Nothing New From the Doctor

I was hoping to post last night after the doctor called us, but he didn't call until after 8:45 and as my kids know - my brain does not function after 9:00pm, so I waited until this morning to give you an update.

Dr. Jensen reported that the Jedi Council had met (surgical/oncology team) and that the cancer is definitely a level 4 glioblastoma primary cancer.  The next definite step will be radiation and chemotherapy.  The oncologist's office will call me either today or tomorrow to set up an appointment to meet the oncologist and his team for early next week.  Depending on David's strength and recovery from the surgery, they may start radiation as early as the end of next week - the doctor said it was important to get started as soon as possible, but recovery from surgery may delay that.  I asked him what the long term prognosis was and he said we would talk about that at our appointment next week.  He told me that they would do an MRI every 2 months to follow the effectiveness of the radiation and how the tumor was responding.  He also told me that they would be able to try some different chemotherapy treatments if the tumor was not responding well.  Dr. Jensen was very pleased with the surgery, but emphasized the need to get him into radiation as soon as he was able.

An update on David:  after cutting his steroid dose in half, all he wants to do now is sleep and the doctor told me that was normal but we were to watch for severe headaches and to make sure we could get him to totally wake up.  That has not been a problem.  Abbie took him on a walk again yesterday, but he was extremely tired after that.  He slept almost all of the night last night - which he hasn't done since before surgery!!  He is concerned about work - as usual - and what needs to be done at the JCC and he's anxious to get the garden planted at home.  We'll work on that one this weekend - I can't wait!  But he continues to regain his balance and his speech little by little.  David will begin physical and occupational therapy in 2 weeks which I think will really help him - and somebody else can be the bad guy instead of us!!!!

Again, I thank you all for your prayers, good wishes, kind thoughts, emails, phone calls, food and everything you have done for us.  One of our nephews, Ryan Smith, sent us a large container of meat and food from Omaha Steaks!!  Oh my goodness!!  What a treat, Ryan!!  You truly know what's important to a man!!  David has thoroughly enjoyed every bite - as have we!!  We love you all and feel your support and love.  We will keep posting as things go along.

Love,
Janis

For all you blog junkies.....

The Boys

You can quit texting me for updates now....  :)  I actually don't mind the texts and apologize for not getting an update done yesterday.  I know you're all used to getting two to three a day.  As dad sleeps soundly, I thought I'd try to post.  Yesterday was a long day and when I tried last night to get an update done, I was too tired to write much.

We've settled into a routine as we begin day 2 of dad being home.  His pain seems very mild and very controlled and he continues on an assortment of other meds; steroids, anti-seizures, etc.  He's been on a large, heavy dosage of steroids since the surgery to keep down the swelling and inflammation down.  The steroids have kept him awake and slightly on edge.  Today, we begin cutting the dosage in half.  We've already seen the results as he is still very asleep.  We anticipate him sleeping more and more as he comes off the steroids.  Once his strength begins to build back up, he will start staying awake longer.

Abbie took dad on a walk around the block yesterday.  Though he is still slow, his balance is getting better.  He doesn't seem to be favoring his right side so much and is continually more stable as he walks.  I believe we've gone a full 24 hours since his last fall.  That is very good news. 

Mike is here this morning to install some hand rails in the shower to make things a bit safer for dad.  He was able to wash his head yesterday and clean up his wound and ear.  It's looking really good!  The staples will come out next Monday.

We anticipate a call tonight from the Jedi Council (or the Huntsman Cancer Institute team) with a treatment plan for further elimination of the Deathstar.  We expect this to contain Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments beginning in the next few weeks. 

We have had a few visitors, which have been fun.  Tracy Gunn (neighbor from the ward) and her son Logan stopped by last night and gave some of their families favorite John Wayne movies.  Dad is sure excited to watch them.  Also, a big thank you to Ryan Smith and family.  Dad is sure excited to eat steaks tonight!! 

We will post again this evening when we know more about the treatment plan.

Have a great day!

Home Sweet Home

This morning Dad received his discharge orders, and he's now here at home resting.

Yesterday evening Dr. Jensen stopped by to check in on Dad.  Dad's been waiting for this visit from the moment he left surgery.  Dr. Jensen let Dad know how pleased he was with the surgery, and how great his incision looks.  He also asked Dad if he remembered anything from surgery.  Dad mostly remembers feeling pain and hearing the vacuum.  The Doctor told us that there were some veins toward the bottom part of his brain that when they would start bleeding the Doctor would cauterize them and each time he did Dad would say, "Ouch."  The doctor thought it was sort of humorous.  Dad of course doesn't.

Dr. Jensen also was able to take a look at the after surgery MRI Dad had done on Saturday morning.  The Doc said everything looked really great.  That he was able to remove 95% of the tumor.  The other 5% was in a place he didn't want to touch, and he knew that going into surgery.  So we'll be relying on radiation and chemo therapy to keep that 5% in check for as long as we can.  Mom and Dad will hear from Dr. Jensen Wednesday night regarding the next steps in treatment.

Dad will also be participating in physical and occupational therapy.  His balance is something he will really be working on.  He's pretty tired and weak, so we are trying to keep him rested.  He'd love visitors if any of you are thinking about stopping by.  We'd love to see you between the hours of 6 and 8 pm.

I find it really amazing that 72 hours after brain surgery Dad is able to come home.  This whole thing is a miracle!