Surgery...1 down...1 to go. Do not scroll all the way down if you do NOT want to see pictures of the end result.

Well, the surgery was Monday morning and it was successful.

Around 10 pm on Sunday night, Karen and I were laying in bed watching television. There was a little bit of tension, but not between us or anything I think that we could specifically pinpoint, but I would guess that it was just the upcoming surgery and the time spent away from Harper/home.  We received a text message from Trey and Suzy Barnes around that time. The picture was of Suzy pointing at a sign that indicated that a flight headed to NYC was boarding soon. Can't really explain how we felt at that moment, but whatever tension or negative feelings that were lingering around the room were immediately gone. They arrived in NY around midnight and were there at the hospital the next morning to be there with us as I went through all the pre-op procedures. Friendship is something that you can never really put a cap on. Every time I think I know what my friends are capable of, I just have to set reset the expectations I have placed on people in general.

The surgery took a while. At the moment I can't remember exactly how long I was under, but I think it was like 4 hrs or so. I woke up in recovery, stayed there for a bit, then was moved into my overnight room. Pain wasn't as intense as I had anticipated. I have never been under the knife for a serious procedure before, so I had nothing to compare it to. 24 hrs after being moved into my room, I was discharged. The staff at Sloan was pleased with how I was healing and somehow felt confident in Karen taking the wheel from there on out. Fortunately, the Hope Lodge was able to give us a room because of a patient leaving early.

The room is really nice, spacious, and well, free. It's amazing that a place like this exists in the heart of NYC. We have a large one bedroom apt that has a private bathroom as well. We have to share the kitchen with others on the floor, but it's been nice seeing others here going through familiar treatments. I'm not saying it's nice to see people going though such things...just that it's nice to see people that understand the process.

Today we were visited by, well...a visiting nurse. He came by and went over the different sorts of things we can expect over the next week or so. In addition, he changed my dressing and measured my stitching. The length of the scar is going to be 15 inches. It's healing very well and he said there is some reason to be optimistic that we could have the stitching/drain removed by next Thursday. It's not something we are getting our hopes up on, but it is something to frame our mindset around...loosely.

So it is going to be a week or so in NYC, then we return. When we get back to St. Augustine, i'll start another cycle of chemo, then get back on with life. As we mentioned before, we will have to do a few cycles of chemo before we meet with NYC again to discuss the adrenal surgery.  Thanks so much for your support, love, and prayers. If you are scrolling, and do not care to see the handiwork of my surgeon...stop scrolling  now.

B

View from the front

View from the side/back

A giraffe's coffee would be cold by the time it reached the bottom of it's throat. Ever think about that? No, You only think about yourself.

             Well, it has been a long week here in New York. Not long in the it's dragging out sense, but long in the we're not used to being up here for this LONG. As you may have heard or read, we met with the surgeon this past Thursday. He explained that after reviewing both the most recent MRI and CT-Scans, surgery on the mass underneath my right arm was the best approach. That in itself was news that was unexpected and well, just amazing- but he also told us that the adrenals are still shrinking. Which is great news. To be honest, I wasn't 100% sure that would be the case after the switch to the new medicine. As many of you know, the new medicine hasn't been near as harsh on the system as the old chemo, so it's great to know it's working. That also is good news for surgery on the adrenals down the road. Previously, the surgeon had mentioned that surgery on the adrenals would be contingent upon the containment of the disease. So continued shrinking of the masses on the adrenals is obviously more than just containment. So, assuming all goes well with the surgery under my right arm, then it will be back home to do a few more rounds of chemo. During this time we will be looking for an endocrinologist to meet with. We need to sit down with one to get a better understanding about what life will be like living without my adrenal glands or living "adrenal deficient". From what I understand, it's not going to be a major transition, but it will require being on a variety of meds for the rest of my life. I can live with that. If Karen has to take one or two for her halitosis and nail fungus, then I can certainly take a daily Rx or two.

            So my mom and Roger are flying up today. We will see them tomorrow for dinner. Monday morning we are to be at the hospital at 7:30 for pre-op. Guessing surgery will follow about an hour or so after that. I'll be under for about 5 hours and the procedure will take about 3. Karen will be getting her manicure/pedicure down the road and should be done around 2 hours after I wake from the the procedure. She has promised to text me and check in with me from time to time.

            Prayers for a successful surgery and that it will leave me with a REALLY cool scar are appreciated. Thanks for all of your love and support. It's appreciated...unless your name is Suzy or Steve. Then no. It's not appreciated at all.