September 27, 2013

The Journey Continues (With A Slice of Good News)



Many Glacier area with Mt. Wilbur in the distance, Glacier National Park, Montana

I wanted to give you another update about Mr. Jim! He is building up his strength and continues his remarkable recovery from cancer surgery. We are hugely relieved that part of the journey is now behind us!

I will confess now that things did not look good initially. Our surgeon almost closed Mr. Jim back up when he saw the amount of lymph nodes around the cancer lesions. But he decided to forge ahead because he had enough margins around all of the blood vessels in the area. And he already knew that we wanted him to proceed to save Mr. Jim, if he possibly could. In all, our surgeon removed 80 lymph nodes – a record for this very experienced doctor. And our surgeon advised me that a lot of chemotherapy and radiation would be necessary later.

So while all of you prayed, the pathology tests were being run. I had pretty much put the tests out of my mind, quite frankly. And I doubt that Jim was giving them much thought either, since he was (understandably) preoccupied. So when our surgeon, along with a half dozen of his medical team, came into the hospital room one evening, we thought that the pathology news would be anticlimactic.

The team could not suppress their smiles. It turned out that the news was a surprise and positive. Of the 80 lymph nodes removed, only seven were positive for cancer and they were all in the immediate vicinity of the pancreas lesion. And, the type of pancreatic cancer is not the deadliest form (as suspected). It is a very rare form, and the one with the best prognosis because it has the least propensity to spread. It is so rare that our surgeon had never seen it before during his entire career.

We greatly suspect that our collective prayers made a difference! And we are experiencing a huge amount of gratitude right now for all the folks who have rallied on our behalf. Thank you!!!

We met with our surgeon this past Monday and discussed where we go from here. Mr. Jim’s staples were also removed - 23 in all. The feeding tube (unused since getting out of the hospital) in his abdomen will be removed next Monday. A couple of rounds of radiation and chemotherapy will commence in about four weeks. Consultation appointments with the chemo doctor (a new one, since we dismissed the first one) and the radiologist are already set. Mr. Jim’s health will continue to be monitored for a minimum of five years. On a regular basis, he will get scans and his blood tested for the CA 19-9 tumor marker. We will remain vigilant!

Needless to say, we are so grateful for our surgeon and his team. We can’t say enough positive things about them. Hands down, our surgeon is the best doctor we have ever encountered. Not only is he skilled with technical knowledge, but he also has unbelievably great people skills. He is our hero! Undoubtedly, the world would be a much better place if there were more men like him in it.

31 comments:

  1. wow...amazing news to hear...god bless!

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  2. Oh what good news. I'm so very glad for you both. Hope things continue on the upswing.

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  3. That truly is good news!! You must be very relieved.

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  4. Amazing things and miracles happy , glad things are going better !

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  5. All glory to God! What a sweet report! I just read this aloud to John and his first response was, "Thank you, Jesus!" I'm fairly skipping out of here...

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  6. WOW! Such wonderful news! May many prayers and positive thoughts continue for you both.

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  7. What a wonderful report and good news indeed. I'm keeping you both in my prayers and happy to read this update. Enjoy your weekend my friend. Give Jim a hug for me!

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  8. And what a slice of good news this is! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! I see His hand in this!

    Happy, happy {{hugs}}...

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  9. that is wonderful news. I'm so happy to hear it. You both will continue to be in my prayers.

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  10. This is just fantastic news! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!!

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  11. Wow that is amazing news...I will continue to send good thoughts and prayers your way!

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  12. Miracles do happen!
    Thanks dear for such a great overview of what Jim has recently experienced. It was amazing to say the least - that marvelous Dr. Gray and his team are the kind of doctors we all wish we had!
    Love to you both - our prayers continue until follow up treatment is completed and the two of you are off to the countryside making more memories together!

    Happy weekend - happy every day.
    Hugs and love, Mary (and Bob is thrilled at the good news too).

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  13. Great news Donna, thank you for sharing a positive, and upbeat account of where Jim stands with his medical issues. My gosh, 80 lymph nodes removed, this is mind boggling.
    Prayers and good wishes to you both!
    Hugs,
    Judith

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  14. Just so wonderful to hear the news and the positives from such a negative...I am so gld you had such skilled surgeons and so much support...Keep u the good fight you two! x

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  15. Thanking God for answered prayer! What a wonderful report. I firmly believe in miracles - and I believe you've just seen one! Will continue to pray as Mr. Jim and you walk the rest of the path to recovery and renewed health. I'm smiling, dear friend!
    ~Adrienne~

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  16. Wonderful!

    Thank you LORD for answering prayers.

    So happy for you both!

    xoxo

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  17. Ohhhh Donna!!! INDEED fantastic news! I know it must be a Huge relief for you both!!
    Still sending prayer and love on a Non-Stop basis!!!
    ((((HUG))))

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  18. WOO HOO!! Happy Dance!!!!! That's amazing news, Donna. So So So happy for you all. Now you can breathe. We will continue to pray with you through this.

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  19. That is the most wonderful news! Thank God for skilled doctors! So happy for you guys!

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  20. Oh, Donna! I couldn't help but cry when I read this! Thank God for His care of Jim (and you!) and for blessing you with such a wonderful team of doctors!

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  21. What wonderful, wonderful news! Thanks be to God! I'm just so very happy for you. Lately, I've heard so much bad news that this comes as such delight.

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  22. Lovely to have the update.
    So pleased for you both Donna, that you have had such wonderful positive news. May God go with you both as you progress through the next stages of treatment.
    Oh and I love the photo too. They are always wonderful.

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  23. I am thanking God right now for His marvelous answers to our prayers! Can you believe it? This is wonderful new and I'm off to tell Our Father that I love Him because He is so good to us. God bless you and Jim! I'm so happy.

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  24. That is great news. Continued prayers for the remainder of Mr. Jim's recovery.

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  25. What wonderful news! I have learned to never underestimate the power of prayer!

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  26. Thank you Donna for putting us in the picture, it's lovely to hear some good new.
    Wonderful for you to have Jim back home and that's the place we all want to be.
    Keeping you both in my prayers
    love and hugs
    Shane

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  27. Hi Donna, We've been on vacation for the past 10 days... SO--I am just now catching up some. This is WONDERFUL news... GEE--if I ever get cancer, I'm going to visit YOUR surgeon... How tremendous!!!!! God is GOOD..... I know that the journey is long from over --but so far, so good... God Bless.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  28. Hooray! Thank God, and God bless Jim and you!

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  29. HI There, Isn't wonderful how God works, his blessed the surgeon and his team with the gift of a medical education and was able to pass that blessing on to Mr. Jim and you. God is good and works in so many wonderful ways in our life. Always ask in Christ Jesus and then believe it is a done deal and that you have it. Faith is the key. I am just so happy for the two of you I can hardly hold it back. God Bless you and your loved one. Friendship Love, LenZie

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  30. Good to hear positive news about Mr. Jim! I hope his health continues to improve and sometime soon you can both be back to traveling together.

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Marty, here! Donna loves comments, and I faithfully pass them on to her. Thank you so much for visiting!