This past Friday, I blogged about the phrase “I’m Not Disabled, I’m enhanced” and how I related to it. I thought it would be instructive to use this blog to write a song, which I did, and it is embedded below.
How it was put together. I turned to the AI engine Poe and used a plugin named Music Generator by @CoolBotMakerGuy, into which I wrote a header prompt and pasted in input from Friday’s blog to base the song’s lyrics on. I then copied the generated lyrics and pasted them into the appropriate place in Suno to create the song below. I told Suno to use the blues genre, in the style of Jimmy Reed, from 1955. I downloaded the finished product as an MP4 file. Cool beans! Keep in mind that three AI engines were used to make the song! This is not a one and done process.
While browsing through the November 2025 issue of Defense News, I came across an article on p 36 by Tom Mutch titled “Recover, Resilience and Returning From War In Ukraine.” The lead sentence was “I’m not disabled, I’m upgraded.” This struck me as particularly interesting because, in so many words, I know many of my service associates feel this way, even though they bear many scars from their time in service, some not all visible. Based on “having been there” and myself currently living with these scars, the following expands on this phrase on behalf of my fellow service members who are also living with these scars, both seen and unseen.
“I’m not disabled, I’m enhanced.” That simple shift in language captures the heart of military resilience: the ability to turn damage into capability, fear into perspective, and limitation into a new form of strength. For many service men and women living with serious medical challenges like kidney failure and dialysis, this mindset is not a slogan but a survival skill.warriorallegiance+2
From battlefields to hospital rooms
Service members are trained from day one to adapt under pressure, improvise with limited resources, and keep moving toward the mission despite pain, fatigue, and uncertainty. That same training follows them home when the “enemy” is no longer an opposing force but chronic illness, toxic exposure, or the wear and tear of years in uniform.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+2
Veterans are more likely than the general population to live with chronic conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease, and mental health challenges, partly due to the physical and psychological stress of service. Yet clinicians who care for veterans routinely describe them as unusually determined, grateful, and gritty in their approach to treatment.kidneyfund+2
“Enhanced,” not “broken”
When a wounded or ill veteran says “I’m enhanced,” it reframes scars, prosthetics, mobility aids, and treatment schedules as upgrades to a warrior still in the fight. A prosthetic leg becomes specialized gear; a scar becomes a campaign ribbon written on skin. The question shifts from “What did I lose?” to “What did this experience give me—perspective, empathy, discipline, a new mission?”warriorallegiance+1
This mindset does not deny pain, fatigue, or frustration; it acknowledges them and still chooses purpose. In resilience research with veterans, a stronger sense of psychological resilience is linked with better physical function and recovery after setbacks, reinforcing that how one thinks about challenges shapes how one moves through them.agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley
Dialysis as a new kind of deployment
Kidney failure and dialysis bring their own demanding “operational tempo.” Many veterans on dialysis face multiple health issues, long travel distances, and frequent hospitalizations, yet they continue to show up, follow complex regimens, and thank their care teams. Currently, hundreds of thousands of veterans live with kidney disease, and tens of thousands live with kidney failure requiring ongoing treatment.va+3
Dialysis can feel like a standing deployment: fixed schedules, strict protocols, and the ever-present possibility of complications. But for many veteran patients, the same mindset that got them through deployments—routine, teamwork, gallows humor, and mission focus—helps them see each treatment not as punishment, but as life-sustaining logistics that keep them “in the fight” for more days with family and friends.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+2
Building resilience on the home front
Resilience is not just an individual trait; it is also a network. Veterans with strong social support, access to VA or community care, and clear information about their disease are better able to stick with complex treatment plans. Programs focused on veterans’ kidney health and patient engagement aim to strengthen that network, helping patients understand their options and advocate for themselves.aakp+2
For service members and veterans facing dialysis—or any serious medical condition—several habits reinforce the “enhanced, not disabled” mindset:
Treat appointments and treatments like mission-critical orders: non-negotiable, planned, and executed with discipline.sciencedirect+1
Lean on the unit: family, fellow veterans, dialysis staff, and support groups become your squad, not your audience.kidneyfund+1
Honor vulnerability as courage: asking for help, admitting fear, or talking about symptoms is not weakness; it is tactical honesty that keeps the mission going.agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley+1
Celebrate small wins: stable labs, a smoother session, or a good walk after treatment are quiet victories worth recognizing.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1
A new mission, same warrior
Every veteran on dialysis or living with chronic illness carries a story of endurance that did not end when the uniform came off. Many have already faced events that would terrify the average person, giving them a sense of proportion that turns medical procedures into “just another operation,” not the end of the line.research.va+3
To say “I’m not disabled, I’m enhanced” is to claim authorship over that story—to insist that the injury, the diagnosis, or the dialysis chair does not define the warrior sitting in it. The body may be altered, the schedule constrained, and the energy limited, but the core qualities that made them a service member—courage, discipline, loyalty, and a stubborn refusal to quit—are not diminished; in many ways, they are upgraded for a new kind of battlefield.warriorallegiance+2
As a retired US Navy Commander, I spent far too many holidays away from my loved ones. Been there, done that. Today, on Thanksgiving 2025, this blog is dedicated to those away from home.
Thanksgiving Far From Home
Upon distant waves, across foreign land, Service and duty called, still you stand. While loved ones gather near hearth’s warm embrace, You keep the watch for freedom’s place.
Thanksgiving echoes across the miles, In letters, in prayers, in grateful smiles. Though holidays find you far from home, Your courage ensures we’re never alone.
At mess hall tables beneath foreign skies, A moment’s pause, reflection in eyes— We honor your sacrifice, steady and true, America’s heart beats always with you.
For those who serve—this holiday anew, Thanksgiving’s meaning deepens for you. With hope, with gratitude, across the sea, Your country remembers—thank you, from me.
Dialysis-wise, things are going along without any glitches. I’ve had some time to catch up on outside chores and play around with some new-to-me AI software, which is what this blog is about.
We will use Suno as a show-and-tell.
Suna AI is an innovative music creation platform that blends artificial intelligence with human creativity, opening new possibilities for musicians, producers, and casual creators alike. Designed to generate, remix, and refine songs across a variety of genres, Suna AI lets users compose original tracks simply by describing the mood, style, or instrumentation they want. Its intuitive interface and advanced sound modeling make it accessible to both beginners exploring music for the first time and to professionals seeking fresh inspiration. What sets Suna AI apart from traditional digital audio tools is its ability to understand artistic intent—transforming plain-language prompts into entirely produced, ready-to-share music that captures emotion and nuance with surprising depth.
A week or so ago, I blogged about the song “Dance With Me Henry,” released in 1955 when I was a junior in high school in Springfield, Ohio. In this song, Henry was chastised for not responding to overtures from his female dance partner. That was 70 years ago, and there has been no response from Henry. I used Suno and composed a response, which is embedded below. It is not perfect. At times, Henry’s vocals get interchanged with the female voice and vice versa, which I could not undo. But you will get the idea. Enjoy.
My new Oncologist’s office came through for me, and I have an appointment to assess if this treatment is for me on 1 December 2025 at 0900. I have filled out the patient data online, which was monumental – it took over an hour, so check-in should be short. I have browsed their website and conducted further Perplexity research on the subject. Below is the most concise information I have found to date and is included herein for your information:
“The immune system has inbuilt checkpoints to prevent destruction of ‘self’ antigens. Cancer cells sometimes make use of these checkpoints to protect themselves from the immune response. Checkpoint inhibitors, as the name suggests, target the checkpoint proteins and enable the immune system to more effectively recognize and act on the cancer cells.
CART: T cells are taken from the patient, and genes for receptors related to the cancer (chimeric antigen receptor) are added to these cells. When reinfused into the patient’s blood, these modified T cells bind to the cancer cells and kill them.
Immunotherapy has been used in virtually all types of skin cancers, both melanoma, and non-melanoma.[1–12]
Usually, immunotherapy starts showing response within a few weeks. Candidate selection for immunotherapy depends on various factors like type of cancer, stage of cancer, biomarkers expressed by cancer cells, and evolving treatment guidelines. Programmed cell death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, high microsatellite instability or high tumor mutational burden and advanced cancers unfit for other treatment options are all regarded as candidates for immunotherapy. Though immunotherapy is mainly indicated for the treatment of advanced cancers, many trials have been conducted in the treatment of non-metastatic, early-stage cancers for the achievement of prolonged outcome without the long-term side effects associated with chemotherapy. There is no exact cut-off point for stoppage of these drugs. Duration depends on the response to each drug and the development of side effects that require temporary cessation. Besides this, the high cost (running into lakhs) is a major limiting factor for continuing treatment.[13]+”
One of the goals of my input to our stock portfolio is to have sufficient cash flow from interest and dividends alone to support my wife when I punch out. I use this term not as in an injection from an aircraft, but as leaving life as it’s known on earth. Recently, I went to work, rationalizing several stocks and reinvesting them in HRZN, which currently has an over 20% return. This blog takes you through how I checked HRZN out before pushing the go button on the investment, which currently stands at 3000 shares.
Our broker, Schwab, offers many research-oriented pathways. This is the first area I explored upon the start of my initial due diligence. One such report on HRZN in PDF format is presented below for information. I gleaned from this type of info that, in general, the purchase of HRZN was not recommended, but being a contrarian, I noted that the price appeared to be bottoming out. This, in and of itself, presents an opportunity. I also observed that HRZN was a consistent payer of its monthly dividend, without any reductions. To me, this was an opportunity to buy at or near the dip and maximize potential returns.
I then turned to Perplexity.ai with numerous prompts.
I am attempting to maximize short-term dividend returns. Would you buy HRZN, all risks aside
Suppose the sole objective is to maximize dividend return in the short term, and all risks are ignored. In that case, HRZN is an unusually strong candidate based on its current forward yield (about 20% at $0.11/month and ~$6.68/share) and its consistent history of monthly payouts. This high yield is well above that of most dividend stocks or funds, and monthly compounding via DRIP further enhances short-term income.
However, such high yields are rarely sustainable and often signal underlying risk, such as the potential for dividend cuts, portfolio losses, or share price erosion. But with risk disregarded, HRZN offers unusually rapid dividend accumulation and cash yield, making it one of the best vehicles for short-term dividend maximization among widely available equities.
I am OK with the risks involved, having owned HRZN several times previously and having bought 3000 shares at various prices, as low as $6.44. Given the investment of slightly over $18,000, I then turned back to Perplexity with additional queries. One is shown in the PDF below:
I invested most of my money in HRZN before its ex-dividend date in November, so I should receive the first dividend payment shortly. The price has eroded somewhat to the point I’m currently down a couple of grand, but ups and downs are part of the game. I am in this for dividends, which are independent of price fluctuations once purchased.
As a fifteen-year-old in 1955, a song titled “The Wallflower” started playing on the radio. Soon, a title “Roll With Me Henry” was announced, followed by “Dance With Me Henry.” Predating these renditions was an often-banned song by The Midnighters named “Work With Me Annie.” The two had similar sounds and messages. I’ve embedded the original version below, followed by Perplexity’s take on what was happening in the original song. Keep in mind that my first name is Henry, so I had more than a passing interest in this song at 15.
“Dance With Me Henry” is a song originally recorded in 1955 by Etta James and her vocal group, The Peaches, under the title “The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)”. The song was written by Etta James, Johnny Otis, and Hank Ballard as a response—a so-called “answer song”—to Ballard’s earlier hit “Work With Me Annie”. The name “Henry” in the lyrics is not a specific person but rather a stand-in for a male dance partner. The song uses playful call-and-response and flirtatious lyrics, which, for the time, were considered suggestive.wikipedia+6
Song Origins and History
The original was recorded by Etta James and The Peaches, with uncredited responses by R&B singer Richard Berry.udiscovermusic
It was released on Modern Records and became a No. 1 R&B hit for several weeks in 1955.udiscovermusic
The song’s bold sexual innuendo led to its title being changed from “Roll With Me Henry” to “The Wallflower” to avoid FCC censorship.culturesonar+2
Covers and Popularity
Pop singer Georgia Gibbs covered the track as “Dance With Me Henry” (sometimes listed as “Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)”), sanitizing the lyrics for the pop market.facebook+1
Gibbs’ cover became a No. 1 hit on the mainstream charts, eclipsing James’ original in crossover reach. youtubefacebook
Etta James later covered the pop version herself.culturesonar
Musical Style and Legacy
The song bridged blues, gospel, and early rock and roll, influencing later artists and genres.culturesonar+1
James’s assertive vocals signaled a breakthrough for female empowerment in R&B and rock.culturesonar
It was later featured in the movie “Back to the Future” and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.udiscovermusic+1
The “Henry” Character
“Henry” is not a real person but represents the desired male partner—or foil—addressed by the narrator in call-and-response fashion.songfacts+2
In the original, Richard Berry plays Henry in vocal interchanges with James.udiscovermusic
Groups and Notable Artists
Original: Etta James and The Peaches (with Richard Berry responding as Henry).udiscovermusic
Notable cover: Georgia Gibbs on Mercury Records.youtubefacebook
The song’s story is a classic example of how rhythm & blues tracks crossed over to pop audiences—with altered lyrics and broader appeal—while the originals often paved the way for significant musical and cultural shifts.culturesonar+1
It came out of left field, so to speak. Had our visit with the new dermatologist at Bear. They were able to obtain our old records from our previous one and, together with the pathologies recently taken, decided I should see a recommended local oncologist to try a relatively new treatment. The new treatment involves kicking my immune system into high gear regarding cancer cells through a system of injecting specific drugs and letting my own body do its thing. Below is what Perplexity has to say about this treatment:
Immunotherapy injections for skin cancer work by stimulating the body’s natural defenses to seek out and destroy cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, which directly attacks cancer cells, immunotherapy activates or enhances components of the immune system to recognize cancer as a threat and target it.cancerresearch+1
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
A major class of injectable immunotherapies is called immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cancer cells often use “checkpoints” to evade immune attack—proteins like PD-1 and PD-L1 act as brakes on immune responses. Drugs such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab block these checkpoints, releasing the brakes and allowing T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells.jsstd+1
Oncolytic Virus and Immune Activation
Other immunotherapy injections, such as talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), involve injecting a modified virus directly into skin tumors. This virus infects and bursts the cancer cells, releasing tumor antigens (identifying proteins) that alert the immune system. T-VEC also attracts and matures dendritic cells, which help teach the immune system to recognize and attack melanoma not just in the injected tumor, but throughout the body.oncodaily+2
Cytokine and Receptor Agonists
Certain drugs or creams, like imiquimod, stimulate immune pathways by activating toll-like receptors on immune cells. This leads to the production of cytokines such as interferon-alpha and TNF-alpha, which further activate T cells and other immune cells to attack the tumor.oncodaily+1
Impact and Expansion
These immunotherapy strategies have proven especially effective for advanced or metastatic forms of melanoma and other skin cancers by directing the patient’s own immune system to seek and destroy cancer across the body, sometimes with durable, long-term responses.cancer+1
In summary, immunotherapy injections activate a cascade of immune events—lifting restrictions on immune cells, signaling distress to the immune system, or directly presenting tumor antigens—to unleash the body’s own ability to fight and clear skin cancer.jsstd+2
Of interest to me is whether patients on peritoneal dialysis can receive this immune-based treatment? Perplexity suggests:
Yes—patients on dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis (PD), can receive pembrolizumab or nivolumab in many cases, because these large monoclonal antibody drugs are not cleared by dialysis and generally do not require dose adjustment in patients with renal failure. That said, careful monitoring for immune-related side effects is essential, and solid-organ transplant recipients face a significant risk of graft rejection with PD-1 inhibitors.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+2
Why dialysis usually isn’t a barrier
Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are IgG monoclonal antibodies with high molecular weight, so they are not removed by hemodialysis; timing relative to dialysis is typically not critical.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1
Pharmacokinetics of PD-1 inhibitors show no clinically meaningful effect of renal dysfunction on clearance, so standard dosing is generally used in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).academic.oup+1
Case reports and series document the safe use of pembrolizumab at standard doses in dialysis patients, with responses and manageable toxicities reported. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+2
Peritoneal vs hemodialysis
Most published experience is in hemodialysis, but the same principles apply to PD: peritoneal dialysis does not clear monoclonal antibodies, so dose adjustment is not expected.academic.oup+1
Given limited PD-specific data, oncologists typically extrapolate from hemodialysis evidence and pharmacology, using standard dosing and close monitoring.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1
Important cautions
Solid-organ transplant: PD-1 inhibitors can precipitate acute allograft rejection; documented cases include renal transplant rejection soon after nivolumab, and risk is considered high for any anti-PD-1 therapy.jitc.bmj
Immune-related adverse events (irAEs): Kidney inflammation (e.g., acute interstitial nephritis), thyroid dysfunction, colitis, pneumonitis, and others can occur and require prompt diagnosis and immunosuppression when moderate to severe.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
Coordination of care: Close collaboration between oncology and nephrology is recommended to track labs, manage fluid status, and distinguish irAEs from dialysis-related symptoms.academic.oup+1
Practical approach discussed in reports
Use standard dosing regimens (e.g., pembrolizumab 200 mg q3w or 400 mg q6w; nivolumab per label) without routine dose reduction for dialysis.sciencedirect+2
Dialysis timing: Not usually necessary to coordinate dosing with dialysis sessions, though some clinicians administer after dialysis for convenience and consistency.revistanefrologia+1
Monitor closely: Baseline and periodic labs (CBC, CMP, thyroid panel), urinalysis if residual kidney function, and early evaluation of new symptoms to detect irAEs.academic.oup+1
Bottom line: For PD patients without a functioning transplant, pembrolizumab and nivolumab are often feasible at standard doses, with vigilance for immune toxicities and multidisciplinary oversight; transplant recipients require individualized risk–benefit discussions due to rejection risk.jitc.bmj+2
Monday, I received a call from Bare Dermotologist, the outfit that I recently went to concerning the massive amounts of skin cancers on my head and neck. First visit, they extracted four samples, three from the back of my neck, and one from my right finger; they all came back either basal or squamous cancers. The one on my right finger started as a viral wart. The literature on viral warts suggests, under certain circumstances, they may turn cancerous. They also changed the appointment time to 1120, during which my options will be presented. If I choose radiation, which I probably will, treatments should take place then.
The second accomplishment on Monday was to sell a couple of BDC stocks that were returning around 12% and used the proceeds to buy more HRZN stock. We now hold 4000 shares of HRZN—more about this in Friday’s blog.
