After gathering more info and meeting with 2 surgeons and the oncologist we have decided to go through with the surgery. It has been scheduled for Fri., Nov. 4th. Best case scenario Jeff will be at the U of U for a max of 3 days in ICU and then transferred over to Huntsman Cancer for an additional 4 days max before coming home. He cannot leave ICU until his liver demonstrates an ability to process toxins and maintain its own potassium and magnesium levels. He can come home when all body functions have volitionally returned and his pain is controlled well enough with or without medication. Some patients come home in 5 days but the norm is 7 days.
We had hoped to do the surgery in late October but it was not communicated to us (ahhhh, the joys of dealing with a large teaching hospital) that he should skip the Avastin in his last chemo so we have to wait 6 weeks from the last infusion to minimize his bleeding risk during the surgery. Chemo will resume hopefully 6 weeks max after surgery (ideally 4 weeks) at a smaller dose of the same cocktail. Our fear of Jeff's body "rejecting" his current treatment cocktail because of the surgery is unfounded as it will lose it's effectiveness when it is time regardless of surgery.
Jeff went hunting with Rusty and came home empty-handed as usual but had a great time with no real differences in abilities compared to previous years. Maybe next year.... We were able to go camping with Cary's last weekend at Strawberry Reservior and do absolutely nothing (cross that off the bucket list). The kids caught crawdads which we had as an appetizer with dinner. The weather was gorgeous--got pinked up one more time before winter. Next up deep cleaning the trailer, and getting the house/yard and Jeff's jobs ready for winter. After that our trip to Las Vegas with Eric and Michelle. Since we have an extra weekend before surgery now we are pondering a trip to Moab over UEA with Paige's best friend Kaylee (she went with us last year camping and has been asking ever since to go on another vacation with us).
We both are much more relaxed now that a final decision has been made. Now it's just getting everything coordinated for the week Jeff is in the hospital to make sure Jeff has someone with him when he needs it, Paige gets to/from school and gets homework done, and we all have clean underwear. I have been making and freezing stuff as grocery shopping will NOT be on the priority list once Jeff comes home. Having and making plans A and B is time-consuming but hopefully will reduce stress when the time comes.
Sorry the posts are so far apart but 10 posts with half-bits of info is not particularly helpful to anyone vs. one complete post. I doubt we will have much time to post about until just before surgery but please stay tuned. We will definitely be updating frequently once we go to the hospital. Thanks again for all your thoughts; keep 'em up!
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