While waiting for the new auxiliary battery to arrive, I decided to rewire the main cable and the cable that feeds the amp. I wanted the 200 amp breaker to be closer to the battery, its about 2' of cable away currently but in a very safe and accessible spot. The breaker is mounted to the flat space on the body where it steps up for the cargo area, above and behind the axle. I can get under there in a few seconds and push the breaker if it doesn't pop on its own. After messing around with everything I figured out that its already in the best spot. I also want the amp power cable to be be on the cable side of that breaker so I am rewiring so everything can be disconnected at the breaker. The only accessory I will have mounted directly to the battery is the air compressor, but it has its own plug and breaker.
Things are going slow for me as I am still recovering from surgery. A few months ago I was diagnosed with a small tumor at the base of my tongue, that had spread into lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. There are basically two treatment options; chemo/radiation or surgery with possible follow-up radiation. I was initially told that the only option for me was chemo/radiation so I had a feeding tube installed into my stomach, and one radiation treatment. It was then I found out the best surgeon in the country for this type of cancer practices in San Diego. I really didn't want anything to do with radiation or chemotherapy and the lifetime of after effects they bring. I consulted with the surgeon, and then stopped radiation treatments while I consulted more surgeons, ENT's and oncologists. I opted for surgery on November 30. I had the tumor removed robotically and I was the first person to be operated on with the newest, latest, greatest device at Sharp Hospital. I was asked to do a interview about my experience but really don't remember that part. The lymph nodes were removed the regular slice and dice way. Six hour surgery went well, spent the night intubated in ICU. I was supposed to be out the entire time I was intubated as I had explained to everyone that my biggest fear is waking up with that dam tube down my throat. I was with my father when he came out of surgery and he tried to pull his tube out. I have that same type of fight survival instinct. Fear realized as I was awake almost the entire time and remember the nurse on the phone telling the doctor "he's fully sedated and wide awake" and asking permission for a fentanyl drip. They restrained my arms with soft restraints. Not fun, luckily for all of us I was heavily sedated or they would have been in for it. Spent four additional days in the hospital, mostly because the surgery is in my airway. Came home to have to put my best friend and loyal companion Sasha to sleep three hours later.
A week later a visit to my surgeon revealed she got it all, no tendrils, nothing in the margins, and she explained there was only one lymph effected and she took 32. She said I am "surgically cured". I debated doing follow-up radiation because the one lymph was 5CM and it was recommended by some national guidelines for cancer treatment. After talking to several ENT's, surgeons and a few radiation oncologists, I decided to take my chances and not do radiation as most of them recommended the wait and see approach. In the "very unlikely" event that it comes back, I can be treated surgically or with radiation or both, with the same level of success as if I did it now. I would also rather not go to COVID central five days a week for four weeks and have my immune system compromised at the height of a pandemic. Cancer survivors are only considered "cured" after five years, so now its a waiting game; CT/PET tests every three months for a year, then every six months for five years, then yearly for life. The surgery beat me down much more than I anticipated and I am finally getting back to normal.
I should be tearing back into that rear axle next week to replace the carrier bearings.
