Bob Serva, Fusion Firearms

[TonyW]

I've been working with Bob Serva for several months to create my idea of a perfect bob-tailed Commander sized 45. It was to be steel, completely ion-bond coated (DLC - like Diamond Black), unusual in that the flats would be polished - which now can be done by the Ion Bond company. Of course it would be made of all the best parts, no MIM, and nicely fitted by Fusion. It has been a pleasure to work with Bob.

Due to onset of a severe health problem, I asked Bob to cancel this order. He replied immediately that he would and would refund my complete deposit. He didn't have to do this. He is a nice gentleman, and I am sorry I won't ever get to see what would have been a fine .45. There are a lot of things I won't ever get to do now.

[Titleguy]

He sounds like a gentleman. Best wishes for your health.

[Lucho]

I've been working with Bob Serva for several months to create my idea of a perfect bob-tailed Commander sized 45. It was to be steel, completely ion-bond coated (DLC - like Diamond Black), unusual in that the flats would be polished - which now can be done by the Ion Bond company. Of course it would be made of all the best parts, no MIM, and nicely fitted by Fusion. It has been a pleasure to work with Bob.

Due to onset of a severe health problem, I asked Bob to cancel this order. He replied immediately that he would and would refund my complete deposit. He didn't have to do this. He is a nice gentleman, and I am sorry I won't ever get to see what would have been a fine .45. There are a lot of things I won't ever get to do now.
Tony I hope you still post on the board... you are one COOL DUDE !!!!! I truly wish you all good things..... ;) Tony if you ever want to talk Guns or about anything give me a call 615-517-5151 peace !!!!

[TonyW]

Got a glimmer of hope on my medical condition today. I may not be allowed on the internet again by my wife! The Johns Hopkins University Medical center site mentioned a symptom that was a sure sign that kidney cancer had spread and would not be curable. That 'sure sign' turned out to be a secondary infection, which in turn meant that the mass detected by ultrasound may not be cancer at all. MRI tonight will tell. And even if it is cancer, it probably has not spread so will be operable. Wife and I are much relieved - to say the least. A few more stressful days before I find out the full status, Maybe by Wednesday I will be able to reorder that bob-tail!

[chrisp0410]

Got a glimmer of hope on my medical condition today. I may not be allowed on the internet again by my wife! The Johns Hopkins University Medical center site mentioned a symptom that was a sure sign that kidney cancer had spread and would not be curable. That 'sure sign' turned out to be a secondary infection, which in turn meant that the mass detected by ultrasound may not be cancer at all. MRI tonight will tell. And even if it is cancer, it probably has not spread so will be operable. Wife and I are much relieved - to say the least. A few more stressful days before I find out the full status, Maybe by Wednesday I will be able to reorder that bob-tail!

Tony, hang in there man. We're pulling for you.

Chrisp0410

[MoneyTree]

Got a glimmer of hope on my medical condition today. I may not be allowed on the internet again by my wife! The Johns Hopkins University Medical center site mentioned a symptom that was a sure sign that kidney cancer had spread and would not be curable. That 'sure sign' turned out to be a secondary infection, which in turn meant that the mass detected by ultrasound may not be cancer at all. MRI tonight will tell. And even if it is cancer, it probably has not spread so will be operable. Wife and I are much relieved - to say the least. A few more stressful days before I find out the full status, Maybe by Wednesday I will be able to reorder that bob-tail!

You and your family will remain in our prayers too Tony and never lose sight of the fact that we do win in the end . Continue to fight the good fight . I grew up an Air Force brat and fully appreciate your service to our country .

[daveohno]

I always hear attitude has a little to do with ones battle with these pernicious diseases. Try to keep a smile on your face and lets all hope that you can reorder that pistol! I wish you well and we all hope and pray for the BEST for you!

[dbknj]

Best wishes are coming your way for your health. Let's hope that the misdiagnosis is just that. Stay positive and strong and I hope your wife lets you on here once in awhile.

Let us know if and when you re-order your pistol, we'd be glad to get 'er going for you. :)

Dale.

[D-Ric902]

Best wishes and prayers for you my friend.
I would love to see you shoot that 45.

[TonyW]

Update: Well, it is kidney cancer but the good news is that it apparently hasn't spread and hasn't changed in size in the 2 months between the ultrasound (the results which were either lost or misfiled) and the MRI. I will have to have some or all of one kidney (good thing we have 2 of them!) removed and then hopefully will be fine. After the first scare, this now seems minor and I am hardly worried! Working now on getting scheduled at one of the top hospitals in the US- Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. New gun will have to wait a bit, but at least in my panic stage I didn't sell my entire collection!

[Ping Ping]

Great news, Tony! I guess all the good thoughts and energy we're sending your way is paying off. It sounds as though you're getting the best available care and keeping a positive outlook.

All my best!

[MoneyTree]

You'll remain in our thoughts Tony until we get you through this thing . We're glad to hear your getting great medical care , keep us posted , when you can .

[tacticalacp]

Get better man, people are depending on you>

Tac

[dogdollar]

Tony,
I just found this post.
You are one of my most cherished friends on this forum, and rest assured I will be lifting you up in my prayers until this is resolved.
Stay tough and don't let this thing steal your joy........you are held in high regard among many, many people here on this forum, and deservedly so.
Best regards,
Tim

[A.B.]

I just found your post, too, and I am so relieved, Tony. Johns Hopkins is the very best, please keep us informed.
You are in our prayers, too.

Best regards,
Gordon

[TonyW]

Thanks guys, for all the nice words and support. They really mean a lot to me. I am in sort of a catch 22 situation now. When I found out I had cancer, I wanted an immediate operation. But if you are to have an operation, it is best to find a doctor who has done it hundreds of times. My local specialist said he could have me in within a week. On the other hand, the doctor I chose at Johns Hopkins is in great demand and I won't get in until October! When I discovered I only had a consult with him and not admission to the hospital, I emailed him - at 11 o'clock at night. Within 5 minutes I had a detailed response back! This is like the time I called Nighthawk Custom and got to speak to Ron Phillips directly! Anyway, the good doctor (MD,PhD, associate prof of oncology and urology, specializing in kidney surgery) said he only schedules surgery after seeing the films himself -rather than just the radiologist's report - and that he is booked for the next several months. But, if he finds from the films that the cancer has spread, I would get in immediately. However, from the preliminary results, that is not the case, and he said that my size tumor would only grow 2mm. in the meantime. He understood my concerns about not getting right in, but said that this would not be a problem. So I am just in limbo, and have decided there is no sense in worrying - and to just get on with life. I am so lucky this was caught before any symptoms - once there are symptoms the outlook is really grim. My mother always said that I must have an angel looking after me, and after this and several incidents while in the service, maybe she was right!

[G34Shooter]

I just found this post and wish you a safe future surgery with a full recovery!!! Cancer is beatable and my Father proved it earlier this year :D

[Dr. Jekyll]

God Bless You Tony. I have always known you to be a gentleman here on m1911. I wish you well and a speedy recovery.

Doc

[dhomoney]

Update: Well, it is kidney cancer but the good news is that it apparently hasn't spread and hasn't changed in size in the 2 months between the ultrasound (the results which were either lost or misfiled) and the MRI. I will have to have some or all of one kidney (good thing we have 2 of them!) removed and then hopefully will be fine. After the first scare, this now seems minor and I am hardly worried! Working now on getting scheduled at one of the top hospitals in the US- Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. New gun will have to wait a bit, but at least in my panic stage I didn't sell my entire collection!


God Bless ya brother. As a cancer survivor myself, I wish you and your family all the best. You can and will beat this.

[elijdub]

Best wishes Tony. You're a tremendous asset to this forum (and beyond i'm sure). Stay strong and beat this cancer. JH is one of the finest facilities in the world. As a matter of fact my mother was treated there years ago (for the very same thing) with 100% success.

[wwIIBuff]

Stay strong, best of luck

[TonyW]

Update: My surgery is Sept 24th. The surgeon called my a couple of days ago to say he had reviewed CTs of me made way back in 2002 (by another hospital) -- and that the tumor was clearly visible in at least one slice and 2 cm. in size. It was missed by the radiologists then, and he said I would have a good malpractice suit - -if perchance the cancer is not contained -which he still hopes it is. He said the old CTs prove that it is very slow growing and not the aggressive form - which is really good news. For a doctor to suggest suing other doctors is a first that I have heard of! Legally, if the cancer has not spread, no harm was done and there would not be a cause to sue- he was just advising me of my rights if the worst does happen. If the cancer has spread, I wouldn't waste my time suing, but it would be an option for my wife and kids.

Thanks again for the kind words and well wishes. Come December I hope to be back shooting!

If any of you over 40 can talk your doctor into ordering an ultrasound every couple of years and have insurance that will cover most of the cost - go for it!

[dogdollar]

If any of you over 40 can talk your doctor into ordering an ultrasound every couple of years and have insurance that will cover most of the cost - go for it!

Sage advice, my friend. Thanks, and of course I wish you back on the range soon and in fine form.
Best regards,
DD

[Lucho]

Update:
Come December I hope to be back shooting!



http://crystal-cure.com/pics/lucky-stone-bag.jpgGood Luck Symbols: Lucky gemstone totems

Good luck Tony !!!! I truly hope you are shooting in Dec. !!!!!! :appld: :appld: :appld:

[MoneyTree]

Update: My surgery is Sept 24th. The surgeon called my a couple of days ago to say he had reviewed CTs of me made way back in 2002 (by another hospital) -- and that the tumor was clearly visible in at least one slice and 2 cm. in size. It was missed by the radiologists then, and he said I would have a good malpractice suit - -if perchance the cancer is not contained -which he still hopes it is. He said the old CTs prove that it is very slow growing and not the aggressive form - which is really good news. For a doctor to suggest suing other doctors is a first that I have heard of! Legally, if the cancer has not spread, no harm was done and there would not be a cause to sue- he was just advising me of my rights if the worst does happen. If the cancer has spread, I wouldn't waste my time suing, but it would be an option for my wife and kids.

Thanks again for the kind words and well wishes. Come December I hope to be back shooting!

If any of you over 40 can talk your doctor into ordering an ultrasound every couple of years and have insurance that will cover most of the cost - go for it!

Thanks for keeping us updated , remember Tony that we haven't forgotten about you and your still in our prayers until you pull through this trial and are back to full health .

Is it a full body ultrasound that you're talking about . The reason I ask is that I've mentioned it to several different doctors and they didn't seem to be very enthusiastic or knowledgeable about them . I get a heart ultrasound every six months and I figured a full body version every few years would be the thing to do . I can't have MRI's due to my pacemaker and CT scans aren't that great from what I've seen . Anyway just get better Tony .

[TonyW]

Is it a full body ultrasound that you're talking about . The reason I ask is that I've mentioned it to several different doctors and they didn't seem to be very enthusiastic or knowledgeable about them . I get a heart ultrasound every six months and I figured a full body version every few years would be the thing to do .

I was thinking of only an abdominal ultrasound since it would catch most liver, kidney, pancreas, stomach and other abdominal cancers which seem to happen without symptoms until it is too late to cure. Ultrasounds are by far the least expensive of the scans. The only reason I had a chest and abdominal CT was to catch any lung lesions spread from the kidney, but for a smoker the chest might be really important. Also, in my case my surgeon thought the Johns Hopkins CTs were more advanced than other places and he wanted scans on their own computer system. They are so worried about computer viruses that my doctor has one computer not connected to the hospital system to look at CDs of scans from other hospitals! He looks at the scans himself rather than using the radiologist reports - now I know why! My MRI at home was to confirm the ultrasound. MRIs take forever and for the full body would take a day since it takes about 25 minutes for each area! Doctors don't seem enthusiastic about tests not indicated by symptoms - there is even talk that the PSA test is not worthwhile for the few cases it catches versus the thousands of tests given -- but tell that to someone whose life was saved by the test. Of course one could always go in saying you had intense abdominal pain -- ultrasounds are used to detect common things like gallstones.

[MoneyTree]

I was thinking of only an abdominal ultrasound since it would catch most liver, kidney, pancreas, stomach and other abdominal cancers which seem to happen without symptoms until it is too late to cure. Ultrasounds are by far the least expensive of the scans. The only reason I had a chest and abdominal CT was to catch any lung lesions spread from the kidney, but for a smoker the chest might be really important. Also, in my case my surgeon thought the Johns Hopkins CTs were more advanced than other places and he wanted scans on their own computer system. They are so worried about computer viruses that my doctor has one computer not connected to the hospital system to look at CDs of scans from other hospitals! He looks at the scans himself rather than using the radiologist reports - now I know why! My MRI at home was to confirm the ultrasound. MRIs take forever and for the full body would take a day since it takes about 25 minutes for each area! Doctors don't seem enthusiastic about tests not indicated by symptoms - there is even talk that the PSA test is not worthwhile for the few cases it catches versus the thousands of tests given -- but tell that to someone whose life was saved by the test. Of course one could always go in saying you had intense abdominal pain -- ultrasounds are used to detect common things like gallstones.

Thanks Tony , I appreciate the information . I've had to take an enormous quantity and variety of medications for the last three years and although they order blood test every six months I'd still feel better with an ultrasound to verify that there's no damage being done . The side effects on all these medications would scare any sane person and when they start combining twenty different medications there no telling what they might cause . But since they've got my heart under control and the severe chronic pain under semi control ( at least it's not driving me up the wall ) I pop them like candy every three hours , twenty four hours a day , seven days a week and arrange my life around them . As you can imagine it's the pits but I really don't have a choice right now .

[Viscon]

Tony, I wish you the best and may God heal you through the miracle of modern medical science. You will be in our prayers.

[Gunslingers]

Tony,

I just stumbled into this thread. I am really sorry to hear about this but it sounds like you are in good hands with a doctor that cares about his patients and also an expert in this particular field. My prayers are with you and I look forward to reading posts from you getting back into shooting come December with some pictures of a new Fusion (to go along with your other beauties that you own)!

Best wishes Tony. I'll be thinking of you. Keep us posted the best you can in the coming months. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

George