• LEUKO LOGBOOK 3.5: Surgery Update

• EARTHOLOGY: Dark Clouds Foretell Trouble

• CAIRNS: Better Life through Little Connections

Let me share an update on my latest Leuko adventure.

First some context for those who have read the first three installments of "Larry's Leuko Logbook." Those stories have looked back to when the pre-cancerous cells appeared in 2022, through treatments in 2023, and then to my preparation for my first surgery in February 2024. There will be further pieces that describe my experience with the difficult events which happened in the remainder of 2024 and what I’ve learned that might be helpful for your life.

But today, this Logbook 3.5 Update is all about my surgery this week on April 29.

Bottom line: the surgery went fine. Dr Jeff Meyers is one of the leading oral surgeons in the nation and Chair of the Department at M.D. Anderson. After the two-hour surgery he reported that he had removed the leukoplakia cells on my tongue until the margins were clear under the pathology microscope. He attached a synthetic skin graft that will aid healing. I will be working with a speech therapist in the upcoming weeks. I look forward to being back on the Bright Star Farm soon.  

Jan has been an amazing nurse, dietitian, counselor, and executive assistant through all of this. I'm doing better with her careful work! The prayers, encouragement, and compassion offered by family and friends have been vital for me.

There will be more Leuko adventures so Stay tuned! I appreciate your continuing prayers and support.

Read all the episodes to date on my Tracks for the Journey website

The climate on my West Texas farm had all four seasons in 48 hours! Ominous clouds brought a dust storm, then fog, snow, and a summer heat wave in quick succession. Our clothing choices changed hour-by-hour! For most people, the whirl of change was simply a matter of conversation with no hardship involved. However, extreme weather is only the smallest climate change sweeping the world, made possible by all humans, but threatening our global well-being.

The World Meteorological Organization issued the State of the Global Climate Report last month. The news wasn’t good. The year 2024 was the hottest year ever in the 175 year-long global recordkeeping. This brought many record-breaking natural disasters such as heat waves, hurricanes and cyclones, fires, tornado outbreaks, and droughts, resulting in massive economic losses on six continents. The ocean temperature is now the highest ever recorded, bringing accelerated melting of glaciers, sea ice, and tundra. This impacts thousands of animal and ocean species, releases tons of CO2, and changes oceanic current that influence weather.

Close to my home is the huge Permian Basin oil and gas field. The wells, pipelines, and tanks release so much methane it is visible from space. Methane is a deadly gas that has been responsible for 25% of global warming. Medical researchers are tracking higher levels of cancer, asthma, and neurological conditions in the Permian region. Yet producers routinely vent millions of tons of gas into the atmosphere each year.[1]

In spite of the shocking human and global developments, the Trump Administration has eviscerated the climate initiatives and protection measures approved by bipartisan laws. Beginning on the infamous Day 1, Trump has used every executive power to destroy the environmental protections of the past decades. Rejecting the Paris Climate Accord, throwing out regulations reducing pollution, promoting carbon-producing fossil fuels, slashing scientific investigations, promoting faux research, firing thousands of employees at the EPA—the list of detrimental actions is lengthy. Taken together, these actions magnify the climate crisis that will alter the planet and our civilization for decades.

Residents of the Permian Basin are only a small part of the global dark clouds that loom over us as this Administration retreats from responsible environmental policies. I encourage you to take action in your sphere of influence. The Environmental Defense Fund spearheads action that can reduce the damage. Lawsuits, voter action, promoting companies that are environmentally responsible, fighting misinformation spewing from the Administration, and organizing grassroot movements for local issues are sponsored by this reputable and capable organization. We can make a difference in reversing the anti-scientific darkness that threatens to damage the well-being of our world.

[1] Permian Methane Analysis Project. https://www.permianmap.org/

I enjoyed an informative and interesting podcast recently. The popular Hidden Brain podcast featured, “Relationships 2.0 The Power of Tiny Interactions” with psychologist Gillian Sandstrom.

“As you go about your day, you likely interact with family, friends and coworkers. These relationships can help you feel cared for and connected. But what if there’s a whole category of people in your life whose impact is overlooked? Today, in a favorite episode from our archives, psychologist Gillian Sandstrom reveals some simple ways to make your life a little more joyful and maybe even a little less lonely. Then, we talk with researcher Erica Bailey, who responds to listeners’ questions about authenticity and how to reveal our true selves to the people around us.”

Here’s the link for this informative and interesting show, “Relationships 2.0 The Power of Tiny Interactions”

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