Just coming out of surgery now

Christine is just finishing up.  in OR for another 20 minutes and then into recovery for about one hour.  I just talked to the Doc.  Lots of details ... but there is about a 2 inch tumor and the “frozen” section they did indicates colon cancer.  He wouldn’t say 100% until they get pathology ... but he is almost certain. The ureter is also damaged.  He is not sure what that means long term, but he got the stint in so that should relieve the kidney pressure for now.  Once they determine for sure it is cancer, then the objective will be to shrink / eliminate the tumor (Chemo)- and then figure out what to do about the ureter.  I will updated later this afternoon.  Thanks for the prayers!

----

The doc was thankful she is thin and in such great shape.  It was easy to find everything.  He did have to move the bladder, so she likely will have some pain.  The anesthesiologist is putting in a pain block which will hopefully help.  She will definitely be in the hospital overnight ... maybe released tomorrow.

----

So how am I (so many of you ask :-).  I can stay in a "box" pretty well.  As my step dad trained me "big boys don't cry".  That isn't necessarily a good thing ... but as we get the details, I try to deal with it as positively as possible.  God is in control.  It is hard to think of the suffering C will have to go through - and frankly I can't bear the thought of not living life with her ... but I digress.  big boys don't cry.

And yet it is so hard to watch her be in pain.  It was hard to talk to the doctor - to remember all the details and not get emotional.  We are blessed by the doctor ... he at first refused to take Christine, but his colleagues convinced him.  He is a good man and great surgeon.

Thanks for checking in - and praying!

This scripture is getting me through right now.  Romans 8

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.