Surgery Week

This is the week for the kidney surgery, and Jack is ready. He had his pre-op and pre-lab visits at the hospital a week ago, and is wearing his admission bracelet already. Surgery is scheduled for 1:00 pm on the 14th, and length of stay is to be determined. If the surgeons are able to do the planned laparoscopic removal of the kidney, then he may be home by Saturday. If, however, they are unsuccessful with that procedure, then he'll have it removed "normally" which is through the incision he already has from kidney stone surgery in 1981. We're praying that the latter is not the case as his recovery will take longer.

Jack had been told he could begin reducing the Prednisone (steroid) about 2 weeks ago, which he was doing slowly. The steroid was to help keep the swelling in the area of the tumor and eye to a minimum. However, he had an increase in the swelling around his eye, so it was apparent that he needed to stop decreasing the medication. He did see his ophtahamologist and there has been some optic nerve damage. I've talked with the radiation oncologist, Dr. Kersh, and he explained that the swelling may take a couple of weeks to decrease after radiation has ended. The radiation indeed has a cumulative effect, and there is most likely some inflammation around the tumor. Jack went back up to 20mg daily of the steroid, and that has helped. But, that's just 1/2 the dose he had taken for several weeks, so it's good that he doesn't have to increase the dosage back to 40mg. His vision in the left eye is a little worse than previously, but that was expected due to the radiation. Dr.Kersh was not surprised at that as he says the tumor goes right through the optic nerve. We're definitely praying that this is not a permanent situation with the eye.

Tami arrives on Wednesday, the 13th and will be here until the 19th. Then Sandi will drive down for a few days, and then Jacquie arrives on the 21st and will be here until the 27th. Tami's birthday was 8/7, so we'll celebrate while she's here. I'm not allowed to tell anyone how old she is now! It will be wonderful having our daughters here--Jack loves having his "little girls" around him. And, for me, they do my thinking! Back in May, when this journey began, I had difficulty keeping my focus, and the girls just stepped in and did the focusing for me. Jon has been a tremendous help also with the cabinet shop. With the vision difficulties Jack is having, Jon has been able to help him read building plans and assisting with the bids that always have a deadline attached to them.

We are grateful to have this kind of help, and feel very blessed by our family and our many friends who are walking through this journey with us. Please continue to pray for the continued shrinking of the tumor, for a successful kidney surgery, and that the cancer will stay away from Jack's body and not return.

Love and hugs to all of you,
Karen