Well, another surprise. After the heart cath, then the blot clot 2 weeks ago, who would have thot there would be yet another-before John's operation?
BUT the best laid plans...
Tuesday night John had a nasty fall and fractured two ribs. The surgeon at MDAnderson felt that this could affect his breathing and make him susceptible to pneumonia. So surgery is delayed until the end of May.
We are now busy undoing all the cancellations we made for the next 6 weeks(implants-dental(!), hair, parties, begging bridge partner to take me back, cancelling the driver, rescheduling the plant watering person, hoping my place in painting class hasn't been sold to that new girl and trying to recoup plane tickets for Charlotte, Jackie and John; hopefully a medical letter will suffice..
In this disappointment if there is a silver lining, tho' slightly tarnished, it is that we have more time to unpack from the last trip a week ago and catch our collective breath. We miss Charlotte's "kiddlewinks", a three and five year old who were with us for Easter and just left this AM.
Back to waiting mode...
Jackie and John
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
April 10th update
Dear Family and Friends.
We have just returned from a trip to Houston. Earlier in the week, we received the good news that the MD Anderson surgical panel had decided after a second review that the surgery should be performed by a pancreatic surgeon rather than a melanoma specialist as had been previously planned.
John has a very rare melanoma of the pancreas. The clinic said that they see only one or two cases of this a year. His spleen and half of the pancreas will have to be removed. Although very few doctors have had experience with this kind of cancer, we felt that the operation should be done by a pancreatic surgeon rather than one whose principal work is with skin cancer.
We had an excellent meeting with the new surgeon, who answered all of our questions. The best news is that the operation will be done robotically. While the operation will be very long, up to 6 hours, the hospital and recovery time will be about half that of open surgery. The operation is scheduled for April 19th.
We will go to Houston on the 17th. My daughter, Charlotte, will be with me to distract me as she did during John's open heart surgery 2 years ago. I was in very good shape after a strenous walk early each AM.! You can't believe what a moral support she is. I will never be able to thank her enough. It is tremendously generous of her to come.
We both appreciate all of your calls, concerns, prayers and messages of support. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go forward.
While John is not looking forward to this, he is to do it!
All the best to all of you who mean so much to us,
Jackie
We have just returned from a trip to Houston. Earlier in the week, we received the good news that the MD Anderson surgical panel had decided after a second review that the surgery should be performed by a pancreatic surgeon rather than a melanoma specialist as had been previously planned.
John has a very rare melanoma of the pancreas. The clinic said that they see only one or two cases of this a year. His spleen and half of the pancreas will have to be removed. Although very few doctors have had experience with this kind of cancer, we felt that the operation should be done by a pancreatic surgeon rather than one whose principal work is with skin cancer.
We had an excellent meeting with the new surgeon, who answered all of our questions. The best news is that the operation will be done robotically. While the operation will be very long, up to 6 hours, the hospital and recovery time will be about half that of open surgery. The operation is scheduled for April 19th.
We will go to Houston on the 17th. My daughter, Charlotte, will be with me to distract me as she did during John's open heart surgery 2 years ago. I was in very good shape after a strenous walk early each AM.! You can't believe what a moral support she is. I will never be able to thank her enough. It is tremendously generous of her to come.
We both appreciate all of your calls, concerns, prayers and messages of support. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go forward.
While John is not looking forward to this, he is to do it!
All the best to all of you who mean so much to us,
Jackie
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