Surgery Tomorrow

Well tomorrow is the big day!

Yea.

Here's how today went:

The first appointment was at 11:15 with the vascular surgeon. The clot is very near the tumor but something about the left kidney makes it more difficult to tell its position, so that's why Dr. K went ahead with the vein specialist to assist. Her name is Dr. Huynh. Pronounced 'win'. Dr. H.

Then we met with some of the clinical trial people. It is a random computer draw to determine who will receive the trial vaccine. 2/3 do, 1/3 does not. So better odds than 50/50.

Also to be in the study, it has to be the most common type of kidney cancer, which is Clear Cell. And pathology will take 8-10 days before we know that. So no need to go in depth on the study until we know. But please pray it is Clear Cell and he gets in the 2/3 vaccine group anyway!

In the meantime, we find out surgery will not be until 1:30 ish. So we had some lunch.

Next, the anesthesiologist. Except not. First David gets to have a surprise EKG. Which is no big deal but he didn't know he was going to do that. So kind of freaked him out.

Then we met with a nurse in the anesthesiology department. Not the anesthesiologist.  She asked all those same old questions and sent us to the lab for a blood draw. For whatever. I don't know.

We have to be there at 11 tomorrow. Surgery about 2 hours later. The surgery will take 3-4 hours.

So here's how it is at MDA. This is all they do all day. Cancer. And there are hundreds or maybe thousands of people here. You can not believe how many. This is no big deal for them. One nice lady nurse type said we seemed 'down'. Really? Well zippity do da. How exactly are we supposed to seem. This is all normal for them. But this is not our normal. Except now it is. Our new normal.

We know we are not alone. In many ways.
We are not the only ones to ever have cancer. There are too many others.
And all of you who pray for us are with us also. Thank you for being there.
And God. And whatever His secret plan for this is. He is with us.

Here's what I'm praying for:
1. Wisdom and expertise for all the medical people involved tomorrow.
2. Peace for David.
3. Clear Cell.
4. Vaccine group.
5. No major spread of the cancer.
6. Speedy recovery. 5-6 weeks is what they say. I'd like faster :)

Thank you for all the snacks and books and gift cards and traveling funds that so many of you have provided. It has made much of this whole thing easier.

Thank you for praying and loving us!

I'll update after the surgery.