Thanks for your patience and sorry to make you wait so long for information.  Our appointments took longer than we expected and we were starving afterwards, so lunch happened and then of course we had the 45 minute drive and the acrobatics of getting me back in the house on crutches.  

 

First, lymph node results were good but not perfect.  Neither C. R. nor I were entirely surprised by that because after much prayer, we both sensed that God wasn’t done using us through this yet.  We didn’t really know exactly what that meant, but we trusted him.  So, of the 8 sentinel lymph nodes that were removed, melanoma showed up in 1 % of one node.  Typically a node “fills up” with cancer before the cancer moves on to the next one, so my result is promising, though not perfect, like I mentioned.  What does this mean?  Well, we have a few choices to pray through.  One is to do quarterly scans and watch me closely.  Another is to remove the remaining groin lymph nodes, do quarterly scans and watch me closely.  A clinical study was just completed (literally published in June) comparing those 2 options. My doctor and his PA did a fantastic job of giving us the details and answering questions about that.  C. R. took fantastic notes and his brain remembers details way better than mine, so I won’t try to repeat the whole deal.  What we do know now is that I will be having an MRI, CT, Ultrasound on September 12 (we’ll discuss those results with Dr. Andtbacka on September 14) to get baseline scans.  That gives them something with which to compare all future scans.  At that point, we’ll have enough information to decide which of the two above options we think is best.  

 

Second, our visit with Dr. Kwok went well and I am happy to report that I am free of one hassle, my wound vac drain.  He was a little disappointed in the site; my ambitious skin appears to have “healed” the holes they put in the grafting skin during surgery to allow liquid to not collect underneath.  This kept the skin from adhering the way he would have wished.  Sadly, that means I am still on no weight bearing restrictions on that foot at least until I see him on Monday.  We could tell that he was so disappointed about that.  He sounded so apologetic and seemed like he wanted to be able to offer some explanation.  C. R., with his amazing insight, picked up on that and explained that we understand the body isn’t an exact science and sometimes things don’t go as planned.  I’m sure that encouraged Dr. Kwok, but I could tell he felt badly.  

 

Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers.  We feel so comforted knowing that you all are behind us in this.  Specifics below, but keep the prayers coming!

 

 

Praises:

• Feels strange to say it this way but I am thankful that my node results weren’t worse.  Walking around (well C. R. did all the walking and I got to ride in a wheelchair) Huntsman reminded me to thank God for all the ways He has taken care of us so far.  There are so many people there who look like they feel really awful and appear to have been battling for a long and difficult road.  My heart goes out to them and I don’t feel like I could ever complain about 1% of one lymph node.  :-)
• I asked initially that you would pray that the enemy would not steal our peace hope and joy and God has been so faithful answering that request!
• Continued excellent care at Huntsman.