Busy Day

Started early today with a trip to Fox Chase for an ultrasound of my kidney which looked great. Then Resident MD took out my 30 or so staples, four days early - ouchie but hooray! And then took out my surgical drain - triple capital OUCH :-( but at least it's gone now :-)

Then, saw Dr Uzzo, who could not be more pleased with the results of the surgery. He called it a "home run". I call it God's care for me! The tumor was removed completely with clear margins and I have had an uncomplicated recovery so far. My kidney function took only a 1-2 day hit, (creatinine levels rose but not as high as expected) and dropped to nearly pre-op normal before I even left the hospital five days later, when they could have kept rising for up to five days! I lost only 10% of my kidney and lost little or no kidney function. The results are absolutely as great as could be expected - even better!

My oncologist, Dr Haas, will decide scan recommendations - this episode would call for scans in 6 months - since the tumor was small, less aggressive, and completely removed. But since we are still watching the lung spots and for mets from the 2007 tumor, next scans may be sooner.

So, time for me to rest and heal now, (I hit the nap chair asap after we got home today) and look forward to a cancer free spring and summer... and maybe a cancer-free future!?!?

Thank you all so much for all your love and concern and help and prayers. It means so much to me, has carried me through these last few whirlwind weeks, and will, during the rest of the recovery yet ahead.

Thankful most of all to God, who has upheld me through yet another storm of life, and knowing that whether this surgery had been a success or not, He would have been there beside me. So grateful though, for the grace and healing He has given so far.

Love
Karen

Home Sweet Home

Arrived home Sunday afternoon, happy as a clam to be here. Son #1 correctly pointed out that my kidney cancer did not join me at the dining room table this time, as it had been (it was an unwelcome guest anyway). Praising GOD for that!!

Unpacked, set up my resting spots a bit too energetically and once I settled in to our trusty old "healing lazy boy", I am beyond ready for a nap!

Thank you all for all the ways in which you have been and will still be caring for me and my family as I heal. We are so grateful.

Karen and my gang

Post-Op Day 3

Finally made progress late this afternoon. Started on oral pain medication, had epidural removed, and am off the heart monitor! Still 3 tubes to go, so keep praying!

Kidney continues to function well, and my creatinine level dropped to 1.25, which is not far above the 1.0 to 1.1 it was before surgery. So far, my blood pressure has been low to normal without any medication, even though I was on a BP med before surgery.

God is showing me these and other glimpses of His hand of care over me, which are very encouraging. Thank you so much for praying! I think even Dr Uzzo is beginning to wonder what this "prayer" thing is all about. He was quite impressed with those creatinine levels.

Still have to make progress digesting "real" food - starting starches with my clear liquid dinner. Exciting, huh? :-)

Karen

Thursday afternoon quick update

Pain a little worse today as they adjust dose of pain meds, creatinine down a little (that's good news about kidney function) and getting pretty tired of chicken broth and water ice for 3 meals a day. :-)

Post Op Day 2: Recovering slowly but surely

I was out of bed into a chair for several hours a few times yesterday and took 3 walks in the hallway using a walker with IV pole in tow. It's quite a production. The goal for Thursday is 6 walks.

I'm only allowed a clear liquid diet again today, until my digestive tract wakes up from the anesthesia. My mouth is very dry from the anesthesia too - they say it should resolve today.

My kidney is still functioning well, but creatinine elevated yesterday as expected. It might be even higher today, then they expect it will start to drop, we hope. Low creatinine is the goal.

I still have the epidural for pain control, and I am fairly comfortable most of the time. If not I have a magic button to push. I'm not ready yet to do without the epidural.

My temp was up a little bit yesterday, then dropped, now it is up again. Gotta do my deep breathing exercises 10 times an hour to prevent pneumonia.

This all keeps me quite busy as everything I do is in slow motion and takes some effort.

I'm still a little foggy mentally and my vision is blurry, again from anesthesia, so not able to read much yet.

Please pray that today will go well and I will continue to make progress.

Thank you!

Karen

Good news

Praise the Lord! Karen's surgery went well. They were able to remove all of the cancer and the edges were clear. Her kidney is functioning and the pain isn't too bad right now. Charles is with her in her room.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support of Karen and the rest of our family. Please keep praying for Karen's recovery over the next few days and weeks.

~Kristen (one of Karen's daughters)

Ephesians 3:14-21

Surgery Eve

Well, it's almost time! We are to arrive tomorrow morning at Fox Chase Cancer Center at 7:30, surgery 9:30, lasting about 3 hours. I'm told I might be in ICU for 24-48 hours, I believe mostly depending on how much shock the kidney experiences from the lack of blood supply during the surgery.

Some prayer requests for me on Tuesday and the days following:

That God would grant that Dr Uzzo's skillful hands are able to remove all of the tumor with clear margins.
That if any other spots of cancer are found in the kidney, they would also be removed successfully.
That my kidney is not damaged in any way and would return to full function asap after the surgery.
That pain would be well controlled and that my recovery would go smoothly, without any complications.
That even if there are complications, or a lot of pain, or any other troubles... that my family and I would trust God!
That God would do GREAT THINGS through this entire experience, in my life, and in the lives of all those we love and meet.

Thank you all so much. I can tell that many are upholding us in prayer and God is granting me a calmness that is not my typical personality (haha!). I know it is from HIM.

Karen

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.