Some Good News!!!

Hey, All! We had some good news Monday evening. My urologist, Dr. Garbeff, called with the pathology of the kidney and mass. First of all, it was indeed kidney cancer, and secondly, the cancer was completely encapsulated in the tumor that was removed, with no evidence in the lymph nodes he had removed with it. So, THANK YOU, JESUS! We meet with Dr. Garbeff on Friday at 11:30, and he’ll share more details then. Matt wants to know how big the tumor was and how much it weighed, and if there are any pictures. Hmm…I’m not sure I want to see them!

Many of you have also been asking about the cough I had for months, and if I still have it or not. When the anesthesiologist came to visit me the day before surgery, for some reason I had the thought to let him know about the cough. He asked many questions, and then let me know that he wanted to treat it as asthma. So over the course of the next twelve hours before surgery, I had four deep breathing treatments with albuterol, a steroid that helps open the bronchial passages, along with another steroid to open my lungs. It worked! The only coughing I’ve done since is what goes with clearing your lungs after surgery. I came home with an inhaler, which I’ve used two or three times, but have had no other problems.

Each day is a little better than the one before. I have to remind myself to rest, and my body is still figuring out how it feels as far as my left side. I can somewhat lay on my side when sleeping, which is a nice alternative to my back, but I still get some pains in the back, so am having to take it carefully. Again, thank you for your continued prayers. During those moments when I get a little down or overwhelmed, I remember all of you who are praying for me, and it truly does lift me and take me through those moments.

Danene, October 8, 2008