Mimi Status Update

Friends, it's been a long day. Mom's surgery lasted seven hours, much longer than the predicted two-hour procedure we were expecting. When the surgeon finally came out to talk to us, she informed us that Mom's ovaries were not as enlarged as she expected and she was thinking that instead of ovarian cancer, this might be peritoneal cancer (if you click those words, it will take you to a good link that explains what that is).  Lab results are in the works which will confirm or deny her hunch.

The doctor also told us that the cancer was on the surface of pretty much every organ in the abdominal region, which is why the surgery took so long.  They removed all the cancerous cells from the surfaces of the tissues and organs and also removed the ovaries, the omentum, and two significant pieces of colon.  The surgeon had to call in a colon surgeon to help with that part and to make sure that the remaining parts of colon could be fit back together to function properly.  So this was a much more extensive procedure than we were all expecting.

Mom will be in ICU for several days before being moved to a regular recovery room.  She is currently stable, conscious, and breathing on her own.  We've even gotten a few humorous anecdotes from her in the few hours since she regained consciousness.

We were all extremely saddened to hear the news of how grim the situation was.  There was much hugging, praying, and crying.  But I must tell you all, and my sister and aunt both agree, that there has never yet been a moment when we have not felt completely at peace knowing that the situation is in God's hands.  He has been so good to bless us with an overwhelming sense of comfort and peace through the past few days and hours.  And we feel so loved by the encouragement and prayers of our loved ones.  It is wonderful to know, that when we grow weary of praying, there is an army out there praying on our behalf.

Please continue to pray for:

• The fused parts of colon to take and heal properly
• The abdominal organs to begin to function properly
• The cancer to be all removed
• Her spiritual, emotional, and physical healing (she still doesn't know of this difficult turn of events)

Over the next few days my family will be taking turns staying with Mom.  I'm on the home shift right now and I'm going to go to sleep after a long and trying day...sleeping in the comfort and strength of the arms of The Beloved.