Dec 10, 2008 Update

Last night we finally received the phone call we have been waiting for from the surgeon in Seattle.  After several phone calls last Friday, we discovered Bozeman had never sent the test results to Seattle.  They did send them though after Gus' irate phone calls got their attention. 

 

Dr. Park, the surgeon in Seattle, does not highly recommend surgery, but he will do it if that is what Gus desires.   Gus' liver and lymph nodes look good, the tumor seems to have shrunk slightly and the tumor will never be more operable than it is right now.  No amount of chemo will make things better.   Radiation is not even an option because Gus has already received the maximum amount that part of the body can tolerate.  What causes the doctor concern is the same area that kept it from being operable in the beginning.   The tumor partly encases vital blood vessels.   The worst thing that could happen is if the surgeon has to end the surgery without completing it.  Then it would mean a month before Gus could withstand chemo and that is a vital month Gus would lose when he needed treatment.

 

Gus asked Dr. Park the prognosis if he chose no surgery.  The answer was 6 months to a year survival.  If you have a successful surgery, the prognosis is 5 years. 

 

The earliest the hospital is scheduling surgery is January 18th, but Dr. Park would get Gus in earlier if Gus chooses to have the surgery.   Additional tests were not even mentioned.  

 

Gus and I had to work through a lot of emotions and thoughts last night.  It reminded me of the night last June when we received the phone call telling us what we were dealing with.   There is just not enough oxygen in the room.   After a couple of hours of weighing the options, Gus and I are leaning towards surgery.  Life is filled with risks, but if we don't take the risk of surgery, we definitely lose.

 

Gus feels so good it is hard for him to believe there is a tumor inside him trying to make him sick.  His prayer from the first day has been "MAKE THIS OPERABLE".   We serve a mighty GOD and believe HE has answered our prayer.  We thank each of you for praying with us and know you will continue as we go forward with whatever we decide.