Surgery Update

Perspective helps.

I was scheduled to start my procedure Monday morning at 11am. It didn't start until about 5pm. First there was an emergency procedure that required the use of the room. Then as that was wrapping up, my doctor was the only colon-rectal doctor available to help someone else. While waiting in immense pain, I kept telling myself that my patience is helping two other people live.

The doctor was going to try and remove the tumor using small incisions and ultimately had to open me up to evict the tumor. When I had my PET scan about a month ago, my guess was that the tumor was about the size of a tennis ball. The tumor he pulled out was the size of a grapefruit.

I made it to my hospital room around 12:30 Tuesday morning. It had been over 20 years since I drunk dialed anyone. I called my wife to let her know I was out. She went home after the doctor told her the outcome of the surgery and he was putting me back together again.

Tuesday I felt great. No pain at all. Only Tylenol. No Oxycodone. I was overconfident about the recovery process. I didn't realize I still had the effects of the anesthesia within me. I walked around, I had my catheter removed, and was reintroduced to solid foods in the evening.

Wednesday, I realized I was overconfident about the recovery. The pain started to creep back in and I needed the Oxycodone to make it bearable. I didn't walk as much. I was eating everything and was bloated. I did have some loose bowel movements. A learning day.

As I write this on Thursday morning at 7:44am, I've walked almost as much as yesterday, passed gas and feeling better than Wednesday. Saw the doctor already and I may be discharged tomorrow.

The care at Inova has been amazing. I'm grateful for the caring doctors, nurses, technicians, and food service staff that have made my stay as good of an experience as possible.

The recovery will take longer than I would like and I will patiently push through. Watching Diana Sawyer's interview with Jeremy Renner was inspiring. I have all of you to thank for the well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. Thank you!

Time to walk.