I wish I had a great big chocolate bar! I think it would make me feel better, no it wouldn't heal me, but it would help my emotions. Oh well, maybe I will get one tomorrow.

I know this is a sad update but it is one that I think I needed to post.  I really hope that in some way the medical world can learn something to help others by my going through this. If it can help just one person I would be very happy and feel that it was worth it.

New Day Happier Me

It is almost 3 pm and I have spent most of the day sleeping. This rest has made a great improvement in my emotional health. Now I just have to work on being patient enough to wait until Monday. I pray that when I see Dr. Jabiev then he will not only have answers but a plan of attach on my monster. I want that tumor out. I am not about to lay down and die without a fight.

I fully understand that this is going to be a very tough fight but I believe that I have what it takes to give it all I have. After that the victory is up to the Lord. I don't think dying will be a loss. I believe that it will just mean that it was time for me to go back to my Heavenly Home.

I am spending a lot of time counting my blessings.

Believe it or not PAIN, is on the top of the list. If I hadn't had any pain they never would have found the monster, and I would never have had the chance to fight.

Understand the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ is the next blessing. I know that if it is His will I will win this battle. Dying is not the loss of the war just the battle. Going to heaven will be a win anyway you look at it.

Friends and Family standing by me is another very important blessing. I understand that none of you can core this cancer. You can't fight the battle for me. But you can pray for me, keep me laughing, send me thoughts via, email, facebook or cards, those things make a huge difference at a time like this.

There are a lot more blessing in my life but I will not list them at this time. Maybe in the future I will list more of them.

Thanks again to all of you who are keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.