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MrXangO
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Name: MrXangO
Interests: Being a decent father and husband. Politics, Music - singing it.
Expertise: Politics, state government relations, vocal music, worship leader, occassional speaker, occassional speechwriter - not necessarily the same occassions.
Occupation: Full time: Snr State Liaison,
Industry: Government Relations. Health
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
6/25/2006
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| We just got off the phone with the surgeon, who had just received the pathology report on the lymph nodes and all the "margin" tissue removed on Thursday. Drum roll....parumpumpumpum....................................................... ...........................ready?........................................ All tests showed negative for cancer! Woo hoo! This is absolutely incredible! Certainly not expected by any experts consulted thus far. We are obviously grateful for this news! Duh! We have yet to meet with the team at the Lombardi Cancer Institute at Georgetown University, and doc is recommending detailed body exam by dermatologist (probably at Georgetown, while we're at it with the other guys). But, with this news, Tom is about to put on the yellow "LiveStrong" bracelet worn frequently by cancer survivors. A gift from friend and melanoma survivor, Mike Roorbach, he has hesitated to wear it up to now. Not that we won't have things to face from here. For example, we fully expect the folks at Georgetown to recommend a treatment called interferon - a regimen of usually about a year in duration - that involves injections taken about 3 times a week. Word from friends who have had it indicate that it is very taxing on the body (makes you very tired for 12 hours or so after each injection), it's supposed to increase the body's immune system. Not sure if we will take that step. That remains to be seen. So, they would not count us as "cured" for a number of years yet (usually considered 5 years without more cancer), but, we can probably accurately say Tom is "cancer free"! We cannot express enough our gratitude to all of you for your love, prayers, support, and encouragement. We especially are grateful to God for his obvious intervention in what looked at first to be a completely different outcome. Lovingly, gratefully, - Tom and Mary Anne | | |
| Today, we hope to get the results of the tests on the lymph nodes removed from Tom's neck and face. We're believing the best, but still concerned, knowing that if they show involvement we'll have a much rougher road immediately ahead. We expect to speak to the surgeon today. Tom's face muscles are still providing a challenge to him. Mostly, his eye still doesn't blink, and he can only close it if he uses his finger or slowly closes both eyes. (He did sleep the last two nights without having to tape down his eye, which was nice.) It makes it a little hard for him to read and see, and his eye is frequently shedding tears down his cheek. He can only smile with half of his face, but we're seeing slow improvement and he's adjusting to the "eating disorder". He's resting a little better each night, though we have to prop something up on one side to make sure he doesn't roll over on his "favorite" side during the night. He has been able to work from home using an internet connection and the phone. But, he was disappointed to not be able to attend the intitial meeting of a special project he's been working on at the Defense Department. The meeting continues today. His colleagues "covered" for him yesterday and he received a very encouraging report that it is moving forward so far in very promising fashion. We have been very blessed with such an understanding and helpful boss, and colleagues. We continue to be encouraged and blessed by the prayers and support of so many. Your comments here and in emails, cards, flowers, letters, etc, are really unbelievable, and as Tom says, "quite humbling". Thank you. As soon as we hear about the lymph nodes, we'll post here. We would love to talk to each of you in person, but it is simply impossible to do so. Thank you for taking the time to check here so we can "talk" to all of you at once. - | | |
| Got home about 2:00p.m. today (Saturday). Area around incision had to drain sufficiently through a certain device and tube before the surgeon could release me. I wanted to get it out, but was dreading the actual removal. Nurses told me it would hurt. And they said that docs frequently ask them (the nurses) to remove them. Thankfully, in my case, the surgeon came in (on a Saturday afternoon mind you) and skillfully, and with as little pain as possible, removed it. Grateful cheers! My 24/7 nurse (the one I sleep with) is taking good care of me since arriving home. I was very proud of the younger children who pretty much fended on their own since Thursday morning, including cooking for themselves, as well as for Grandpa Hoerner who is visiting. (Great to have him here, by the way.) Still struggling to close my left eye, (most annoying), and having some trouble with my mouth. Need to drink out of a straw, and I "dribble" when I eat - soup in particular. So, you could say I have a drinking problem and an eating disorder. In addition to that, you could say that I'm currently drug dependent. What a mess, huh? Mary Anne says the "dig" is looking better as the days are passing. I can't see her perspective yet, but I believe her. She assures me it was pretty horrible right after. Been glad to hear from so many of you - blog comments, emails, snail mails, and in person. And even some cheering and beautiful flowers and plants as well. It is simply overwhelming, and ever-so humbling, with frequent amazement, smiles, and grateful tears. We can't thank you enough. | | |
| It's approaching 11:30 am, on the day after "the big dig." Around an hour ago, I dared to take my first look in the mirror. I wasn't as prepared to see it as I thought. It was pretty shocking, to say the least. All I could say was "Oh, my!" My face - the left side anyway - reminds me of a cartoon character or monster movie. Mary Anne says it looks better this morning than it did yesterday. I can't imagine how it must have been yesterday, based on what I see today. We are thankful to get the report that the paralysis that I am experiencing now - can't shut my eyelid (Mary Anne thinks I'm winking at her all the time, but I'm just blinking with only a one-eyed response), mouth is droopy, mild difficulty eating, is only TEMPORARY. Oh, how we thank God for that. Friends from church came up unexpectedly last night to read scripture and pray with me. I can only imagine what they were thinking when they saw me. Ick. The children, (the 5 at home his week) want to come up to see me, so Mary Anne has gone to get them. I hope they can handle what they see when they get here. Of course, we expect it to look better with time, so maybe this will help them to look on it favorably if they see it at it's worst right now. Received a phone message from Gary Ott, a good friend from Indiana, whom I last saw in Washington DC just after he had had MAJOR cancer surgery, much more severe then mine (though completely less visible then mine is). I remember how miserable he was. I'm not near that bad off. Gary is now cancer-free the last report I got (which is amazing if you know how bad it was and what he had to go through). Good to hear from him just in a message. Looks like I'll be in the hospital for one more day at least. We appreciate the love and support from so many. | | |
| Tom came through the surgery alright. It took longer than estimated-51/2 hours instead of 4. After recovery room, he got to his room around 4pm. He is moderately comfortable but struggling a little with nausea and vomiting when receiving pain medication, he doesn’t like that at all. Dr took out facial tissue about the diameter of a softball, plus the partial ear removal and internal things. However, the surgeon was able to pull the skin enough to compensate for the lost portion of the face. He hopes to come home tomorrow sometime but the Dr said it might be the next day. We will try to keep you updated. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. Mary Anne. | | |
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