All –
Here is our latest news: We met with surgeons at Duke on Tuesday of this week. The primary surgeon, David Harpole, believes I will benefit from surgery to remove my left lung and some surrounding tissue. We are thrilled that God has seen fit to grant us this opportunity!
Doctor Harpole is one of about 3 surgeons nationwide who do this type of extensive surgery regularly. He averages about 20 per year and trained with the doctor who developed the procedure. He is in his words “the surgeon of last resort” in the southeast US. His interpretation of my tests is that my left lung is not functioning very well at all, and is not oxygenating the blood flow as it should. Essentially a “dead” lung that is working at about 5% capacity. If he can go in and cut the blood supply to that lung and remove it, my remaining lung function will be more efficient. And the remaining cancer in the left lung will be removed. Those are his plans for Feb 10. We will do pre-op work on Feb 9.
The chemo drugs I am currently taking are good, and could continue to work indefinitely, but I have really exhausted most of my chemo options. This surgery is my best chance for the long term, a curative approach.
Doctor Harpole went through the possible complications with us and I am including them below, among the things that we ask you to cover in prayer for us, please.
1. There is a chance that the scarring done to my lung and other tissue from the chemo and radiation could be too extensive to remove. If that is what he finds when he begins the surgery he will not proceed with the removal.
2. The risk of blood clots is great with this surgery and given my circumstances.
3. The risk of infection is always a threat with any surgery and especially one this extensive.
4. Please pray also for my family; my sweet little boy who doesn’t want his Mom to have her lung removed, my dear husband who just WOULD NOT GIVE UP until he found a better option for me, and my awesome Mother who works tirelessly to hold us all together.
5. That God will close the doors that lead down the wrong path.
We have been praying #5 for awhile now and on Tuesday am before the appointment at Duke I was praying that God would not only close the wrong doors but would PUSH us through the right ones. We believe He has done that and it is with much rejoicing and thanksgiving that we approach this surgery. Dr. Harpole is a Christian and we told him about you, our prayer warriors. He welcomes that intervention.
Yes, I am scared. But I know I am not alone and it is thrilling to see how God is working on our behalf. Thank you for your part in that too.
In the meantime, I was instructed to “get fat” before the 10th so I am working hard on that. Andrew celebrates his 11th birthday (Oh. My. Goodness.) on Feb 4th and we will be celebrating the “goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13) as we go forward. Once again, we covet your prayers and we thank you dearly for them.
“…Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, will be with you.” I Chronicles 28:20
Kay and family
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