Surgery Scheduled

Hello Everyone!

I didn't want to post information until we had all of our ducks in a row.  When working with the medical profession, things can change so quickly, I didn't want to give out dates that could change!  With that said, Christopher is scheduled for surgery Friday August 30th to remove his very pesky lymph node!!! 

Many of you are probably thinking, "but I thought they said this was inoperable?"  We thought that, too.  However, our wonderful oncologist never said it was inoperable.  A surgeon at the very beginning of this (not a thoracic surgeon, a urology surgeon) said it was inoperable.  Please let this be a lesson...don't settle for an answer from just one doctor!  Seek other opinions.  Pray and look for the answer you're willing to accept.  My beautiful husband is living proof that God answers prayers.  And I will always be so very grateful to our Lord and Savior for this beautiful blessing.

But I digress, the Chief Surgeon of Thoracic Robotics will perform the sugery.  Yes, you read that right, robotics!  Chris will have a robotic surgery to remove the lymph node.  He will be in the hospital overnight, if everything goes according to plan. He will be home the next day!

The really cool part about all of this...I asked our oncologist if there was a way to hold on to this tumor.  I've read about research being done to create cancer vaccines and other treatments from the original tumors that people had in their bodies.  Our doctor explained that they need to have a living part of the tumor in case they are able to develop any of these modern treatment conceptions.  So, our onocologist will take part of Chris's tumor and place it in a mouse in his research lab!  Isn't that amazing?!  Unfortunately, they need a lot more money to develop these new treatments.  Kidney cancer isn't a cancer you hear about all the time.  Hopefully through this blog, I'm helping bring awareness to this horrible disease that deserves just as much acknowledgement as other more common discussed cancers.

Please pray that everything goes well and that the surgeon is able to get all of the lymph node, tumor, and any surrounding lymph nodes.  Please thank the Lord for the healing that He has already granted Chris and that He will continue to heal him. 

We won't know what time surgery is until the 29th.  Please check back next Thursday.  I will post the time, so we can have as many people praying as possible during surgery.  I'm determined to have God make sure the surgeon is able to get all of it out safely! 

Love and Blessings, Teresa xo