My mom called me today and told me that after going to the doctor to check out his pneumonia, my grandpa had a biopsy of something in his lung taken. She called back tonight and told me that he has been diagnosed with some sort of bad lung cancer. He has had asbestoses for years from being a pipe fitter for most of his life and this is most likely related to that. Please pray for him, I'd like to have him around for a while longer. My earliest memories of fishing are when my grandpa would take me and my brother to a small creek in rural Pennsylvania to catch rock bass and bluegills. He is responsible for my interest in the outdoors and has given me much of my common sense through his Yogi Berra-like take on life.

He taught me to always widdle a stick with the knife blade going away from me, he taught me not to lip a Muskie (and showed me the scars to show why), he taught me to treat people as I wanted to be treated, and how to solve problems with my hands and a little hard work, he showed me that a real man can flip over a Cub Cadet and still finish mowing the lawn, he showed me how to toss panfish back into the water, he taught me how to shoot a gun, he taught me how spotlighting for deer and turkey at night is more exciting than any tv show, and so much more.

Done deal, brother.  I'll remember him.  There just aren't enough grandpas around.  

You and he are in my prayers

My prayers are with him.  Stay strong.

My prayers are with both of you. God bless him and ALL Grandpa's!!!

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it

Prayer sent brotha.

Prayers sent.

Thoughts and prayers sent to you and your family!

He sounds like a great man Dan. You and your family are in my prayers.

Hope everyting works out ok.  Prayers for yor grandpa here tonight.  

You have some wonderful memories that you can share with your children and grandchildren in the future.

You were very luck to have such a wonderful person for a grandfather.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Hang in there.

He will be in my prayers Dan.

there is nothing more frustrating than watching the strongest man on Earth, a grandfather, struggle with something you cannot take care of for him.  Prayers are with you both.

Prayer sent.

May God be with your grand father and your whole family.

Prayers sent.

Dan,

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I hope everything works out for your family.

Tony

You and your Grandpa will be in my prayers.

Falcon

Praying for you and your grandpa as I type. God Bless

prayers in progress... stay strong for your grandpa

here's an update.

When they took a biopsy, the doctors poked a hole in my grandpa's lung. They sent him home, telling my grandma to watch his condition. (Which I thought was insane because they live on a rural road miles from an ambulance or hospital...) but anyway, he went in the next day for an oncology appointment. When he got there, they xrayed him to check the hole in his lung and discovered it had gotten larger and his lung had actually deflated! That just proved again to me how tough he is, he had a deflated lung and didn't even know it. Anyway, they canceled his oncology appointment to perform emergency surgery. They ended up closing his lung back up and re-inflating it. Apparently that helped him a lot. My parents went up this weekend and while they were there, my mom called me and while she was on the phone, my grandpa asked to talk to me and he sounded very good. He asked me if I had been fishing over the weekend, to which I replied "no," and he told me "you need to make sure to get your priorities straight, then." Which made me laugh but almost cry too because he was just diagnosed with cancer and he was telling me that getting out on the water should be my priority. I know this was partly him trying to hide his weakness but I also know it was him trying to make me not worry about him. It also meant a lot because he asked to talk to me. I believe this was because in recent years I've gotten closer to him through the common interest of fishing and hunting.  

Anyway, enough of the emotional stuff, I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who kept him in your prayers. He is doing much, much better right now. His oncology appointment is sometime this week so we'll get a prognosis then but as of now, he is doing drastically better than last week. I ask you to keep praying for him and also my grandma. My mother says that she is an absolute mess and she even fainted the other day. Again, thanks a lot guys, I really, truly appreciate it.

Thats great to hear!!!!! Tell him Josh Johnson said hi!

I hope you continue to get good news.  Thoughts and prayers to your family.

I still miss my Grandpa and he's been gone since 1993. Unfortunately, death is a part of life that we all will face one day. Hopefully your Grandpa will beat this thing and be around for a few years more!