Steve slept over at the Hospital with Aust. I woke up about 5 a..m. to join them. I was still tired, so we all slept until they came for him. I had crazy dreams while I was sleeping. At 7:15 a.m. he was rolled into surgery.
Steve went to get some water which was right by where they'd been sleeping. They had woken up and were talking. When steve came back with the water he told me he'd over heard them. They were 2 homeless people just finding a place for the night! The guy was saying how he hadn't wanted to sleep at the shelter. They left soon after we came in.
Next the waiting began…….we kept hearing them shout emergencies over the intercom and each time we would panic thinking it was Austin. There were 3 surgeons working simultaneously cutting out the tumor. The Doctor had a nurse call us periodically to update us, so we started to calm down about the intercom emergencies.
At about 10 a.m. they called to let us know it was going well but very slowly and that they would call in another couple of hours. The Doctor finally came out at 1:40 to let us know it was all finished. He had lots of pictures on his camera and his phone. He said he would send them. The tumor was 14 centimeters long. It had all the layers of skin and had lots of nerves. It looks like a heart to me…not that I know what a heart looks like...
They were able to get all of the Tumor, therefore no radiation! The Doctor did take a piece of his right lung, but not enough to notice anything. As part of recovery the lung has to re-inflate. The tumor had completely compressed the right lung. He said the Tumor was pressing dangerously on the right side of his heart and had grown in with a nerve that controls the diaphragm. He thinks he saved the nerve, but wasn't sure.
They thought they would have to cut him twice, but he only needed one very large incision!
The ICU- They don't mess around in this unit. They don't like many people there. Each time you walk in they have to verify with his nurse that it is ok to come back. Doors are locked and they don't like you spending the night.
Only 2 people at a time were allowed in the ICU. So we all took quick turns. Then Steve and I stayed with him until night. Steve left before dinner to take care of kids, while I stayed until about 9. I just wanted to meet the night nurse. He was very good, so I felt comfortable leaving him.
Austin went into this surgery thinking he would have to do radiation afterwards. (They didn't think they could get it from around the heart.) When we told him they had gotten all of it, he said, "So I'm done? It's over?" Then he cried...
They didn't use his power port in his chest. They used that blue thing stuck in his neck for fluids and medications. I guess they aren't authorized to use the port.
They went through his sternum and then lifted his right rib cage to work on him. To put the Sternum back together they put a plate and screws to hold it together. (He asked if he could fly in an airplane now without getting frisked in security. This happened to him when he was younger! Trauma!!!!) Sorry son, probably not….!
This is him smiling!!!!
Ice chips were his first meal at night. He was very thirsty but they don't let them drink anything for a while. Then it's a clear liquid diet (water only) for the rest of the night. It's amazing what just a few hours will do!
He is recovering well. He was told not to lift anything heavy nor play football or such for 6 months. He really wanted to start working out…we'll have to ask about weights…
Thank you to everyone that has prayed and fasted for us. I know miracles have happened. We're soooo grateful to all of you.
16 Therefore, let your hearts
be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know
that I am God.
D & C 101:16
No comments:
Post a Comment