The Latest...

Dr. Lambert finally came out to give us an update.  After all these hours she looked pretty exhausted, but still ready to finish the procedure.  I'm so grateful for being led to her, and I'm grateful for the dedication she has to this disease and this procedure.  I can't even imagine doing one thing for 12 to 15 hours, much less something where a life hangs in the balance.  I admire her so much! 

She ran through the whole procedure from start to finish and explained a lot.  There's a lot of great news coming out of this.  Dr. Lambert estimates that she was able to get about 98% of the tumors and mucous out.  She felt that she got enough tumor out that she still wanted to do the HIPEC in the hopes that it will kill the remaining cells in the mucous and small tumor she had to leave.  The big tumor down in his pelvis turned out to be softball size, and she was able to pull most of it out!  This is what we specifically prayed for...that the plane around the tumor that we saw on the scan would extend all the way around so it would separate with some ease.  I know it was a miracle that this tumor was relatively easy to remove.  She was also able to remove the mucous around his liver and the peritoneal lining behind it.  She removed his gall bladder, spleen, and the rest of his ommentum.   

The "less good" news is that she found a lot of sticky mucous all over his small bowel and stomach.  She was able to scrape it all off of his stomach and a good amount from his small bowel, but couldn't get it all.  She would have removed it all but his small bowel was covered in so much sticky mucous that she was afraid she would perforate it if she scraped too much.  Since she was leaving the mucous/possibly cancer cells on the small bowel, she decided to leave the tiny, stubborn bit of tumor on the rectum as well to avoid an illeostomy, another piece of good news.

The heated chemo has the possibility of killing any remaining cancer cells in the mucous and in the bit of tumor she had to leave.  We're praying that it will take care of the cancer cells, and that Nate's body can heal and take care of the rest.  I'm so grateful he was able to get the HIPEC.

Dr. Lambert also found that Nate's bowel was twisted where it was resected and repaired in his last surgery so she had to remove that portion and reconnect it. She was very surprised that he hadn't had a major complication from this. He did have a partial obstruction back in February at this site, but was able to get through it on his own which she was even more surprised about. Even more proof that he's one tough guy!

She did so much work around his liver and diaphragm that she's placing a chest tube on his right side to protect his lung.  He will remain sedated and intubated through the night in the ICU.  She said he did really well during the surgery, and that his blood pressure was great the whole time.  She started the surgery at 8:45 and finished at 10:45...for a grand total of 14 hours.

He did not have to have a blood transfusion like the scrub nurse said, but he did receive 14 liters of fluid during the procedure.  His kidneys worked perfectly through the procedure as well.  I'm so grateful that this day is almost over!  We're now in the ICU waiting room waiting for the nurses to get him settled so we can see him.

I have so much gratitude in my heart right now and hope all of you know that I sincerely appreciate all of the sweet texts, emails, and FBs you've sent.  I have an amazing support system!  I am so grateful for the faith which has been exercised on our behalf.  We have felt your prayers in our lives so often over the last 4 months.  I've had an amazing sense of peace and comfort today and I know that Nate and I have both been watched over today.  We have angels all around us, on both sides of the veil.  We are humbled and have so much gratitude. Love to all!