Hello! I’m a native of Brunswick, born in 1961. I graduated from Glynn Academy in 1979, moved to Savannah in 1983, and then graduated from SCAD in 1987 with a BFA in illustration.
I moved back to Brunswick in 1989. If you remember the restaurant called Chelsea, then you might remember me. I started there in 1992, and stayed until it closed in 2008. I also worked at Dressner’s, was a role player at FLETC, and designed jewelry at Chadwick’s. And in March of 2012, I started at the Georgia Sea Grill at it’s original location on Beachview Dr. A few years later, the restaurant moved to Mallery St. We celebrated our 10th anniversary at our present locale on May 21, 2025.
After much bloodwork and a biopsy, on August 27, 2024, I learned that I have “moderately aggressive” prostate cancer. Other tests showed that the cancer hasn’t spread elsewhere. In November, target markers for the radiation were injected, and I also received my first hormone injection to keep my prostate stabilized. After more tests, I started the first of five radiation treatments on January 7, and completed the final one on January 13. It was hardly two months later when I started having the same feeling I had 44 years ago, the pain from a hernia. After more tests, that was confirmed. I’ll be having my second hernia operation on June 26, 2025. I also had my second hormone injection on May 21.
Dealing with all of this has been quite difficult. The invasive tests performed, the hernia pain, and the side effects of the hormone injections have often been just brutal. This pain has been enough that I’ve cut back on my work nights because working back to back nights just wears me out. Usually, after working on my feet for just two hours, a sit down break is much needed. And there have been several times that I just had to leave and go home.
Though I have insurance, I’ve still had to pay out thousands already. And missing so much work income is continuing to reduce my bank account considerably. After the hernia surgery, I’ll probably have no income at all for a couple of weeks. And when I do return, I’ll be very limited to what I can do, much like it is now at work. That’s not fun, because the bills don’t stop coming.
Though this is a rough road, I’m very lucky to work for a guy like Zack. He, Tanera, Payton, and all of my coworkers have been just the absolute best in helping me get through all of this. I hate to think of what things would be like without the care, support, and love I still receive from all of these wonderful people. In that respect, I am truly blessed. Everything takes time, but I just wish all of this would very soon be a part of my past. Thank you all very much for any support. I really appreciate it more than you know. ❤
