So, used to be I did updates after Paddy's-day, and then I kind of retired that and did one whenever. Well we're well into 2023 and I never did that this year. There's a reason why...

I don't really know how to put this out there, so I'll just do it - aim to keep it short, and move forwards.

My younger brother (by 5 years) had a stroke in February, pretty bad one, and during the usual scans they do after one - they found 'a spot' on his brain. They didn't drop the C word right there, but they let us know what the statistics say about that, wasn't long after that they did give the diagnosis with all the details - it's a malignant 'High Grade GBM' brain tumor, basically means stage 4 brain cancer, of which surgery would be very risky and already carries a greater-than 80% chance full paralysis even if everything went perfect and the immediate family could uproot our daily lives to go be on the other side of the state for months at the Uni that could do it...

Yeah, not great. This was also peak MI winter where we had blizzards every other day and we still had to travel 2 big cities over regardless to get to the specialist/hospital he was at. If there was ever a doubt I couldn't drive the wheels off anything I disproved it day after day, night after night, white-out after white-out. (RIP the salted underside of my Trax...)

However, he is still with us today, and he's very much still him - just in a bit rougher shape. The downhill slope has fortunately been quite flat so far and we don't take a day for granted anymore. Qualified doctors and specialists (believe me, I tested and vested them) have said 'days to weeks', but it's also been months - and when they gave my late Aunt Judy '3 months', she went and set the bar fucking high at 9 years...

So, as I wrap this up to go pick-up some good cuisine for the family when I see him tonight, I'm just going to say one thing for Cancer.

Fuck You, Try and take him.
-Snep