Life in the Slow Lane

Today was our appointment at the Urologist, who had performed the first surgery.  This appointment was to go over the next step and give us more information, a time to ask questions and to find out more about this surgery.  We like this doctor very much, he is very open, honest and very skilled.  He would have been the one to perform this next surgery that will be taking place soon.  However, we decided not to go with him for a couple reasons.  First, we don't like the hospital that the surgery would take place.  Since the first surgery was performed there and it was also the place we went to for the ER visit.  The biggest reason though is making sure that Steven will be taken care of by doctors and staff that have dealt with more chemo patients.  He has met low odds in several areas and we need to be prepared for better treatment, if this surgery doesn't go well.

The surgery that he will be having is called R.L.N.D. or Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection.  They will remove all of the lymph nodes on the right side and some on the left side.  These lymph nodes lie right next to his kidney and the two major arteries in the body, that is where the surgery can become difficult.  Oh when he was describing it to Steven, I was trying so hard to hold back the tears.  When we did our appointment to go over the first surgery, he said there was a chance that this R.L.N.D. surgery might happen.  It was awful as he described it the first time, but I never thought about it after that time.  It wasn't even a thought!  I had full faith that God would completely heal Steven and no other surgeries would have to take place.

Wax Model of Retroperitoneum.

Someone at is work was teasing him and telling him that chicks dig scars.  So after we found that he will have a scar from under is rib cage to his pelvis.  He looks over at me an says, "do you like scars?"  We both started laughing and the doctor enjoyed seeing our humor.  It wasn't the news we wanted to hear about the surgery, but God has been here through this whole process and he isn't going to leave us now.

We left his office walking down the hall, just holding each other close.  As we grow closer to God, the bond that we have for each other grows stronger everyday!  Thank you God for the blessing my husband is and being with us every step of the way!  We needed to pick up the CT pictures from his first scan, so we can start getting the results together for the doctor that will be performing his surgery at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.  I asked him if he wanted to walk or have me drive him to the hospital.  He wanted to walk, so we walked over slow since his leg is painful.  Steven and I usually walk fast and even faster if we have somewhere to go.  So it was nice, to take our time since everything is usually rushed.  One of the things that we know that he is telling us, is to slow down.

We feel that God is telling us something, which we haven't completely understood all what He is telling us.  Clearly He is getting our attention with all the trials that get put before us.  One thing that Steven, finally decided was to quit being the president of our HOA.  All the things that we have been involved in are dropping off. 

As these trials hit us, one after another and are starting to get closer together.  Lots of people have been telling us, that it reminds them of Job in the Bible.  After all he was faced with a lot of trials, but he also had a wife that told him to curse God and die.  Steven just reminds people, that he is nowhere close to Job with the amount of trials, and he has a loving supportive wife and family.

Thank you so much Robyn for watching the girls again!  I can't describe the blessing it was to have them taken care of and being able to get some stuff done around the house was huge.  Also, Sandy blessed us today with watching the girls in the evening and helping me get some cleaning done while the girls were sleeping.

So what is next?  Steven is probably hoping for no more appointments after he has had four already this week and one more tomorrow.  Tomorrow we have an appointment at the UCS, to see check his blood to see if he medicine he is taking is working in his blood to help get rid of the blood clot.  He has had to take pill form and also has to give himself two shots into his stomach everyday.  We will also be picking up the pictures from his CT scan that he had done there and waiting for someone to call us from the Huntsman Cancer Institute to schedule our appointment with a doctor before we know when his surgery will be planned.

He has been able to work these weeks after chemo, his work has been very supportive of all his appointments.  Praying that they continue to be supportive during his time off for surgery and recovery time.  Pray for us to get a doctor with a lot of experience doing this surgery and that he would recover quickly with no long term complications.  Thank you for your prayers, felt God's peace and comfort in a wonderful way today.