Now that I’m 5 days post-surgery, I thought I’d share an update on how my recovery is going. First, thanks to all of you who faithfully prayed for me. It was with no small amount of trepidation that I went into last Friday, but God graciously let me sleep peacefully the night before instead of bailing out and running away to Mexico.
I was first on deck for the surgery – a robotic assisted radical prostatectomy – Friday morning. I really don’t remember much about that. Laree reported that Dr. Nix said the procedure went well and he was pleased with the vesicourethral anastomosis (ah… the things you learn to say), and that I’d be able to remove the dreaded catheter in 5 days (i.e. today). Just so you know, surgery day is considered day 0, so I guess that means I get a ‘bonus day’ with the dang thing still in me. The first couple were a slurry of pain meds, excessive drinking (mostly water cocktails with a few Powerade chasers), walking laps around my bedroom, and sleeping. I clocked a 102.7° fever for a few hours on Saturday which had us a bit on edge, but it eventually came down with some breathing exercises and Tylenol and gradually dissipated over the next couple of days.
Laree dubbed today Freedom Day for me, and once again the Lord showed his grace in that my body now seems to be in functional working order all on its own, just not necessarily with me in charge. That means that the frankenreconstruction is holding together and I’m probably not going to die of sepsis, much to my shock and delight. Can you imagine what it’s like being an Enneagram 4 with cancer?
I’m told I’ll get the pathology report back 10-14 days from surgery, but as I was categorized Stage 2B, the likelihood is that all of the abnormal cells were fully contained in the now removed prostate gland. I’m continuing to give thanks that the redemptive work of the creation mandate includes things like excellent doctors and their robots. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to report ‘cancer free.’
And to everyone who contributed to meals for us, thank you so much for that blessing to us! Grace & peace & good night.
Ed