On January 9th we go to Duke to begin a treatment of chemotherapy and radiation. I will take these treatments daily, Monday through Friday for five and one half weeks. After that, they give me a three week break and I begin iv chemo one day per week for four months. Here is the good news. The doctors tell me that I will have little side effects from these treatments, just some fatigue. They have encouraged me to continue to work and keep as much of a regular schedule as possible.
You don't know how happy I am to hear that I will still be able to do the work that I love so much.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
How It All Began
On October 10th I ran the Run for Christ 5K with my oldest granddaughter, Maia. I was in great physical condition. Within just a few days I was having abdominal pains that were so severe that even a male would call the doctor. (you know how men hate to call the doctor)
I went to see my family doctor (Thad is the best doctor anywhere) on Friday. He ran blood tests on Friday. I went to Wayne Memorial for further blood tests and an ultra sound on Monday. I went back to Wayne Memorial on Tuesday for a CT scan. The next Monday I was talking to an oncologist / pancreatic cancer specialist, head of GI at Duke Hospital in Durham. It was confirmed. I had a mass on my pancreas.
Within a few days we had a CT scan and two Endoscopic Ultra Sounds (biopsy) at Duke. On Monday, November 21st cancer was confirmed. On Friday, November 25th I had a surgery called the Whipple Procedure. (Don't look it up. It will scare you.)
My surgeon, Dr. Perez became my hero. He said it was the toughest surgery known to man. Yet he did it laproscopically. I only stayed at Duke for seven days. I came home, but had a bump in the road that caused me to go back to the hospital for three more days.
I came home for good on December 7th. I have made tremendous strides every day since then. I have been eating pretty good. I have been able to assume some of my duties at the church.
I am one blessed man!
This one thing I know. God has a great big plan. And it is all about HIM.
I am excited about the future and the possibilies of how I fit into that plan.
I went to see my family doctor (Thad is the best doctor anywhere) on Friday. He ran blood tests on Friday. I went to Wayne Memorial for further blood tests and an ultra sound on Monday. I went back to Wayne Memorial on Tuesday for a CT scan. The next Monday I was talking to an oncologist / pancreatic cancer specialist, head of GI at Duke Hospital in Durham. It was confirmed. I had a mass on my pancreas.
Within a few days we had a CT scan and two Endoscopic Ultra Sounds (biopsy) at Duke. On Monday, November 21st cancer was confirmed. On Friday, November 25th I had a surgery called the Whipple Procedure. (Don't look it up. It will scare you.)
My surgeon, Dr. Perez became my hero. He said it was the toughest surgery known to man. Yet he did it laproscopically. I only stayed at Duke for seven days. I came home, but had a bump in the road that caused me to go back to the hospital for three more days.
I came home for good on December 7th. I have made tremendous strides every day since then. I have been eating pretty good. I have been able to assume some of my duties at the church.
I am one blessed man!
This one thing I know. God has a great big plan. And it is all about HIM.
I am excited about the future and the possibilies of how I fit into that plan.
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