The Plan

Things are happening very quickly.  I’m eager to get rid of this thing and the whole team is ready too.  Everyone at my job is going above and beyond in facilitating time off and schedule shuffling.  Once again, our community has reached out and helped us with babysitting and advice and support and love.  Thanks everyone!

I met with my surgeon on Monday.  He said of the tumor: “Couldn’t be in a better place”.  I had my blood drawn and an EKG (How do you spell ‘cardio’?) and I’m scheduled for my second liver resection this Friday morning.
I’ll get a new abdominal scar on the right side, just below the ribs.  My liver will get a new hole.  I’ll spend the weekend in the hospital and then come home on Monday.

I’ll meet with my oncologist next week.  I’m not looking forward to chemo but I’ll do whatever it takes.  The first time was simpler because there is an algorithm.  Just follow the map and get to the goal.  The second time, there’s no definitive algorithm and so choosing the right course is trickier.  The goal is still a complete cure, but the map isn’t a straight line. 

Speaking of cures, that was a tough conversation to have with my oldest daughter.  She’s brilliant and mature enough to ask brutal questions.
We talked about how everyone dies from something. We talked about how my odds aren’t great, but the doctors are doing all they can.  We talked about curative versus palliative.  I wanted to hug her and tell her that everything is going to be alright, but that’s not something I can promise.

I need a new schtick because this cancer thing has gotten old.  Maybe I’ll run for office. ðŸĪŠ  Something local so I can give back to the community that has supported me (twice). 

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 26, 2019 at 1:07 PM

    Glad you are home and hopefully on the mend. I agree a new schtick would be ideal. It is incredible how a complicated situation gets so much more complicated with kids. It certainly helps give us a different perspective to the situation when explaining to a child. I cannot even imagine how difficult that conversation was, but all your daughters are sooooo lucky to have such insightful, amazing parents who will be honest and teach her even the hardest of lessons to learn. Let's hope that the cure thing works out and you ALL can look back on this as a distant memory. Either way, you have set your girls up for success, Chris. You can hug her, everything will be alright. It may not be the scenario we are all hoping for (desperately), but your girls absolutely are going to be ok. You and Melissa will make sure of it. I know this deep in my heart.

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