Thank You everyone for all your doing for people here. I'm almost too TOTALLY drained to tell you everything right now but I can't sleep so here's the best!!!The Dr. said...with confidence..."it was a good day" ...(Monday April 12th)...it was larger than anticipated but I got it ALL...If he's right people,(I'm guardedly "dazed" with optomisim but right now), we got our miracle! It was supose to be just the right side nodes when we went in a week ago for dissection, only to come out of surgery 45 minutes later and have Dr tell us the tongue was still possitive. 2/3 tongue base soft palate, tonsil and I don't know what all...are gone now.. flap doing well, red counts went from 33 to 25 AFTER surgery. Got blood. THANK YOU DONOR # *****
I'm concerned about that. He didn't lose much during surgery. Nothing could have truly prepared me for this last 3 days. This board came the closest. And Dee...YOU ANGEL! for hanging through it while he was in surgery only to have me "bail" leaving her in a cliff hanger because after surgery there was no computer access! He went to the TLC "Trama Life Center" (Like ICU)right after surgery and we are 2 hours away from my computer!I just came home tonight... terrified to leave him, but needed one day home. He made me go and I had to bring his elderly mother home. He's cleared to go to the regular floor but they don't have a bed yet so he "gets" the extra attention yet tonight! Throught all the terror, he's so beautiful and so strong... I can't help but marvel at work they did. I can't wait to hear his voice again. Dr said swallowing will be our BIG issue. Voice and speech should come back fine. Amazing...ALL nerves working. He even shrugged his shoulders! And Flexed his fist! I expect there will be some set backs we've had a few already, but for now I have to thank GOD and all the prayers for getting us this far. I'm still terribley depressed, and I know he is, that he has to go through this...no one should ever... but we have to celebrate this time. Sorry for rambling but I needed to vent and wish each of you happy, healthy days, one day at a time!
Karen

Karen ,forgot to mention Frank got transfusion too. I freaked, but doc told me no big deal......like I said, you`ll learn to go with the flow.......I thought of the whole thing as a road with big boulders we had to get around.........I explained this to my shrink, who was as he said keeping me in the middle of the road..........Love and Hugs, Dee

Karen,

I am glad to hear the news about Don and you (and his mother)! I think the post I read a while back about sedating the people in the waiting room makes a lot of sense. I had to sit through two 8 hour surgeries with my mother and both times they got over 40 lbs of tumors (in a 95 lb woman). The first time they said they got it all and the second time they gave her 4 weeks to live, almost exactly a year apart. Even though it was in 1999 and 2000, it still feels like yesterday every time I hear stories of people in the surgery waiting room.

Situational depression is something everyone in life experiences and with the cancer life, I am not sure it ever goes away as much as becomes manageable.

You are a strong woman and Don is truly blessed to have you in his life. During times like this, God promises us rewards for taking care of our loved ones unconditionally. May He continue to bless you, give you comfort and peace and watch over you and Don!

Ed

Hi, Best news is Good day and Got it ALL. They told me that and it was true! They took my blood before surgery, then put it back when they needed it. I guess recycleing at its best there. Good Luck , each day will get better.

Karen, glad to hear everything went well. The waiting that happens in this type of situation is definately the toughest part. Now for the recovery, one day at a time, it gets better and better.

Bob