I am very proud

I'm sorry I didn't say something before but I wanted everyone to know.  Dig out your purple, no not the old Ravens purple, the famous purple people eater purple .  For the rest of the season Matt's a Viking.  I'm so happy for him and this once again shows the power of prayer.  We've been praying to put Matt in the right place and look....close to home in a dome and I get to see my daughter and grand daughters along with Matt while this is going on.   Thank you lord!!!!


PS  I miss my Ramzi, didn't want to leave him out.  thanks Mom & Pa

Phase 2

Today is the day for the install of the Medi Port.  Everyone at the surgical center was great.  All the Pro health people have been great!  The surgery went well and fast.  Being put under is so weird, now you're here and now you aren't.  The reminder of what's yet to come is always there.  Every nurse and the Gas doc all asked the same question. Why are you having a port put in?  I have to answer Chemotherapy and explain why.  Phase 3 will be a real eye opener... one way or another????

WOW, support is unbelievable

I have the best family anyone could ask for.  I'm sure a lot of people say this but I know I've got them beat. I have prayer chains and groups praying for me all over the world.  This doesn't happen by accident. My family and friends are so well liked and respected by their friends that a tidal wave of prayer and good thoughts just happened.  The strength I am given by this is indescribable.  There will be more regarding this later, a lot more!!

How are you doing?

I'm home now.  Nothing to do but heal.  I keep getting asked "How are you doing?"  I actually think I'm doing fine. I think I am ahead of schedule on my surgical recovery.  I'm getting around better and the pain from the incision decreases every day. I feel I am sometimes being lulled into a false sense of security of getting better.  I'm reminded of this when I get my daily side aches, the ones caused by the liver swelling.  This is the real challenge now "my liver". So when I'm asked "How are you doing" I guess the real answer is I don't know yet.  I have an appointment with the oncologist on Thurs.  I'll be able to answer more after that.

Phase 1

Colon surgery is scheduled for 4:30 on Tuesday Nov. 22.  I was admitted to the hospital on Monday after my colonoscopy.  Someone has got to invent a "prep" solution that you can drink without feeling sick.  This stuff is supposed to clean you out before surgery, it's terrible, I had to drink 6 glasses of this poison. I was very happy when they told me I had drank enough, I would not have been able to drink any more, seriously I would not have been able to drink another drop without getting violently ill.  The time has come for the surgery.  I have never been in an operating room before , actually I had never been in a hospital before.  They sent in a RN who made marks on my stomach for a bag if the colon could not be reattached. This did not make feel to good but it had to be done.  I said good bye to everyone and they wheeled me into the recovery area first.  I met my OR nurse, got hooked up with IV's and met with my anesthesiologist.  He told me I would not wake up during the surgery but I would wake up afterwards.  That was it for small talk and I was taken into the OR. It was very cold and bright in there and everyone moved very fast to get their job done.  The gas Dr came up behind me asked if I'm ready and told me to think of a happy place.  One second later I was out.  The next thing I knew Dr. Touzios was telling me he didn't need to use a bag and that was it I don't remember anything else until I got back to my room.  The surgery went great.  The Doc hit a home run and performed my very difficult surgery flawlessly.  He gave the families prayers credit for his performance.  That made everyone feel good and feel like we are on the right track.  The recovery went great and I got released on Sunday Nov 27th.  Phase 1 went great and certainly is a great start for this journey.

Continued

I went to my appointment, did all the tests and walked out with no feelings of problems at all.  Ia even set up my colonoscopy for the following Monday.  On Tuesday I got a call from Julie in Dr Ostergard office telling me everything came out good but the Dr wants me set up a ultrasound because my liver numbers are high.  I called Vic and told her.  She asked what was wrong with my liver and I had to tell her I really don't know but I scheduled the ultrasound for Wed. Wed night when I got home for work Vic was on the phone with the Dr.  She gave me the phone and Dr Ostergaard told me they had seen some spots on the liver and I had to schedule a CT scan right away, before the colonoscopy. I made the call for the appointment and had a CT done Fri.  Monday was colonoscopy day.  Vic took me to the hospital and we met with Dr Vijaypal.  He told me that after he looked at the CT he determined I had a large tumor in my colon and it would have to be removed immediately.  The tumor was so big he could not even do a full colonoscopy because the tumor blocked the colon ( I wonder if I got charged for the whole thing?)  this is were it all becomes a blur. The surgeon came in and talked with us to tell us what he had to do.  His main job was to remove the tumor and try to reattach my colon without the need of a colostomy bag.  Then he told us the bad news.  My liver contained more than 50 tumors!  The colon cancer had spread and this surgery is just the beginning.  Well now we know there are going to be phases to beating this thing.

I can finally type

I have now been in the hospital for 6 days.  The good news is that I should be released today.  But  back to the beginning so a timeline can be established.  It all started with a physical.  The kind every 50 yr old male should have...... check all physical functions, blood work and setting an appointment for the dreaded colonoscopy.