At 2:30 today I disconnected the pump and removed Tim’s needle for the last time for a while. Tomorrow he begins the time necessary to recuperate before the surgery to resect his liver. Even though, these last few rounds were rough, he handled what was considered the worst cocktail of chemo for colorectal cancer with relative ease. Both Dr. Nelson and Dr. Chun were shocked that he continued to work and maintain as normal a life as he did.
We are so very thankful for the care he’s received thus far and are anxiously preparing for what’s next. Tim has several appointments January 3-5 to prepare for surgery and to consult with the rectal surgeon to make plans for after the liver surgery. With that being said, surgery to remove about 60% of his liver has been scheduled for Friday, February 2.
Until then, we are looking forward to spending Christmas without cancer dictating our time.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Monday, December 11, 2017
Not Uncertain for Long
Jeremiah 17:14 says, “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” We have cried out to the Lord for healing and today we are celebrating plans for Tim’s cancer to be eradicated.
When we left the doctor’s office two weeks ago we were expecting to be referred to a surgeon sometime in January. Once again, those were our plans and timeline, not God’s. We received a message Friday afternoon at 4:30 saying Tim had an appointment today (Monday) at noon. We travelled downtown to the medical center today to consult with a liver surgeon at MD Anderson.
From the very beginning, we were both very comfortable with her PA and with the doctor. Dr. Chun felt that he was an excellent candidate for a resection and that the timing was perfect.
Current plans are to have one more chemo infusion this Friday and then wait 5 to 6 weeks before performing surgery. In that time, he will have another scan with contrast downtown to get exact measurements and volumes on January 3 and see the doctor again on the 4th to finalize plans for surgery. She explained that in order for Tim to be a candidate for a liver resection, he would need to have at least 20 to 30% of healthy liver. God has created the human liver to be able to regenerate itself in a matter of weeks!
She showed us the scans and explained that his entire left liver is consumed with tumors and at least one extends to the right side. Her initial estimates are that she will remove about 60% of his liver. She explained that this could not be done laparoscopically, but would require a full incision to open his entire abdominal cavity.
She said she expects that he’ll be in the hospital about a week and then home with a recovery time of about 6 weeks. We know this will be a difficult time as I try to split my time between the medical center and home with the kids, but we are blessed with such a huge support system that I know the Lord has placed in our lives for this time.
Tim’s official diagnosis was stage 4 colorectal cancer, but all of this is about the liver....he is also being referred to a colorectal surgeon to consult about the initial tumor. We don’t know exactly when this will happen. Maybe January. That treatment could include radiation, surgery, chemo, or some combination. It is secondary at this point because of the liver being such a vital organ.
All of this was a lot to take in and most unexpected, but for the first time we are talking about “curing him of cancer” versus “treating his cancer.” For this, we give all of our praise and glory to our savior and healer, the Lord Almighty.
“We proclaim how great You [God] are and tell of the wonderful things You have done.” Psalm 75:1
When we left the doctor’s office two weeks ago we were expecting to be referred to a surgeon sometime in January. Once again, those were our plans and timeline, not God’s. We received a message Friday afternoon at 4:30 saying Tim had an appointment today (Monday) at noon. We travelled downtown to the medical center today to consult with a liver surgeon at MD Anderson.
From the very beginning, we were both very comfortable with her PA and with the doctor. Dr. Chun felt that he was an excellent candidate for a resection and that the timing was perfect.
Current plans are to have one more chemo infusion this Friday and then wait 5 to 6 weeks before performing surgery. In that time, he will have another scan with contrast downtown to get exact measurements and volumes on January 3 and see the doctor again on the 4th to finalize plans for surgery. She explained that in order for Tim to be a candidate for a liver resection, he would need to have at least 20 to 30% of healthy liver. God has created the human liver to be able to regenerate itself in a matter of weeks!
She showed us the scans and explained that his entire left liver is consumed with tumors and at least one extends to the right side. Her initial estimates are that she will remove about 60% of his liver. She explained that this could not be done laparoscopically, but would require a full incision to open his entire abdominal cavity.
She said she expects that he’ll be in the hospital about a week and then home with a recovery time of about 6 weeks. We know this will be a difficult time as I try to split my time between the medical center and home with the kids, but we are blessed with such a huge support system that I know the Lord has placed in our lives for this time.
Tim’s official diagnosis was stage 4 colorectal cancer, but all of this is about the liver....he is also being referred to a colorectal surgeon to consult about the initial tumor. We don’t know exactly when this will happen. Maybe January. That treatment could include radiation, surgery, chemo, or some combination. It is secondary at this point because of the liver being such a vital organ.
All of this was a lot to take in and most unexpected, but for the first time we are talking about “curing him of cancer” versus “treating his cancer.” For this, we give all of our praise and glory to our savior and healer, the Lord Almighty.
“We proclaim how great You [God] are and tell of the wonderful things You have done.” Psalm 75:1
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Uncertainty about Surgery
Yesterday we received a phone call from Dr. Nelson’s nurse letting us know that Tim has been referred for a surgery consult in January. This doesn’t mean he will have surgery. This just means a surgeon is now going to be involved in the treatment plan going forward. While we are waiting on the official appointment notification and his visit to Dr. Nelson next Thursday, my mind is reeling with uncertainty. I don’t know what to pray for or against. On one hand, I feel like a liver resection would be good because it might possibly be what leads to physically taking the cancer out of his body and making him cancer free. On the other hand, I fear that surgery may lead to other things that I don’t want to face. If they remove all of the cancer from the liver, then will they attempt to remove the rectal tumor? And can they do that and put him back together? What about infection? Blood clots? God is definitely teaching me that I have NO CONTROL in this. I’m reminded of this in Isaiah 45:6-7. That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Despite all of this, Tim seems to be feeling better. I’ve noticed this week that his energy level is up and his spirits are better.
Despite all of this, Tim seems to be feeling better. I’ve noticed this week that his energy level is up and his spirits are better.
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