Surgery Update

 

We received a call from the Surgeon at Midnight last night telling us that the surgery had been moved to noon due to the weather. The hospital staff had failed to notify us of the change. 

We will be checking into the hospital at 9:30 this morning.

Surgery is Scheduled

Surgery is scheduled for 7:20 Friday morning. 

Gus is the 1^st one which really pleases us. 

The storm that has paralyzed the Seattle area has not affected the University of Washington hospital. They are still on schedule. 

The Surgical procedure is called “Distal pancreactectomy” and they will also do a “Splenectomy.” The surgery is to last around 4 hours. 

Wednesday Update in Seattle 12/17/2008

We are in Seattle and preparing for surgery.   We met with the surgeon today (Wednesday) and after he discussed the pros and cons, he then asked Gus if he still wanted the surgery.  There was no hesitancy on Gus’ part.   Absolutely, let’s do it!  Dr. Park smiled, stood up and told Gus he would see him on Friday. 

The surgery will last approximately 4 hours and we are still waiting to hear the time. When we get the surgery time we will update it here first.

The weather in Seattle was getting to be a concern when we talked with our pilot Sunday evening. We had Christmas Monday evening with Linda and Marian and the kids. When we started opening presents, Gus got a new halter, and then a saddle pad.  Then he was told he had to put his coat on to go out to get his next present.  Lindsey had found a four year old Appaloosa for Gus. He has always wanted an appaloosa horse.  

We had a wonderful evening and dinner. Just when dinner was finished, Gus got a call from our pilot saying that to make sure we could get to Seattle we better leave on Tuesday.  We had a great flight and everything was perfect.  Some places got several inches of snow here today.  God is good!!!!

Update Dec 10, 2008 Surgery is Scheduled

Gus just talked to Seattle.  Surgery is scheduled for Friday December 19th!  He is to be there on Wednesday, December 17th. 

 

We are overwhelmed  by how everything has fallen into place.   The bulls went to their new owner last Monday.  The first calf heifers go to their new owner this Friday.  The cows are sold, just won't be delivered till after the first of the year.  Everything that could be taken care of has been.   Now we need to get mentally ready. 

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. 

 

December 2, 2008 Update #2

One of the things on Gus' "bucket list" was to guide Scott on a trophy whitetail hunt.  On Thanksgiving day, this was accomplished from our kitchen window via a cell phone.  This buck scores in the 160 to 170 range.  For those who aren't hunters, it takes about a 170 plus to make the record books.

 

Gus read an article in an agriculture paper about "The Bucket List" right before he went to hunting camp.  He then had to share the article with his hunting partners the first night in camp.  We had heard of the movie, but had not watched it.   When Gus came home from hunting camp, we rented the movie and loved it.  It is definitely something we could not have watched earlier in this cancer walk.   If you haven't seen it, we recommend you watch it with someone you love holding your box of kleenex. 

December 2, 2008 Update

Gus and I are having difficulty containing our joy.   The CAT scan showed no visible growth in the tumor on the pancreas and the liver still looks normal.  Of course, we would love to have had no tumor, but it is still the same size as it was in June.  That is a victory in itself.  Our doctor in Bozeman feels part of the exterior of the tumor might just be residual.  He was not about to make a judgment call on whether or not surgery will be possible.  A very wise man.   He was sending the scan results to Seattle by the fastest method.  The surgeon in Seattle, Dr. Parks, has been the one calling the shots from the start and he will be the one to decide the next step once he reviews the CAT scan.  We are hoping to get a phone call from him by the end of the week with what that step will be. 

 

The Bozeman doctor was encouraged, but he based his feelings on how Gus was doing by looking at Gus as much as looking at the CAT scan.   The fact Gus has no pain after having severe enough pain to be on a narcotic pain killer impresses the doctor the most.  

 

Gus was brave enough to ask the doctor what the options are if surgery is not possible.  We can either wait until symptoms appear then start chemo or we can do chemo as preventative before symptoms start.   It would be three weeks of chemo then a week off.    Basically what he just went through these last three weeks of treatment.  There will not be any radiation again.  For that we are thankful.   Gus tolerates the gemzar chemo with very little side effects. 

 

Gus is finally gaining weight to the point where he is now trying to remember old rules on maintaining weight, not gaining weight.  For about six weeks, he got to enjoy eating everything he wanted.  But all good things must end.  Tonight he is eating an apple instead of his beloved bowl of ice cream.  He has gained almost 14 pounds and is now looking very good.  

 

Gus did try to have a foot race with Lane and that put him in pain, so he still is limited on how fast he can move.  He is splitting firewood to build his upper body back up.   Gus is also walking each day if possible.

 

We never remembered to ask the doctor about the blood pressure yesterday, but no one seems concerned about it.  There were no blood tests yesterday, but last Wednesday the levels were looking good.   As we left the cancer center yesterday, a nurse approached us and asked if we needed to schedule another appointment.  With smiles ear to ear, we said "No Thanks".