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
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