Thank you all for being here for me and putting up with my views,opinions,etc. So far surgery is still set in stone for thursday, I go in for my blood tests again on wednsday and to get a pep talk from the Doc at my request. I have never really had a major surgery before, actually never. I am really anxious and nervous all at the same time, just the idea of what they are going to do to me. I have been trying to maintain my weight at 215 hoping to avoid any kind of feeding tube, had nightmares about it.

I could really use some inspiration and a good rally pep talk from you guys to get me pumped for the big day! It has been a rough ride just to this point and I know it will possibly get worse. I will be at a kind of uncomfortable hospital since it is a GH county hospital. But the surgeons are from MD Anderson which makes me feel a bit better. Any input,advice would be awesome, Thank you all for being so amazingly radical!!!! Love yall!

Nate

Just remember that we are all here thinking about you and praying for successful surgery and a speedy recovery. I don't know if there is anything that we can say that will really help, except what you are feeling is normal, we were all there, and you will soon like us be on the other side, counting the days since surgery.

Nate, I think about you so often and am grateful that you are on schedule for your surgery. I believe you will be surprised to find that recovery from the surgery, while painful/uncomfortable, is not as bad as the hellish pain you are experiencing in your tongue now. (Based on my aunt's experience).

Hopefully you will be in and outta there in a week or so and back with us sharing your experience. Will surely keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

BIG OLE BEAR HUG

D.

Hy Nate!! So glad to hear everything is going as planned!!! Woohoo!! In a few days u my friend will most likely be cancer free!!! Yes you will have pain for a few days but according to my sister it wasn't so bad. I don't know if she just says that to still prove to me that she is the older one and nothing fazes her or if that's the truth. None the less she healed very quickly from surgery and I am sure those good drugs helped. =). Please keep us posted. I'll be praying. Just remind your family that most people heal quickly from this it is amazing. They might be shocked walking in to see you after surgery. BEST!!

Thank you so much for being in my corner and gracing me with your prayers. I feel really strong these last couple of days and am just so ready to get to war with this monster. Most of all I have you guys,and my family in my corner, I am ready to be on the other side and ready to help lead the movement. I already have a few friends in bands that have started a F@!$ Cancer campaign and are helping raise money to help. I always was told I was a good friend for advice or because I had the strangest wisdom,lol. But over the weekend I heard the most inspiring quote I have heard in a very long time, and I want you my friends to think of it and pass it on when my name comes up.


Tough times do not last...Tough people do

Nathan

Love it Nate! Totally using that quote. I have made a friend here who is having surgery Wed. Will be sending lots of healing prayers out into the universe for both of you. My father in law is a Texan and he's a very tough and resiliant man You hang in there and be positive. I know you are going to do well.

I bet you will meet some angel nurses in that hospital who will take very good care of you. Don't worry about that at all. A lot of people who going into the healthcare field prefer more challenging places like the hospital that you will be in than the top of the line hospital.

Take care and be strong.

KATE

Great quote!!

Good Luck with your surgery! Just remember that the pain meds are there for you to use! Ask for them at the first sign of pain and you'll be better off.
The first couple of days were the worst for me, but the pain meds helped and I kept up with them.

Hi Nate

you are only 27 and young people do so much better in surgery and recovery than us "old farts". You seem to manage pain better and you just get better faster.

At age 30, I had my gall bladder removed on a Friday, discharged myself on Saturday and was back at work on Monday. Admittedly this was probably a little toooo soon since my dress didn't fit properly and I had to get my neighbour to buckle my shoes because of swollen tummy ... but my point is that whilst you might not be back at work next week, you will bounce back fast. By the way, I am not suggesting that my piddly little gall bladder op is anything like your oral surgery which will(temporarily) get in the way of really fun stuff such as eating, swallowing and talking.

My Alex says the waiting and not knowing is worse than the treatment so hopefully a lot of the fear and stress you are carrying now, will fall away after the operation when you realise it is not nearly as bad as your imagination.

In the words of Eowyn, daughter of the King of Rohan "courage Merry, courage".

Apologies if you are not a fan of Lord of the Rings, but I adore the stories and manage to find inspiration or an apt quote (or so I think) for every situation and try and convert everyone else in the process .

good luck

Karen

Nate,
I did the modified bi-lateral neck disection on Oct 31 '08...went in wearing Frankenstien neck lugs :), came out with 75 staples, half a face lift and a seven hour nap. The first couple of days were a little rough, just because of what the old bod was put thru. It really went "OK" I was back at work within a week and most all of the soreness was gone by the end of the third week.
Now, unless I show you or you know what to look for, you can't tell what happened.
Hang in there...do what the Dr's tell you, keep it clean and stay away from sick people.

Good luck,

Nate - thoughts with you. Surgery's a snap - you'll be sound asleep! And you'll get through the after stuff too, sounds as if you have great docs and, just as importantly, a great attitude.

We're all on your side.

Courage!
David 2