Another Surgery (Duke Trip 3 Update)

Mike had another unexpected surgery this week. He was only in the hospital for two days following surgery and is recovering nicely, but this means another delay in cancer treatments. Regardless, we’re hopeful that this surgery will prevent further delays in the future.

Another Bowel Obstruction

On Monday, Mike went to start Cycle #3 of his current regimen. He had been feeling pretty weak and lethargic with some stomach pain pretty much since he was discharged from Duke the week before. We just thought it was his low blood counts and his typical post-chemo stomach discomfort.

Starting with the positive news; as far as his blood counts and tumor markers go, his bloodwork looked great! His tumor markers were still lower than they’ve ever been and his blood counts had recovered beautifully and wouldn’t have prevented him from receiving treatment if it weren’t for the fact that he looked and felt miserable and was having intense stomach and urinary tract pains. His doctor took one look at him and sent him over to the ER.

Scans and cultures were done, pain meds, antibiotics, and fluids were started, and Mike finally got more comfortable. His CT Scan showed a complete large bowel obstruction. The surgery team felt that Mike’s large retroperitoneal mass was spreading into his colon and causing the obstruction. We suggested it might be the gnarly area of diverticulitis he’s been dealing with for nearly two years now, but the surgeon said he couldn’t say for sure until he got in there and saw for himself. He recommended a diverting loop surgery to create a detour around the obstruction. Nothing was removed from his colon at this time so that he can get back to treatment as quickly as possible; that will happen after treatments are over and he’s in remission. He also had a “raging UTI,” according to the ER attending doctor.

The Surgery

Obviously, we were disappointed. No one wants this sort of surgery, and we certainly didn’t want to see his treatments delayed. We were concerned this would push him so far behind, he’ll never make it to his transplant. The surgeon assured us that if everything went well, there would be minimal recovery time—no more than two weeks, less if it went ideally. He was scheduled as the first case the next morning.

I arrived at the hospital the next morning right after they had taken him down to pre-op. He was understandably nervous about the surgery. We prayed together, I read Scripture, and we listened to some praise music to help us focus on Christ and not our anxieties. I remember praying the words “Please, God, we’re asking you to do it again. Do one more big thing for us.” We cried and prayed and just sat in lamenting silence together for a bit. Then God sent in an angel in the form of a nurse anesthetist. When she heard me telling Mike I was praying for him, she stopped him and asked if we would like her to pray right then. She made it quite obvious when she prayed that she had thoroughly read his chart. She prayed about everything he’s facing. She reminded us through the prayer that God doesn’t ever waste suffering, she prayed for complete healing from his cancer, and for a successful surgery with no complications. She prayed for our whole family to see the goodness of God. Mike went off to surgery calm and confident.

The surgery was supposed to take about 2 - 2 1/2 hours if it could be done laparoscopically, but there was a chance the doctor might have to go to open surgery. A dear local friend met me at the hospital to sit with me during the surgery. She swept me into a giant hug (they’re her specialty!) and I started snot-crying. You see, I’m really good at holding it all back—until someone shows me some small kindness, like handing me a tissue or giving me a hug—then my carefully constructed walls crumble, and the dam bursts.

We settled in to wait for a couple of hours. I got a text that the procedure had started and we drank our coffee and talked. Forty-five minutes later, the surgeon walked out to talk to me. I thought “Either this is really good news or really bad news,” and prepared myself for the worst as he took me to the consultation room. He had a huge smile on his face and said “We’re all done and it couldn’t have gone better.” He was able to make one tiny little incision (seriously, it looks like a paper cut) for the laparoscope and create a stoma to divert his colon contents above the obstruction.

The Surgeon, The Obstruction, And The Cancer

Usually, when you have surgery like this, it takes a while to advance your diet. They’ll start you on clear liquids, then slowly move you to solid foods. Well, Mike was on clear liquids for about 12 hours, then on solids and tolerated them immediately with no complications. He feels better than he has in probably two years because he’s been dealing with gut issues that long.

Oh, and that obstruction? It wasn’t a mass, it was the diverticulitis like we thought it was. So no further cancer! The oncology team came in the day after his surgery to tell us about the obstruction. They also said that according to the CT scan that was done in the ER, combined with his most recent tumor markers, he is responding to his current treatment protocol, so the plan is to keep on the same transplant path. What a praise!

Finally, let me tell you what I learned about the surgeon. When the wound care nurse came in to give Mike training on his new appliances, she informed us that Dr. Georgoff is one of the top trauma/general surgeons at Duke University Hospital and that he donates a couple of weeks a year to Duke Raliegh Hospital. She said we were “lucky” to get him. I told her luck had nothing to do with it. God placed us there to receive care from that surgeon at that time. There are no coincidences. That was God.

More Prayers, Please

Keep praying! That’s all I ask. Just keep praying. People tell me that God wakes them up in the wee hours of the morning to pray for Mike. I’m really sorry for the interruption, but humbled that God would love us enough to call his saints to pray for us.

Things will get even more hard over the next couple of months as we step into transplant days. Even more travel, even more side effects, even more worry over all the things. Health isn’t the only challenge we’re facing right now. There are logistical challenges (getting everywhere and coordinating schedules with Mom’s care is a lot), family time challenges (how do you even have family time when you’re not even in the same state together?), housing and travel expenses (I don’t even want to think about how much we’ve spent on gas money!), and there will be new medical expense challenges when January 1st rolls around and our deductibles and out of pocket maximums begin again. Cancer takes everything and gives nothing.

Thank God, he has placed his angels along the way to encourage us in all the ways: spiritually, practically, emotionally, medically. God’s messengers are everywhere and we’re honored to be watched over and cared for by them. The Advent season is going to be particularly poignant for us this year as we anticipate Christ’s coming in ways we never would have without this experience. Our bodies and souls groan for his return. Advent reminds us that, just like he was faithful to come the first time as a baby, he will certainly be faithful to come the second time as King. I pray you have many Advent blessings and while you’re asking the Lord to come quickly, would you say a little prayer for us to feel his presence in this bittersweet Advent and Christmas season? We’re weary, but hopeful. Sounds pretty Advent-y to me!