Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Surgery Day's A Comin'

Well here we are again. We met with Dr. Ronald Chamberlain this past Monday the 23rd. It was basically a pre-op review and time for any last minute important question that you could possibly try to muster up in your brain. What is proposed to happen is this.

First Dr. C. will perform a diagnostic laproscopy to see what the deal is before the "first incision." Then in "general" what could happen are these three scenarios. These scenarios all have their own sub-scenarios and so on but I won't get into all that.
So the first one is surgery can't take place for any number of reasons, (too much scar tissue, too much tumor etc). If this is the case Dr. C. assured me he will still do radio frequency ablation (rfa) or microwave ablation http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16227498 to the tumors.

The second one is both sides of the liver are resected to remove said tumors, during the same surgery as well as part of the colon where the primary tumor originated. We want that crap gone!

The third is that the liver resection will take place in two stages, to, as I understand it, safeguard me from liver failure. But the colon resection would take place. With the two stage deal, one section of liver would be removed. I would recover 7-10 days in the hospital come back in 2-3 weeks and the other section would be removed. Dr. C. is sensing the latter scenario will take place. The end goal being to all of this is me have no evidence of disease or (let's be wild shall we...Cancer Free!!). Does all this make sense?

I am incredibly blessed, fortunate and grateful to be in this position. That is not lost on me. Just to have the word "option" in the life of someone with cancer is a golden ray of light. I am grateful to still be able to hear that word.

I really like Dr. Chamberlain. He is very thorough and articulate and obviously very intelligent and good at what he does. I don't know how I have been so lucky to have gotten such an incredible team.

Dr. Moriarty has been guiding and navigating me through these horrible, scary unknown waters and has never given up on me. I don't know what I would do, or where I would be without him or Kathy, Sonya, Kim, Chris, Gina, Miriam and Mylene. The woman, and nurses that care for me always.
And now I have this surgeon who seems to have his stuff together and is ready to go.

Since I met with Dr. C. on Monday I have been at a greater peace. I have been struggling in prayer. Jesus what do I ask for? I just want to be healed, completely healed and I know you can and are doing it. But then the thought sneaks in "well what if your supposed to stay sick, what if God's will is that you die from this?" This has been my internal spiritual struggle.

Then I was praying and felt so strongly Jesus saying to me "Karen what would be the opposite of what your asking me for?" I thought about it and said it would be unhappiness misery and death. Jesus said "I am not here for you to live like that" I am here for life and for joy." Okay so that was pretty heavy and while I was in the bathroom of course.
Then at the end of my meeting with Dr. Chamberlain I asked him if he prayed and he responded a very strong yes. He wrote down a scripture on an unopened gauze wrapper handed to me it was Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.

Yeaaaaa I think I want this guy to be my surgeon.

I am fully at peace. Jesus has plans to GIVE me hope and a future and I'll take it.

Thank you all for everything. Every prayer, thought and kindness is deeply appreciated and as always humbling. There are so many people out there who needs our prayers. So lets keep praying for each other. We all need it.

Fran will be posting the happenings as best he can after surgery.

My sincerest love to all,
Karen

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Karen

You’ve got a friend above all others and an army of friends comforted by that blessing.

Hold Fast, Pease be with you & SlĂ inte mhath!
Don MacLeod

Anonymous said...

Dear Karen,

I just want you to know that you are in my prayers.

Don said it best.

I am looking forward to good news from you.

Love and prayers,
Mirjana

Anonymous said...

Karen,
I have been following your blog regularly and have to tell you that I am constantly amazed by your faith and courage.
Thank you for sharing your story. You help not only me but many, I am sure, to realize how much we truly have to be grateful for.
You have a special place in my heart and I will be praying for you over the next few DAYS, weeks and months.
Peace and God's blessings

Anonymous said...

Karen,
Huge hugs, strength, courage and prayers for you. I am also praying for that wonderful medical team.

Love, Debbie Ortiz

K.M. Camiolo said...

you have been much in my thoughts...

we will be praying for you extra hard this week.

And that is my favorite scripture verse. I have it randomly taped on walls in my house! (I kind of need frequent reminding, even now when things have been stable a good while).

We will be praying for all of you...wishing you peace and continual healing,
peace,
Kristin & the Cams crew

Anonymous said...

Karen,
You are an amazing person and I feel privilged to know you. WIshing you every blessing for Tuesday and the weeks ahead. our prayers are with you. We're all rooting for you.
love Teresa, Mike and the boys xx

Jo said...

I am going to take out my Bible and pray that passage a number of times over the next few days. It is a passage I am familiar with and it is very consoling and helpful Love Jo (Limk.)

Unknown said...

Karen, I will be thinking of you and praying lots over the next few weeks. I'm sure you'll get through it with grace and strength like you always do! Looking forward to hearing from you,
Love your cousin,
Catherine xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen,

Just wanted you to know that you are in our thoughts. Good luck with the surgery (it seems that you will be in excellent hands) and we look forward to hearing good news from you.

Love,

Lena and Victor Antaramian

Unknown said...

Karen,
We are praying for you- you really are amazing with your honesty and your complete reliance on your Savior-
Thank you for posting-

Suz

Roxanne said...

Hi Karen, hold still. We will be praying for you. God bless you always.