On With The Show! This is IT!

Roy Gene's
Endless Summer of Chemo Benefit Show

aka Livers Alive!
or White Blood Cells Are For Losers

Tonight Saturday May 29th at Revolution, Downtown Bryan
211 South Main Street, Bryan, TX (979) 823-4044‎

7pm: Gates Open

8pm: Frankie "Fresh" Eneks (aka Grandbaby Mama)
8:30/9pm(whenever Frankie is done) First Raflle drawing

9:30 Chad Boyd

10:30 Gene Pool (RGs 1 & 2) with Brandie Alexander

11:00 Second Raffle

11:30 Puente

12:30 Gene Pool Rides Again (Roy Gene & Alex Munse & Friends)

1:00 Magic Girl

2:00 Final Raffle Drawing

WWWD?

Today's BIG NEWS:
Willie Nelson cuts off his pigtails!
Millions of lives disrupted! Fans fall into mass depression. Chris Austin and Lorrie Lynn analyze at 6 and 10 on KBTX! Swine have no comment.

AFTER

BEFORE

Despite the alarm, the tears, and wringing of hands - this is not unprecedented. As you can see from our KORA Willie Hall of Haircuts, The Stranger has actually spent more of his career tail-less than braided:

(that's Willie on the left with unidentified fan)

In these troubled times, we can take solace from an old quotation. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin - or, possibly Mark Twain; or maybe even Confucius who said, "The difference between a BAD haircut and a GOOD haircut is roughly two weeks"

MORE BBQ PIX

Here's a couple more fotos from The Roy Gene BBQ Fundraiser at Sam's Club last Saturday. I'll post a whole lot more of 'em after I figure out how to load onto the main KORA page.

Roger and Roy discuss the Big Comeback performance

With Brandie Alexander and Brian and Aiden

The Voice of Texas A&M Sports and avid Roger & Roy fan,
Dave South

Undergoing a grilling of my own by KBTX-TV

The Brazos Valley Media Brain Trust
(Ben Downs, Mike Wright, Mary Mike Hatcher)

Don't forget the Live Music fundraiser this Saturday evening at Revolution Downtown Bryan. Featuring Magic Girl, Chris Puentes, Chad Boyd, Frankie Eneks, and The Roy Gene Pool with son Alex and Brandie Alexander.

Special Statement Regarding Saturdays' BAR B Q

To the Brazos Valley, To R&R Morning Show Fans, To Framily, To Media-rites, To associates, acquaintances and Survivors.

I am still beyond words, rendered speechless and totally incapable of expressing what this day has meant to me.

I love you all
OK. MOST of you

Roy Gene Munse 5/22/2010

Speechless

I am still stunned, amazed, and eternally grateful for the shows of support for me. Thank you. And keep the cards, letters, emails, phone calls, posts and smoke signals coming.

I missed a couple days correspondence when I hit a bad patch yesterday. I don't know if it was related to the liver problems or some other new, fresh hell. Whatever happened and why, I believe it was triggered by going off-diet on Wednesday night. I had been out doing some light shopping and prescription filling when I decided to hit a drive-through on the way home. Round about 3am it hit back. I had a massive pain in the gut that felt like the worst case of indigestion and heartburn I'd ever had combined. Maybe times ten. In any event, it took me plumb out of living until about 8pm. I was trying to relieve pressure from intake valve to evacuation port and any location in-between. Kinda makes me nervous about what I eat. And when and where. I promise to stay the strait and narrow now, though.

Speaking of eating, hope to see ya at the Rompin' Stompin' Bar B Q this Saturday (as in tomorrow) at Sam's parking lot off By Pass 6 Earl Rudder Freeway. Rumor has it that Butch from Maaco has 80 briskets to cook. Food will be available by the plate, by the pound and by the brisket. If you want a whole brisket, better reserve today. Cause the pit gets fired up tonight. Call Butch at Maaco 823-3008.

Right now the worst of my problems are the sores in my mouth and tongue. When the tongue gets irritated it makes it painful to talk. When it hurts to talk, it makes it unlikely for me to try. That's the main reason I haven't been back on the air yet. Nurse Caitlin from Baylor gave me a litre jug of saltwater and baking soda to clean and rinse to mouthal area. And now Nurse Kathy from the Cancer hospital has recommended a cocktail of Benadryl and Mylanta as a more effective rinse. I'm gonna try today.

No one has asked,really, but I'd like explain a little bit about my ailments and why Baylor Med Center is treating me instead of one of our many fine local Medical Establishments. The main reason is that we don't transplant here in the neighborhood. At least not livers. That is what I was first seeking treatment for (the liver was going way before the cancer was found). When I got the cancer diagnosis it was while on one of my bi-annual check-ups in Dallas. In order to get a new liver, they would have to shrink the tumors. So, as long as I was already up there and had a tab open anyway, that's where I got my Chemo. Round One. By the way I begin Round Two (basically the same treatment as before) on Monday June 14th.

I have been enjoying listening the The Devon O'Neal Morning show featuring Roger Garrett and the Spirit of Roy Gene in my convalescence. I hope I can pass the screening when I want to make my come back. You know, sometimes returning from IR, you find someone else has replaced you.

I was listening to AM Talk Radio the other night when I heard a promo for my BBQ Benefit and was near flabbergasted to hear the Bryan Broadcasting Stations are involved as well- WTAW, KZNE, KNDE. Not that we don't have a lot of history. Ben Downs was one of my first GMs when I arrived in 1979. And I've known most of his staff and crew for many years now. Sometimes, even working at the same facilities. Did I mention Ben is the only person who ever fired me (twice) that I still talk to? Then yesterday I was informed that Aggie96 wanted to promote the event as well. I am truly honored and humbled by the outpouring. I feel like I should be sicker than I am to deserve this response.

A couple closing notes: My son, Alex Munse, is working on another Benefit Show for next weekend at Revolutions Downtown. Give ya more details next time or you can contact him via his Facebook page. Individual cash donations can be made at The Bank and Trust.


Roy Gene

Surprise! It's Me, Again!

Didn't mean to leave ya dangling like that. The end of last week turned out a little rougher than expected. Everything was fine and dandy (relatively) until about Thursday afternoon. I started feeling a little nauseous and was losing my appetite (i.e., I had a rumbly in my tumbly that went all gibbity gibbity - Medical Terms). Up till that point I been eating 3 squares a day and cleaning the plates. And I, of course, asked for no chemical assistance for several reasons 1.) PRIDE, I didn't want to mess with my stoic and strong image so carefully cultivated 2.) CHEMICAL OVERLOAD, I didn't want to add another batch of drugs to my already drug-addled system. 3.) PRICE, for some reason I convinced myself it would actually make a dimes worth of difference to my Ultimate Bill if I refused certain medications.
By Friday morning it was bad enough that I begged for anything short of euthanasia to settle things down. I ended up getting three injections during the day, one that made me sleep(ier), two that were supposed to be drowse-free. It's tough to tell which,if any had any affect since I was pretty much groggy for the rest of my incarceration.
I was due to be cut loose on Friday, but they didn't get around to removing my direct-deposit catheter until about 4pm. After removal, they say they wanna keep ya an extra four hours to make sure everything went OK. It wasn't until 10pm that I was officially notified I could get up, move around the cabin, and go to the bathroom all by myself. So I stayed the night.

Side note: I learned much about Bedpan Etiquette while on the inside. The staff all realize how embarrassing and undignified the whole process is, but you only make it worse if you try to read a magazine while on the Mobil-Pot.

Saturday morning as I packed my belongs and prepared for the getaway, I was still feelin' illin', so I drank one of them Breakfast-In-A-Can thingies and promptly turned over my innards and puked through my mouth, my nose and every other facial orifice. I couldn't keep conscious for more than 15 minutes at a time on the way back to B/CS (thanks, Gail)and then plopped into my own Bed Sweet Bed and kept the snoozing marathon going until noon Sunday.

They told me the side effects from Direct Chemo would be less, so here's my personal final tally: nauseousness, diminished appetite, fatigue, drowsiness, mouth sores. Glad I didn't get the full strength.
I had been planning to return to the airwaves today (Monday) but yesterday evening I made a judgement call to wait till Tuesday , the 18th.

I gotta go back for Round Two of Chemo in about three weeks.

Thanks again for your emails, texts, postings, phone calls, thoughts and prayers.
Please forgive me if I don't respond immediately, I will try to acknowledge every one, and every one is important to me.

Roy

Long Distance Shout Outs

It's Thursday, and that means Shout Out Day! That's the time we set aside every week to acknowledge our listeners by name and mention special people and occasions. Usually, I have a hard time coming up with the unofficial minimum of two. Not that I don't run into R&R fans everywhere, just that I forget to write them down. If I do write them down, I forget where I put the paper. If I find the paper, I can't read my own handwriting or remember where I met those names. This week, I have the opposite problem: I have so many people to thank by name, rank and serial number, I couldn't possibly fit them into the allotted time and space.

Let me start with the staff of The Roberts Hospital at Baylor Medical Center. This bunch has gone way out of their way to make me as comfortable as possible. All shifts, all job-titles, all week. I don't believe I've run across a single surly soul and, on the contrary, have had a number of good conversations with staff about no med-related subjects.

Here on the home front, big props for Butch from Maaco - I don't know why they say he's had a bad heart. My son, Alex Gene (RG2), Ingrid "Zingy" Hightower, Gail Spears, David Decker, James Haislett, Chip Howard, Frankie (my Grandbaby Mama) Chris Kiske, and Ben D. Downs (the only guy who ever fired me - twice - that I'm still on speaking terms).

In addition,those I haven't seen or heard from in quite a while, including Tom Fussell, John T "Dirty" Duncan, Susie Haddox Campbell, Charle Haldeman, Corbin Maclaine, John Thompson, Nurse Susie Kiernan, Frank Devich, Tom Bonelli, Chuck Paulinski, Audrey Shika, and Wayne "Sam" Longeno (in his own, strange way).

My family has been great, too. Thanks, Ma, for not crying. Big Bro Ed, Li'l Bro Bob,Ex-wife Polly, stepdaughter Charly and all my Little Rascals, blood-related or not. My niece Erin, Special kudos for RG3, my grandson, who always gives me a dose of what I need every time I see him.

I'm not forgetting all my Media Friends in Print, Radio and TV. Nor do I ignore the cards, emails, Facebook postings, Comments, Texts, Twitters and old-fashioned telephone calls I've received from friends I've met in person and on the air. Thanks to every last one of you for thinking of me.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. America from border to border and coast to coast and all the ships at sea.

Finally Roger and Laurie Garrett who have been giving me an assist for a few years now. Special thanks to Roger, who has let me finish several sentences over the past couple weeks.

My apologies for any glaring omissions.

And now, Royce, who have YOU got to Shout Out?



Roy Gene

Wednesday Morning Workout

Special Correspondent Roy Gene Munse is on Chemo assignment at the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas in case the IRS asks.

Gosh, how time flies when you're flat on your back, as Ashley Dupre would say. Here it is Wednesday already and my sentence is just about halfway served. I'm to be released this weekend (Friday with good behavior). Even though my mobility is restricted, there are several things that remind me of home. Like the room temperature. Just like the KORA studios, it's either too hot or two cold. I was shivering in the middle of last night, when a floor nurse came in and raised the thermostat and loaded me with warm blankets. That was great for a half hour or so, now it's too dang hot! And can't move enough to shake 'em off.

This being Baylor, my electronic devices are limited. Even though there's a free WiFi signal, certain sites are restricted. I'm not even talking about THOSE kind of sites. I'm talking scholarly research. There are certain words that will trigger the Auto-Censor. Like "Chick", "Horn" and "Doodle". And the TV. Some channels are blocked entirely, others when a particular program is on a network. I haven't been able to see any "Dancing With The Stars"

Somehow Baseball must fall under those restrictions. I haven't been able to see a single Rangers game. They are on TV, aren't they? Of course, up here Astros are out of the question. Cubs,too.

And...as far as the portable Hard Drives I brought along, I haven't been able to make much progress there, either. And not just because I can barely get my face above the keyboard. But because of a little tiny USB memory stick containing vital documents that I can't seem to find. Neither can the nurses.

I'll just add it to my checklist for NEXT time. They assure me there will be a second round of this.

I guess none of my entertainment choices matter very much since I can only stay awake about two or three hours at a time. And when I sleep, my dreams are uncensored, unedited and unfettered.

Day One

OK, I got me a Chemo drip going direct to my liver. Besides not being able to sit upright, it's not too bad. Although it does make it difficult to use the word processor on the laptop.

Yesterday, as they were explaining to me what they had planned, I gotta admit, I was terrified. Stick a catheter into an artery in my leg, then snake it around until we hit liver. Then hang a bag of Chemo drip on by bed and drip for several days (see diagram above).
I said "I will me knocked out while this is taking place, right?"
Nope.
I was to be under conscious sedation. Which means I would be aware of the people around me and able to respond to simple requests, but not able to carry on a conversation. You know, kinda like the Morning Show.

At least assistant who shaved me "down there" was a pretty girl although she opted not to go for the full Bikini Wax.

Speaking of pretty girls, the night-time RN for my floor, Caitin, is cute as well. We spent a big chunk of morning discussing our favorite books. We had a match in several subjects, categories and authors. We're gonna swap Favorite Lists tomorrow. You know I can be a little shy and introverted when it comes to talking with The Opposite Sex, but I think tomorrow night I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna work up the nerve to ask if she'll help with my bedpan.

Yesterday the guy who was drawing my labs (siphoning my blood) turned out to be a Native of Chicago where I was (before I emigrated). He grew up in the South Suburbs and met his future wife in Country Club Hills (where my mom lived before she emigrated).We talked a lot about Pizza, Taverns the appreciation of when you visit the birthplace.

It kinda bums me out that I can't sit upright (well,they won't LET me), that makes it hard to do some of the computer things I'd planned for this week. On the other hand, my abs are getting a good workout.

Next time I need to bring a stenographer to take dictation. Insert your own joke here.

If you are a member of Roy Gene's Secret Society and Inner Circle, you can get updates on my procedures via your Clandestine Code numbers (my mom's phone number) or by saying the password to my son, Alex (RG2 The word is "swordfish") Otherwise, watch this blog.

not resonsible for misspelling, improper word usage, bad punctuation or terrible syntax.. I been sick, y'know?

Media Blackout Soon

In 20 minutes they are gonna take me down to install my Chemo Direct Liver Link. They call it Intrahepatic Arterial Chemo. Mine's easier to spell. It's up through an artery in the "groinal" area. They stick in a catheter and start a drip. OOPS They're here. Be incommunicado for rest of day.

Roy Gene Master Control Media Center

Just getting all my equipment installed, both for communications and medical procedures. Got my laptop PC with the WiFi (Thanks Tom Fussell), my Kindle book reader (Thanks Dave Decker), my Camera, MP3 player, noise-canceling headphones, portable Hard Drive(s) and cell phone. Got the cable TV and radio (with DVD player attached).My nightstand drawers contain books, newspapers, magazines and pens.

They got my vitals: dropped 5 lbs already!? Temperature? 98.3! Really-no coaching on my part. Got me an IV installed and dripping. Took a fistful of meds, gave a few vials of blood. Got stuck for a blood sugar test. Talked to the floor nurse, the RN and Social Worker. I had hoped to get names and /or pictures for my entourage, but they tend to appear and disappear quickly. In fact one will usually be talking to me to distract me from the other one who is busy poking me with a sharp object.

As is typical of my hospital visits, I get conflicting information. The first thing I had been told this morning is that I was just staying overnight. Well, I had already been dropped off by Grandbaby Momma, who was on her way back to B/CS. I was waiting to get started here before determining when I'd be leaving. My main Doctor told me last week this would be at least a Mon-Fri ordeal. Luckily, he dropped by to reconfirm the time frame. After they analyze my blood works, They'll wheel me out to get a Chemo Drip direct to my liver.

I don't get to eat until then. I have been NPO (Nothing Per Oral - it's hospital jargon) since midnight. Now it's near noon with nothing to consume but an ounce or two of water to wash down the pills. Supposedly , I will have a "normal" menu and be able to #1 and #2 solo. Well, me and a couple of IV bags.

Not only that, but I feel a nap coming on. I made notes and have other stories to tell, but it will have to wait until I'm semi-coherent again.
I'm Roy Gene, broadcasting? - typing? -TYPECASTING live from the Baylor Medical Center in Dallas

Roy Gene's Health-O-Meter

I've been trying to post an update to my medical shenanigans, but Facebook and Text messages only leave so many characters and I usually go over those allotted. Maybe it's time to RESURRECT the BLOG! I had been attempting daily updates about Roger & Roy and the morning show until about the time that the in-studio computer failed and is somewhere way down the list of important things to repair or replace.

First off, again, thank you so much to all the neighbors, framily, acquaintances and total strangers who have called or written in the last few day. Here is a synopsis of my situation to date.

A few years back I was recommended to Baylor Hospital in Dallas for transplant on a liver that was not responding to medication. There are certain criteria one must meet before getting on the list. The information collected in 3mo, 6mo and annual intervals make up a "MELD" score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease. Scores range from 6-40. A score of six indicates the least ill patient and a score of forty indicates the sickest patient. I have been holding around 10-11 for three years.

In that three years I have experienced some episodes, mainly when I started leaking ammonia on the brain and went a little nutty (for those of you listening that morning-a LOT nutty). Anyways all the sudden on last weeks sonogram, they find a tumor. A big one. In fact, because of the size it has become and the speed it occurred , they pronounced it cancer. I went back this past Monday for full range of tests and pictures and secret ray gun analysis.

On Tuesday, they upped my tumor count as a twofer, with a chance that a third one was trying to move into the neighborhood. It was either that or some spice or condiment accidentally spilled onto the picture.

I met with a transplant Doctor and the Oncologist on Tuesday to plan a course of action. Originally the plan was to burn them babies off and put me at the front of the line for transplant. For one reason or another, they couldn't or didn't wanna do this and so alternate therapy was suggested.

Let me interject here to answer the same question I had: Why couldn't they just replace the cancerfied liver with the transplanted one? As long as the Big C was confined to the liver, wouldn't it make more sense to just cut it and flush it?

Turns out that when you have multiple tumors of the size and stature I'm growing, the RECURRENCE of Cancer IN ANOTHER PART OF THE ANATOMY is like 20% greater if you do a transplant. Therefore, they want to shrink the tumors at least just long enough to pronounce them "within limits" and then remove it and sell it on E-Bay.

This is the strategy. Next Monday 5/10/2010 I will go back to Baylor where they will poke a hole and insert a hose to mainline my liver with Chemotherapy for five days in a row. Then unplug and check me; rinse and repeat- if necessary. When they get 'em shrunk down to size I will be placed high atop the transplant list. Then I will be on standby (must arrive within 6 hours) for when one becomes available. Then I will live happily ever after. Unless another organ fails...

Anyway, I will be on the air as much as possible through this ordeal. I'm consulting with our KORA Krack Engineers to see if there is some way I might be be able to do the Morning Show from a remote hook-up in my Dallas hospital room. Maybe our Krack Sales Team will offer Sponsorship packages.

Anyhow, that's all I know for now. I will keep in touch. Watch this space for more information.

And, thanks again for your support, prayers and love

Roy Gene Munse
Legendary Local Broadcaster and Positive Role Model