Now and Then

What a contrast this visit has been for us from our first trip to Worcester in June/July of 2012. In many ways it was exactly the same, and in many ways it was totally different. As I've pondered why this trip has had such a different 'feel' to it, I realize that it stems from how the similarities and the differences stacked up against each other this time around. I'm about to explain all of that, so if you're in a hurry you might want to skip down to the last paragraph for my update on Nate!

Same, and different...
For starters, last time I was the one who got the lobster! Nate got smart this time around, and thoroughly enjoyed his meal! 

2014
Nate enjoyed his first whole lobster, and
really rocked the bib!

2012
Feeling a little spoiled for such a treat!

Different...
Last trip we had a weekend in between pre-op and HIPEC, so we got to tour around Boston and Vermont.

2012
This time we didn't get to
visit Mike's Pastries...

...or get sick on Mike's Pastries.

2012 
Freedom Trail

2014
This time we only had time to explore from the car

Same...
We were fortunate enough to snag a room at the ACS Hope Lodge of Worcester. So grateful for this amazing service!

2012

Different...

Summer/Fall
shave/no shave
a little skinny/good, healthy weight

2014

Different...
We were lucky to get the "family bedroom" this time so Genn and Nancy could stay with us. There's two twins and a queen bed in this one with a lot more space to move around! Made a BIG difference!

2012

2014

Same...

HIPEC Procedure

2014

2012

            
          Different...
              bangs/no bangs haha
              cute hat/no cute hat



Same...
Surgical Waiting Room

2014

2012

2014

Different...
14 hour surgery in 2012 vs. 17 hour 42 minute surgery in 2014

2014

Same...

2014

Fat Hand Syndrome

2012

Although, last time Nate was given 23 liters of fluid, this time only 8. Not so fat in 2014!

Same...

Great company from Genn (my sister) and Nancy (Nate's mom). Not sure how I would've survived these trips without these two angels. So grateful!

2014
Yes he's a little drugged...talking to the kids

2012

2014

Same...

ICU stay then to Oncology Floor

Different...

2012 FOUR surgeries/TWO ICU stays/GAZILLION Oncology stays in 6 different rooms, 27 day hospital stay

2014 ONE surgery/ ONE ICU stay/ONE Oncology stay in 2 different rooms, 9 day hospital stay

2012 ICU

2014 ICU

2014 Oncology

Same...

Pesky new friends.

2012

2014

Same...
Dreaded NG Tube

2014
hates it now

2012
hated it then...

Different...

Sleeping arrangement for Nat

2012
Had a hard time leaving Nate in the hospital...
my own kind of therapy

2014
actually slept at the
Hope Lodge...every night!

Different...

TWO ambulance rides in 2012

NO ambulance rides in 2014

2012 Wheels

2014 Wheels

Same...

Determined Nate! He is AMAZING!

2014

2012

Different...

Notice any difference? In 2012, I had a constant view of the old State Insane Asylum (building on right with clock tower), and the current State Mental Hospital (red brick on left). I was pretty sure I'd end up there before the end of that visit! One of the first things I noticed when we got to the hospital is that the old Asylum is being torn down! Hopefully they aren't expanding the current hospital?!

2012

2014

Same...

Happy, hopeful, optimistic, friendly, positive, mind-over-matter, strong, generous, cheerful Nate! Still a crowd favorite among the nurses and OR staff.

2012

2014

Did I mention that he's always very patient and cooperative with my photos?

Different...
THREE hospital discharges/ONE hospital discharge

2012

2012

2012

2012

2014

2014

Same...
Nate recovered at the Hope Lodge in his favorite spot in the basement family room.

2012

2014

Same...

We miss our cute kids!

2012 our perfect children

2014our "perfect" children

2014did I mention they're perfect?

Different...

In 2012 we relied on Skype to talk to the kids...blek

In 2014 we got to FaceTime which was so much better!

2014

Different...

This time Nate had a whole team of surgeons. Dr. Movahedi and Dr. Maykel assisted Dr. Lambert for a "better than expected result". 

Dr. Movahedi, Liver Transplant Surgeon
Missed out on a picture with Dr. Maykel

Same...

Appendix Cancer and HIPEC procedure

Different...

2012 Dr. Lambert couldn't remove all the tumors and was disappointed about the outcome of the procedure

2014 Dr. Lambert and her team were able to remove all visible tumor and agreed that Nate had the best possible outcome

Same...

Surgeon...The Amazing Dr. Laura Lambert!

2014

2012

We truly love this woman. Not only because she has literally saved Nate's life, but because she's such a kind and compassionate woman, full of faith and charity. She's dedicated herself to being an amazing surgeon, and to helping people with this rare cancer. We owe her so much! We're grateful for the professional relationship we have, but also for her friendship. 

Different...

2012 43 days away from home

2014 17 days away from home.....

That's right! We are coming home! We were blessed to squeeze onto a flight leaving Boston at 7:15 tomorrow morning! Just ahead of the first nor' easter snow storm expected to dump 6 to 12 inches of snow on the busiest travel day of the year! We land in Salt Lake City at 2:15. We are so grateful that this is working out, and we cannot doubt that we've had heavenly help from the beginning. Heavenly Father is so aware of his children! 

Same...

HOPE! Gratitude! LOVE! Determination! STRENGTH!

Finally, an update on Nate. As you know, Nate is amazing. He's been blessed with a strong, resilient body. He's had a very quick recovery after this surgery, and continues to improve. After he was discharged, we've been trying to lay low. We rented movies, watched way too much TV, and took naps. On Sunday Nate felt well enough to go to church for two hours! Dr. Lambert gave her stamp of approval, and we even got to sit with her! 

We were at a stoplight! I swear!

We had an appointment with Dr. Movahedi yesterday. He was very pleased with Nate's recovery and since his surgical drain is draining such a small amount, he agreed to let Nate go home with the drain in place. He let Dr. Lambert know what he thought, and she called me last night to tell us that she agreed with his assessment, and that she would get in touch with our doctors in Salt Lake to make sure our surgeon there can follow Nate and the drain when we return. We immediately got on the phone with Delta, where we spoke to what I'm pretty sure was an angel, and we quickly had our flight arranged, complete with a wheelchair at every gate! She even waived our change fee! 

We had our post-op appointment with Dr. Lambert this morning. She removed Nate's staples (all 69 of them), went over a few details about recovery, and gave him a 'once over' before giving us the green light to go home! We're so excited! We didn't come into this trip with the same expectations we had before. It's not that we weren't hopeful, but the reality of cancer tends to settle on a person, and the more you fight the more tired you get. Dr. Lambert wasn't very hopeful that she'd be able to remove all the visible tumor which made the HIPEC a distant hope, and we came into this just feeling grateful that she'd be able to take what she could and hopefully add more "healthy" time to Nate's life. 

The good news started coming the day of surgery, and it really never stopped (knock, knock, knock on wood). We're amazed, humbled, and thankful beyond words. We've been so blessed, and acknowledge God's hand in our lives. He tests us and He tries us, but above all He loves us. 

We're so excited to spend Thanksgiving Day with our family! We hope you all have a wonderful holiday! Thanks again for sticking with us and cheering us on! Love to all!  

We broke the good news today while
FaceTiming with the kids after school...
SO HAPPY!!!