The LongBow Papers

Liberal-oriented columns, commentary and archived articles on national and international news, politics, and the communication arts--with emphasis on China--by Joseph Bosco, author, journalist, director and actor; Professor of Drama and Communications at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Grounded and Healing

9:31 PM

A bit battered, even broken, tired to the quick, I finally arrived home in Beijing last night. It has been an ugly month or so but I'm back and starting to look forward again. But not tonight. Tonight, I am spent. If I owe you an e-mail, forgive me, I will get to it. But not tonight. I'm still healing tonight. Gratefully. Thank you all for so much needed support.

9:31 PM / Editor / permalink 9 comments

Monday, February 20, 2006

Made it through

3:23 AM

via Ellen:

Three endoscopies in five days is a crushing blow to the body and morale, but Joseph, with his great strength of character, made it through. Both growths, the polyp in his colon and the carcinoid tumor in his lung were successfully excised. (We have to have the latter checked regularly to make sure it does not come back.) Recovery has understandably been a bit rough, but he's resting and recuperating all weekend (it's still Sunday here in New York). We thank the five great doctors, the two fine hospitals and the powers that be for all their expertise, support and the successful results.

If all that were not enough, his laptop, his only computer, died on the way over here, so when he returns to Beijing this week, he will be a bit set back, to say the least, regarding communication and work. So, please be patient if its a bit longer till he returns your email or contacts you.

3:23 AM / Editor / permalink 6 comments

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

So Far So Good

6:46 PM

Hi, this is Ellen, aka Mrs. Bosco, checking in at Joseph's request with a report from New York, where we got through the record blizzard this weekend, cocooning with steaks,peach cobbler with ice cream, the Winter Olympics on TV and as much courage and good humor as we could muster. The snowstorm swirled spectacularly across our 10th story windows as we prepeared for a daunting week of medical procedures. We're staying at my recently departed mother's apartment, among her beautiful art, her amazing spirit and above all her loving strength.

Joseph wants it known that he hasn't lost all his marbles.

In round one of the scheduled endoscopies, half of a marble-sized carcinoid (cancer-like but not cancerous) tumor in his lower right lung, which was blocking his airway, was pricked, lasered and removed. But because of some unexpected bleeding, which was stopped, the team of three extroardinary doctors decided to wait to remove the rest of it until Friday. He stayed overnight in the hospital, in case the bleeding started up again. I should be able to pick him up in a few hours. On Thursday, if all goes well, the 2cm growth on his cecum, in the intestinal area, will be removed and after a checkup, he will return to Beijing next week. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and good wishes and keep them coming. We're not quite out of the woods yet.

See you all soon.

Ellen & Joseph

Happy Valentine's Day, sweetheart

6:46 PM / Editor / permalink 4 comments

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Cuttin' on Bosco, Twice!

6:28 AM

I have only a few minutes of Internet access and want to quickly note a couple of medical issues:

On Monday afternoon, the 13th, in New York, three fine surgeons--I will identify them after their work is done--will go into my left lung and remove an approximately one centimeter growth. They will then biopsy it while I am still under. If it is benign, a stitch or two later it's all over. If it isn't, then one of the surgeons will use a laser to treat the affected area.

Two days later, at another hospital in New York, other surgeons will remove a two centimeter growth from my lower abdominal region, using much the same procedures.

No matter what the results are, I will return to China before the next semester begins. That is a promise. I need all of your kind wishes. I am scared, folks.

6:28 AM / Editor / permalink 5 comments

Monday, February 06, 2006

A Note From Katrina Country

4:10 AM

So call me a liar for writing that we would be in the States for only a week to ten days--stuff happens. Only one of which is that I have had almost no Internet access.

After my mother-in-law's funeral in New York Wednesday before last, Ellen realized she needed to stay longer to help her brother and sister handle their mother's affairs. I then decided to fly down to Katrina Country to finally see firsthand what that monstrous lady did to my beloved Gulf Coast and the Bosco family--even though I had seen many photographs, the real thing was devastating beyond words, for now.

Between the funeral and my flight south, I visited a doctor in New York; he ordered a plethora of tests. The results of same were more than a little troubling. Consequently, upon my return to New York on Tuesday, I will undergo certain exploratory surgical procedures.

I will not go into any details at the moment because it is too premature. However, I will make this statement and promise: Whatever is my fate, it will happen in China, no matter what. In other words, quoting another American who spent a number of years in the far east, I will return. Soon.

4:10 AM / Editor / permalink 4 comments