Hi all,

Sorry it took a while to get back online. I'm doing fabulous.

My surgery was very successful...they removed over 1/2 of my tongue and all of my lymph nodes. 1 lymph node was chock full of cancer, and 2 others showed a few positive cells. Other than that nothing else was cancerous. They took 2 hours extra to make everything look just right, and it paid off. My new tongue is beautiful, and there will hardly be any scars on my face or neck. I really have to hand it to my doctors...they were awesome!!

My arm was the donor site for the tongue, and I'm getting more and more use back in it each day. I can type normally now, and that's why I am back online. I was told today the arm skin graft took 100% so it will be fine. My leg looks awesome and doesn't bother me one bit.

I'm healing very fast...they only kept me in the hospital 9 days, and every time the docs see me they can't believe the progress. My trach was taken out before I came home, and I'm talking better now than before the surgery. I also can drink fine and am able to eat a little.

My biggest fear right now is going back to radiation. I start chemo and rad again in mid-August, and am worried about side effects. I am doing so well now and just don't want to go backwards due to the treatments.

Thanks for all of the good thoughts and prayers from everyone...they really helped me alot.

I'll keep everyone updated on my progress.