This morning Dana and I dropped the kids off at school around 7:45am and headed toward Kaiser’s Glenlake office located at I-285 and GA 400. My pre-operation appointment was with Dr Hoffman at 9:40am. No problem, right? Forty miles in
We met with Dr. Hoffman and he thought my voice sounded much better. So he whipped out the Endoscope (the camera that goes into the nose and lets him view my vocal cords) and quickly announced that the left-side vocal cords are still barely moving. Most likely, one of the cancerous growths on my thyroid is interfering with the nerve on that side.
Nerve damage is one of the big concerns during the surgery. If the nerve is damaged, or has to removed with the cancer on the one side, I will be left with a very raspy voice – and only the right-side nerve. If for some reason the right side nerve is damaged; either from this surgery, future surgery, or from more cancer – I will be in BIG trouble. That last nerve (literally) is the one that allows me to continue to breath, swallow and talk
Next, Dr. Hoffman felt around my neck. While he cannot feel the cancerous nodules on the thyroid, he does think that he feels enlarged lymph nodes. He felt strongly today that the lymph nodes will also have to be removed during the surgery. While that concerns me a bit due to the fact that the lymph nodes filter out those bad cancer cells as they try to move along the body – Dr. Hoffman said that the dirty lymph nodes didn’t really increase the chances that the cancer has moved on to somewhere else.
Another thing Dr. Hoffman has to be concerned with are the Parathyroid Glands that are in the area of all the stuff we are trying to take out. These are four pea-sized glands that control the calcium and vitamin D that the body uses. Calcium is the most regulated element in our bodies and is the only mineral that has its own regulating gland. It’s these little glands that are the reason that I will be in the hospital 2-3 days. Calcium in the body has to be monitored after surgery in the neck area to ensure the glands are not damaged. It is fatal if the glands are not working and you are not taking a calcium pill to compensate.
So, no big surprises today except for the enlarged lymph nodes. We knew they had a good chance of needing to be taken out – but it seems a sure thing after today’s exam. Now that the lymph nodes have to be removed, Dr. Hoffman estimates the surgery to last about 4-hours. That’s a long day for Dana and her Mom. We get to the hospital at 7:30am, four hours of surgery beginning at 9:30 and a little over 2-hours in recovery.
Dana will be making entries into this blog on Thursday to let everyone know how I am doing. If you check it frequently during the day, chances are that you might know how I’m doing before I do. I hope to be back typing on Friday and will let you know about visitation then.
Thanks again for all the prayers and offers to help out. We really appreciate it.
5 comments:
Mr. Jeff,
My Dad too has cancer (Multiple Myelome). He was diagnosed in 2000. He underwent a stem cell transplant (using his own stem cells), and has been in remission since 2005. Part of this I know is thru his Faith, and the other his positive attitude toward the disease. He takes every day one day at a time, besides you need to save your strength, cause after all the bossing around your gonna get when you get home, whoa! I feel for you, cause ya know Ms Dana is going to take full advantage of you not being able to respond back to her in the first couple of days...Save your strength! Take Care, and all Thoughts & Prayers we will send your way!
Jeff,
We are praying for you. I know that you will keep your "Coach's" voice. Because this year in Florida YOU are taking the kids out to the beach in the middle of the night while I stay back and watch TV.
Kristin was reading over my shoulder and she hit me for that last comment.
I think she likes you better.
Keep your spirits up, and I pray God's hand covers you throughout this time.
It's 9:30 as I'm reading this (just looked at the clock) and I'm really hoping this turns out as expected. We will be praying for you and if you or Dana and the kids need anything let me know and I'll make the time for you and them. Hang in there Buddy!!!
Father God, We pray that you be with Jeff during this surgery. Give him peace and a spirit of calm. Be with the Dr.'s that they may be guided by the hands of the Great Physician. Be with Dana and the boys that they may know you and feel your love and comfort and have a spirit of courage. We ask for your miraculous healing, if it is your will. Thank you for all that you have done and are doing for them and us. In your precious Son's name we pray. AMEN.
I'm not with you and I wanted to pray for you. Also, 2 Kings 20 has a great retelling of King Hezekiah and his illness, if you get a chance in the hospital, read it. I love to see God answer pray in such amazing ways. Please let me know if my family can do anything for you.
Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you.
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