More Progress, and Some Results

Today Mom continued to make progress with her post-surgery recovery and is feeling better. Her walks were longer and quicker moving. She is also very glad for ice chips! Diet is still restricted to popsicles. They’re working on returning her body to normal basic functioning. She’s also becoming much more independent, getting in and out of bed like a pro. It still hurts to laugh, though, which was tough to avoid today with all the joking around!

We also did receive some (but not all) of the pathology reports this afternoon. Dr. Malviya explained the information he had so far, and also made some recommendations for next steps. He is still waiting for some cytology reports to be released. Karen DeBenedet (parish nurse) was able to be present for this. It was helpful for Karen to be there, as she was able to ask specific questions and explain things in common terms to my parents and to me.

The cancer type is papillary serous adenocarcinoma. It is a complex type of cancer that can look well-differentiated, yet doesn’t behave that way. The up-side is that the cancer likely has not spread much, if any, based on the reports we have so far. The doctor is waiting to receive the remaining results before determining the stage of the cancer. Regardless of those results, he is recommending chemotherapy to treat any lingering cancer cells if they exist.

Her spirits were further lifted by a visit from family friend Marsha Woolley, who is a pastor in Livonia. Marsha had offered prayer before Mom’s surgery on Monday. She also stayed most of that day with Dad along with several other family members and friends. Her prayers in the hospital have been joined by the visits and prayers of sister Bonnie, brother Allan, friends Tom and Sherry Hartley, friend and District Superintendent Tom Macaulay, and cousin Judi Fidh.

She asks her family and friends to STAY HEALTHY. That means all of us need to eat nutritiously and get good rest. The prospect of her getting sick would interrupt her schedule, which might reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Overall the results of today were encouraging to Mom and to the rest of us. And although we know there is work to be done, the goal is a cure.