Mike's recovery has hit a rough patch. A home care nurse checks in on him every other day and his test results are causing some concern. His blood pressure has dropped and his sodium levels are extremely low. Tomorrow the nurse will give him a sodium transfusion. He doesn't feel well and hasn't been able to eat much.
He has a follow up appointment with the surgeon this Friday. In the meantime, prayers would be much appreciated. He looks and feels a lot worse than he did last week while he was still in the hospital.
To the HP crew that sent him a Kindle - he received it yesterday and is really touched by the gesture. Once he starts feeling better, it will get a lot of use. Thanks so much!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Day Eleven
Mike has been discharged and is back at home! Thank you to everyone for keeping him and our family in your thoughts and prayers. They have definitely been appreciated. We will continue to post updates relevant to his recovery, but probably not every day from now on. Thanks again!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Day Ten
Mike was supposed to be discharged from the hospital this afternoon. However, the doctor who ordered the discharge left before signing the papers (yes, really), and the resident on duty refuses to sign them in his place. The first doctor and the surgeon have been paged, but it's not likely either will show up at the hospital to discharge him. It looks like it is going to be Monday now for sure.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Day Nine
Mike is still in the hospital - hopefully he will be discharged tomorrow.
We would like to send a big thank you to the ladies of Urology of Indiana (where Karen works) for buying two huge baskets full of groceries and making several meals for Mike and Karen to enjoy when he gets home from the hospital. We are just so touched by the thoughtfulness and the support throughout this whole ordeal.
We would like to send a big thank you to the ladies of Urology of Indiana (where Karen works) for buying two huge baskets full of groceries and making several meals for Mike and Karen to enjoy when he gets home from the hospital. We are just so touched by the thoughtfulness and the support throughout this whole ordeal.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Day Eight
Mike is not going home today. The surgeon came by and said she wants to keep him a few more days to get his fluids in balance. Everything else looks good, he's eating better, and he continues to get his strength back, but she just doesn't want to send him home with an IV. He is OK with this. So, he might get discharged on Saturday or Sunday - we just don't know at this point. We'll let you know!
P.S. He had a DQ shake on Wednesday and said it was the best shake he ever tasted!
P.S. He had a DQ shake on Wednesday and said it was the best shake he ever tasted!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Day Seven
It's one week post-surgery already! This week passed faster than those 8 hours did while Mike was in surgery! (At least for us - Mike might beg to differ). :) There's really nothing new to report. He's still in the hospital and might get discharged tomorrow. He's also a little dehydrated today so they might have to hook him back up to an IV for fluids. Other than that, he's doing well. He got to read the blog comments today and the first thing he said was, "The power of prayer is real." Amen to that.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Day Six, Part II
Mike is staying put! This is a relief. The residents wanted him discharged, but the surgeon said he is not ready yet and that Friday is a more reasonable expectation for going home.
He still hasn't gotten that shake yet, for those of you that asked :), but Karen is taking him one this evening. The flower/plant/fruit restriction is still in effect, but he did get flowers delivered yesterday in spite of it.
He had the TV on today and was watching the news, which means his vision is getting back to normal. For a while there it was pretty blurry. He's doing great on his breathing treatments and isn't hooked up to any IVs anymore. He still looks yellow, but the doctors aren't concerned. They did say it could either be from the red cells breaking down in his spleen or from the functionality of his liver. They are monitoring it, but since they don't seemed to be worried, we won't worry either.
Thanks for keeping Mike in your thoughts and prayers! We're going to print off the blog comments and take them to him tomorrow so he can read for himself all of your kind words. :)
He still hasn't gotten that shake yet, for those of you that asked :), but Karen is taking him one this evening. The flower/plant/fruit restriction is still in effect, but he did get flowers delivered yesterday in spite of it.
He had the TV on today and was watching the news, which means his vision is getting back to normal. For a while there it was pretty blurry. He's doing great on his breathing treatments and isn't hooked up to any IVs anymore. He still looks yellow, but the doctors aren't concerned. They did say it could either be from the red cells breaking down in his spleen or from the functionality of his liver. They are monitoring it, but since they don't seemed to be worried, we won't worry either.
Thanks for keeping Mike in your thoughts and prayers! We're going to print off the blog comments and take them to him tomorrow so he can read for himself all of your kind words. :)
Day Six
Here's a shocker - they're talking about sending Mike home today! This is kind of unbelievable (and in the opinion of the blog author, unsettling). He is doing well (and the doctors don't seem too concerned about his yellow complexion), but he doesn't think he is ready to go home yet. If they discharge him, it will be a scramble to get home care instructions to Karen and a hospital bed delivered (he needs the bed because his stomach muscles aren't healed enough for him to be able to pull himself up from a reclining position on his own). We'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Day Five, Part II
Mike's white blood cell count has dropped slightly - enough to put restrictions on entering his room. Anyone without a respiratory infection can visit, but you have to wash your hands first and no flowers, potted plants, fresh fruits or vegetables, etc., are allowed into the room right now.
His skin has also taken on a yellowish hue today, but the surgeon said she is not surprised by this. She is monitoring his bilirubin levels. His liver just has to figure out how to function properly with 55% of it missing.
Mike seems to be getting stronger, so that's good news! He can get out of his bed and into a chair much more easily now than a few days ago. He's also a lot more alert and interactive. His breathing treatments are helping and his lungs are getting stronger, too. He has no dietary restrictions at this point (except for fresh fruits and veggies), and was really excited when the nurse told him that if he is craving something from the outside, he can have it brought in. The first thing he mentioned was a shake from Dairy Queen. :)
He seems to be in good spirits and asks if anyone has left comments on the blog, so we are always sure to pass them on. :) Thank you sincerely for continuing to check in on him and to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We are reminded constantly that this is going to be a long recovery, but he has the right attitude about it, so hopefully that will make a difference.
His skin has also taken on a yellowish hue today, but the surgeon said she is not surprised by this. She is monitoring his bilirubin levels. His liver just has to figure out how to function properly with 55% of it missing.
Mike seems to be getting stronger, so that's good news! He can get out of his bed and into a chair much more easily now than a few days ago. He's also a lot more alert and interactive. His breathing treatments are helping and his lungs are getting stronger, too. He has no dietary restrictions at this point (except for fresh fruits and veggies), and was really excited when the nurse told him that if he is craving something from the outside, he can have it brought in. The first thing he mentioned was a shake from Dairy Queen. :)
He seems to be in good spirits and asks if anyone has left comments on the blog, so we are always sure to pass them on. :) Thank you sincerely for continuing to check in on him and to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We are reminded constantly that this is going to be a long recovery, but he has the right attitude about it, so hopefully that will make a difference.
Day Five
No updates yet because we are all back to work now that Mike is out of the ICU. We'll post something in the early afternoon once we can touch base with the nursing staff.
One thing that is certain is that tonight Mike is having two very special visitors - his granddaughters Lilly and Abby. He hasn't seen them in a week so no doubt he is excited about this visit.
Here they are on Father's Day last year:
Monday, June 21, 2010
Out of ICU
Mike was moved out of the cancer center ICU this afternoon. He's now in the main IU hospital - 2 North Room 2827.
Day Four
Today Mike is going to be moved out of the ICU! The time is still TBA. He also gets to eat breakfast this morning - juice, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and toast. He's very excited about that.
The surgeon said everything is looking good and she is amazed he is doing so well this soon after the surgery. She plans on doing another ultrasound one month post-surgery to check the flow through the liver and see what his "normal" blood counts are going to be (they are still skewed right now because of the operation).
Thank you for keeping him in your prayers!
The surgeon said everything is looking good and she is amazed he is doing so well this soon after the surgery. She plans on doing another ultrasound one month post-surgery to check the flow through the liver and see what his "normal" blood counts are going to be (they are still skewed right now because of the operation).
Thank you for keeping him in your prayers!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Day Three Post-Surgery
Another good day is underway. Mike still hasn't gotten much sleep, but he continues to improve regardless. They took the gastro-nasal tube out yesterday and are going to take the IVs from his neck today. He should be down to one IV in his hand after that. Today he also gets to start on clear liquids like juice and popsicles. Up to this point he's been on a diet of ice chips and fluids through an IV. Yesterday he was starving for solid foods, so he's on the right path today. The nurses are also going to wheel him out to a private sun room in the early afternoon so he can enjoy a change of scenery.
His lungs look OK. The respiratory therapists give him breathing treatments every four hours. We assume his other test results are still fine, too. The surgeon should be back in tomorrow to give a report. Mike is also going to be moved out of the ICU and into a regular room tomorrow.
His color is looking so good. His complexion looks really bright and healthy, rather than pale and gray like before the surgery.
We found out yesterday that they gave him 23 units of blood during the surgery. Apparently, the average person has about 8 units of blood inside him. If you think about it, it's almost like all the blood in his body was drained and replenished 3 times during that operation. The fact that he is alive and doing so well so soon after such a marathon of a surgery is a testiment to his incredible will to live, the skill of the surgeon, and some divine intervention. We are so thankful to have him with us. Happy Father's Day, Dad!
His lungs look OK. The respiratory therapists give him breathing treatments every four hours. We assume his other test results are still fine, too. The surgeon should be back in tomorrow to give a report. Mike is also going to be moved out of the ICU and into a regular room tomorrow.
His color is looking so good. His complexion looks really bright and healthy, rather than pale and gray like before the surgery.
We found out yesterday that they gave him 23 units of blood during the surgery. Apparently, the average person has about 8 units of blood inside him. If you think about it, it's almost like all the blood in his body was drained and replenished 3 times during that operation. The fact that he is alive and doing so well so soon after such a marathon of a surgery is a testiment to his incredible will to live, the skill of the surgeon, and some divine intervention. We are so thankful to have him with us. Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Day Two Post-Surgery
Mike is still doing well today. He is more tired today than yesterday because he didn't get much sleep last night. He was completely off sedation, so he wasn't able to sleep through all the checks they did on him overnight like he was able to the night of the surgery. (The storms last night didn't help either).
The doctors are happy with all of his numbers and the ultrasound showed that the flow through his liver is still good. There is some fluid developing in his lungs, but this is normal due to inactivity and they are doing breathing treatments on him to try to keep the fluid from developing into pneumonia. They also got him up to sit in the chair for a little over an hour, which is supposed to help, too. The doctors don't seem too concerned at this point about his lungs.
Mike is more alert today and his voice is getting stronger. He's also getting back his sense of humor (and sarcasm). :) We've told him about all the comments people have posted and he nods his head (can't really smile yet) in appreciation.
Thanks so much for continuing to think of him and us.
The doctors are happy with all of his numbers and the ultrasound showed that the flow through his liver is still good. There is some fluid developing in his lungs, but this is normal due to inactivity and they are doing breathing treatments on him to try to keep the fluid from developing into pneumonia. They also got him up to sit in the chair for a little over an hour, which is supposed to help, too. The doctors don't seem too concerned at this point about his lungs.
Mike is more alert today and his voice is getting stronger. He's also getting back his sense of humor (and sarcasm). :) We've told him about all the comments people have posted and he nods his head (can't really smile yet) in appreciation.
Thanks so much for continuing to think of him and us.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Sitting Up
Mike is sitting up! He got out of bed for the first time around 11:30. They want him to sit up in the chair until 12:00 to 12:15. He's being quite the trooper and everyone is impressed with his constitution.
Also, the surgeon said the flow in his liver is looking really good. They did an ultrasound this morning and are going to do another one later this afternoon.
Also, the surgeon said the flow in his liver is looking really good. They did an ultrasound this morning and are going to do another one later this afternoon.
Day One Post-Surgery
Mike is doing well this morning! The ventilator was taken out around 8:00 a.m. and he is breathing on his own. He is awake and responding to questions by nodding or shaking his head. The surgeon came by and said she is very happy with his numbers this morning and at 4:00 p.m. (24 hours post surgery) she will have a good idea about how she wants to proceed during the coming days. She had to take 55% of the liver during surgery (they were originally anticipating only taking 1/3), but she said people can live with only 20%.
Mike will probably be in ICU through the weekend. We will continue to post as we get more updates. We are feeling so relieved this morning that Mike had a good night and is doing well! Please continue to pray for him because the recovery is going to be long and difficult.
Mike will probably be in ICU through the weekend. We will continue to post as we get more updates. We are feeling so relieved this morning that Mike had a good night and is doing well! Please continue to pray for him because the recovery is going to be long and difficult.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A Bear of a Surgery
Many apologies for not updating sooner. IU has all social networking sites blocked, which we were unaware of before today.
Mike is in critical, but stable, condition. He is currently in the ICU at the IU Simon Cancer Center. The surgery began at 8:35 a.m. and lasted nearly 8 hours. The surgeon removed the tumor, but it was larger than expected, so she had to take out more of the liver than was originally planned.
The main issues right now are how much fuctionality he will get back and high blood pressure in the liver. The anatomy of his liver is unusual, so they are not sure what to expect in the next 24-48 hours. They are concerned that the high blood pressure in particular might cause more bleeding. The surgeon said the last few hours of the surgery were mainly dealing with the bleeding.
Mike is still sedated and on a ventilator, in case they have to take him back into surgery. They will not start trying to wake him up until tomorrow morning. The surgeon said he looks good for someone who just went through this surgery, and his vitals are steady, but it is still a waiting game at this point.
We would like to extend many heartfelt thanks to all of you for praying for him and our family. We definitely felt those prayers today and they have meant so much.
Mike is in critical, but stable, condition. He is currently in the ICU at the IU Simon Cancer Center. The surgery began at 8:35 a.m. and lasted nearly 8 hours. The surgeon removed the tumor, but it was larger than expected, so she had to take out more of the liver than was originally planned.
The main issues right now are how much fuctionality he will get back and high blood pressure in the liver. The anatomy of his liver is unusual, so they are not sure what to expect in the next 24-48 hours. They are concerned that the high blood pressure in particular might cause more bleeding. The surgeon said the last few hours of the surgery were mainly dealing with the bleeding.
Mike is still sedated and on a ventilator, in case they have to take him back into surgery. They will not start trying to wake him up until tomorrow morning. The surgeon said he looks good for someone who just went through this surgery, and his vitals are steady, but it is still a waiting game at this point.
We would like to extend many heartfelt thanks to all of you for praying for him and our family. We definitely felt those prayers today and they have meant so much.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Surgery Tomorrow
First and foremost, thanks to everyone who has left comments of encouragement here, or called Mike to wish him well, or remembered him in your prayers. It's very much appreciated and means a lot. The surgery is now less than 24 hours away and it's going to be a dangerous procedure, so prayers are needed more than ever now that we are in the home stretch. Thanks in advance for that. We'll try to keep the blog updated from the hospital tomorrow, too.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Surgery Details
Mike had his pre-op consult with the surgeon today. The surgery is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 17 at IU in downtown Indy. It is estimated to last 5 hours. The surgery would be considered dangerous under normal circumstances, but in Mike's case even more so because the enlarged spleen will make access to the tumor more difficult, and the tumor is located within a milimeter of a major vein. It will be difficult to get a clean margin and there's also a high probability for bleeding (but luckily, a transplant surgeon will be on hand in case they need to repair any veins).
Prayers would be much appreciated right now - that Mike remains optimistic and strong (he has been throughout this ordeal), that the surgery is safe, that the surgeon has steady hands and makes the right decisions during the operation, that the tumor is completely resected and Mike wakes up from surgery cancer-free, that the rest of us can be calm and non-anxious during the coming days and particularly the day of the surgery...
Thank you for caring about him!
Prayers would be much appreciated right now - that Mike remains optimistic and strong (he has been throughout this ordeal), that the surgery is safe, that the surgeon has steady hands and makes the right decisions during the operation, that the tumor is completely resected and Mike wakes up from surgery cancer-free, that the rest of us can be calm and non-anxious during the coming days and particularly the day of the surgery...
Thank you for caring about him!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Change of Plans...Again
Treatment plans have changed again. After taking the weekend to think about it and consult with colleagues, the surgeon has decided it is not in Mike's best interest to delay the surgery. He has a pre-op consult scheduled for next Wednesday (June 9) at 12:00, during which time the procedure will be discussed, all the paperwork will get sorted out, blood tests will be drawn, etc., and he'll be informed of the date of surgery. Mike said he is feeling very much like a yo yo at the moment. Please keep him in your thoughts as he and the doctors prepare for the next steps.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Treatment Plan
Mike met today with the oncologist. Chemotherapy will start next week. The start of radiation treatment is still TBD. The oncologist also wants Mike to meet with a gastro-specialist because she is not convinced that the enlarged spleen is entirely due to the liver cancer. The good news is Mike can still go on the family vacation in July!
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