Not Again: I Already Lost a Toe — Now the Foot Ulcer Is Back

I’ve been down this road before—and I know how quickly a foot ulcer can become something much more serious.

After a previous infection eventually led to osteomyelitis and the loss of my second toe, seeing redness, swelling, and a bleeding ulcer on the same foot brought all of those fears rushing back.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share what happened next: the call to my podiatrist, antibiotics, bloodwork, an X-ray and culture—and the news that the infection was MRSA. Thankfully, the X-ray showed no bone involvement, the infection responded to treatment, and the ulcer is continuing to heal.

This is my personal experience with diabetic foot complications and the lesson I learned the hard way: when something changes with your feet, don't wait.

🎥 Prefer to watch? Find the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

Description

Every 90 days, a blood test has the potential to change the direction of my cancer journey.

Living with prostate cancer means learning to exist in the space between appointments—the waiting, the uncertainty, and the knowledge that one set of numbers could change what happens next.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share what those quarterly blood tests have come to mean for me, the anxiety that builds as another test approaches, and how I'm learning to live my life without allowing the next result to consume the days in between.

Cancer may force me to think in 90-day chapters, but I'm determined not to spend those chapters simply waiting for the next one.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

Cancer changed our plans—but did it have to end the dream?

Before my prostate cancer diagnosis, my wife and I had a vision for retirement: an RV, the open road, and the freedom to finally explore the places we'd spent years dreaming about.

Then everything changed.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I talk about what happens to the dreams you made before cancer, the uncertainty of planning a future when life suddenly feels measured differently, and the question we're still asking ourselves: Can we still chase our RV dream after cancer?

Maybe the journey won't look exactly like we imagined. But that doesn't mean the adventure has to be over.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

And so…the adventure continues.

Cancer changed the way I think about one word: later.

We’ll take that trip later. I’ll slow down later. I’ll spend more time with the people I love later. Then cancer taught me an uncomfortable truth—later isn’t promised.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share five things I’m learning to stop saving for someday: experiences, relationships, purpose, joy, and giving back.

This isn’t about ignoring tomorrow. It’s about refusing to miss today while waiting for life to begin.

Don’t just survive the journey. Thrive for life.

🎥 Prefer to watch? Find the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel.

There was one warning sign that almost caused me to underestimate how serious my prostate cancer really was.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share the decision that changed everything and why asking one more question led to the discovery of my aggressive Gleason 9 prostate cancer. It's a reminder that while PSA is an important tool, it doesn't tell the whole story.

If you're facing a prostate cancer diagnosis—or supporting someone who is—I hope this conversation encourages you to become an informed advocate for your own health. Because sometimes asking one more question can change everything.

🎥 Prefer to watch?
Watch the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel.

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

Most men are told what a radical prostatectomy is—but very few are told what life is actually like afterward.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share six of the biggest surprises I experienced after prostate cancer surgery. From the emotional impact and loss of sexual function to incontinence, catheters, and the unexpected challenges that no brochure prepared me for, this is the conversation I wish someone had with me before my operation.

If you're preparing for surgery, recovering from prostate cancer, or supporting someone who is, I hope this honest conversation helps you feel more informed, less alone, and better equipped to ask one more question.

In this episode:

• The realities of recovery after radical prostatectomy
• The physical and emotional changes nobody prepared me for
• What I wish I had known before surgery
• Encouragement for patients, spouses, and caregivers

If this episode helps you, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who may be walking the same road.

Watch the original video and explore more conversations:YouTube: @JonesingForTheJourneyReal Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

For 30 years, my wife and I dreamed about celebrating our anniversary with the trip of a lifetime. The reservations were made, the excitement was building, and we were finally ready to begin the next chapter of our lives.

Then cancer changed everything.

In this heartfelt episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share the difficult decision to cancel our long-awaited 30th anniversary trip after my prostate cancer diagnosis—and the unexpected lessons we discovered about love, priorities, and finding purpose when life doesn't go according to plan.

This isn't just a story about a canceled vacation. It's about navigating disappointment, protecting what matters most, and learning that while cancer may change your plans, it doesn't have to steal your hope.

In this episode:

• Why we canceled our dream anniversary trip
• The emotional impact of a prostate cancer diagnosis
• How cancer reshaped our retirement plans
• What my wife and I learned through disappointment
• Finding purpose when life takes an unexpected detour

Whether you're facing cancer, supporting someone you love, or grieving a dream that didn't unfold the way you expected, I hope this episode reminds you that hope can still be found—even when the destination changes.

🎥 Prefer to watch?
Watch the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/VdXGU3kJFKA

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.

What should have been a season of celebration became the moment our lives changed forever.

Just after the New Year, I received three words no one is ever prepared to hear:

"You have cancer."

In this deeply personal episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I share the story of receiving my prostate cancer diagnosis, the emotions that followed, and how one unexpected phone call changed not only our retirement plans—but the direction of our lives.

If you've recently been diagnosed, are supporting someone with cancer, or simply need hope in the middle of an unexpected detour, this conversation is for you.

In this episode:

• The phone call that changed everything
• Processing a life-changing cancer diagnosis
• The fear, uncertainty, and questions that followed
• Why asking one more question became our mission
• Finding hope when the future suddenly looks different

This episode is a reminder that while a diagnosis can change your plans, it doesn't have to define your purpose.

🎥 Prefer to watch?
Watch the original video on the Jonesing For The Journey YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/9PQazqrFOzk

Real Life. Real Journeys. Real Hope.