And so it goes.

Although this is not really the news I wanted to post, it is still an answer to prayer and we are thankful.

I would have loved to say the surgeon called today and the new scan was totally clear. A miracle. Praise God.

But that is not the news.

Praise God anyway.

So, the surgeon's nurse did call today and David's surgery is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 8. So obviously the tumor is still there. Sad.

Now that the surgery is scheduled, the anesthesiologist will call to set up an appointment also. We hope it will be the day before the surgery to eliminate multiple trips. Some say it will, others say it could be up to a week before.

The surgeon is Dr. Jose Karam. We liked him. Really we haven't met anyone at MDA that we haven't liked.

Here's info about him. http://faculty.mdanderson.org/jose_karam/
(There is an active link at the bottom of this post, it wouldn't cooperate up here.)
Please pray for him.

There may also be a vascular surgeon involved because there is a clot in a vein that will have to be removed and the vein repaired. If the clot is near the tumor, Dr. K can fix it, but if it is further up the vein then he will use a specialist. This is why he wanted the new MRI. We don't know the specific results of the MRI and I don't think we will see the surgeon again until the 8th. So that will all just be a surprise. Yea. It is, whatever.

The surgery will most likely NOT be laproscopic. Too much involved. They will do some exploring for additional cancer and could remove lymph nodes or other glands.

So. A plan at last. Not where we would like to be, but we will be glad to move forward and put the surgery behind us. David will likely recover in the hospital 4-7 days and then come home. From what I can tell, it will be about 2 weeks before he might be able to return to work and 4-6 weeks before he will begin the next treatment.

And btw, an update on the other scans. The lab in San Marcos did send the scans in the correct format. They were a little grumpy to be accused of not. So we have no idea. Maybe it was just a bad disk. We have a new disk that we will personally deliver on our next trip. At this point I don't know if it matters.

My prayer requests would be something like: wisdom and skill for the medical team, no surprises of additional or extensive cancer, and quick recovery with no complications. I'll just add peace to accept God's perfect will, all in his perfect time.

And according to the Rolling Stones...
'You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.'

And according to another mother friend...
'You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit.'

And according to Jeremiah 29:11...
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

Thank you so much for the prayers, hugs, snacks, and etc. We appreciate it all!

Please keep those prayers coming!

http://faculty.mdanderson.org/jose_karam/