Face lift and tummy tuck coming up

Tuesday was a very good day.

I had my scan on Friday.  Usually we can go and get the results right away, usually within 3 hours but somehow there was a hangup.  They kept having problems.  So the days went by and still no results.  I was beginning to imagine things like, "Maybe it's bad news so they don't want to tell me."  Finally I just decided that I didn't care what they told me, I know what I believe that God has told me so that information trumps all doctors.

Finally we had a appointment with our doctor on Tuesday.  We went in and he said, "I'm sure you have already read your report."  We usually do.  This time we told him that we didn't know anything about it.  He smiled and started to read.  "No change in tumor size since February scan"  JoLynne and I went out in the hall and cried.  JoLynne said she felt like going dancing.  I couldn't think of anywhere to dance at 11:00 am.  Our daughter suggested the senior citizen center.  We didn't take her up on that.

No growth is great news.  Because I have a hard tissue tumor it won't shrink for a long time, even if it is dead.  The fact that it isn't growing is awesome.  The only time in the last three years that I have had the tumor growth stop for any length of time was when they hit me with that massive radiation that I am still suffering from.  That stopped it for a year.  Frankly in that area it is still stopped.  Everything there is stopped dead...literally.  Healthy tissue and cancer alike all dead.

So now the path is clear for reconstruction...Yeah.  In about a week and a half we leave for Miami.  April 17th will be the surgery.  We arrive a few days early to do preliminary work.  JoLynne has rented a house that will be very nice to recover in.  I will be a week in the hospital and then will need to remain in the area for a month in case there are complications.

I'm pretty excited to have a complete face again.  They will be using skin from my tummy, literally they are calling it a tummy tuck.  They asked me to gain weight and I have really tried.  It hasn't been easy.  A dear friend and neighbor clued me into some stuff that body builders use.  1900 calories per serving.  WooHoo...That has helped a little.  I am now eating about 4500 calories a day and my weight is inching up 1/2 a pound a week.

I have been so blessed.  I know that the prayers of so many have made a difference in my life.  Thank you.  I love and appreciate you.