Monday Update April 27^th

Thoracic / Vascular Surgeon’s Appointment

Thanks dear friends. It is such a help, strength, and comfort to know that you are willing to come along on the cancer journey that Karen and I are taking.

Over the last couple of days I asked you to be praying for us and the appointment we had today with Karen’s thoracic vascular surgeon. When Dr. Zolli put Karen’s port in last week, he told me that he no doubt would be removing the pleurX catheter. While we both are delighted to have the catheter from Karen’s side removed, we wondered what would happen to the 20 to 50ml of fluid that we were still draining?

Even though Dr. Zolli had a waiting room full of people, he patiently explained to us that this is the normal amount of fluid everyone produces as a lubricant. We did not have to worry about another fluid buildup. To my amazement he allowed me to stay with Karen as he removed the catheter and sutured her back up. Thank you for praying for her. She is such a good trooper. Honestly! For my family and friends who know me, if a doctor pulled that tubing out of my side, you probably would have been able to hear me across half the State of Ohio!

On a serious note, tomorrow is an important day to us. Tomorrow morning at 9:00 Karen has a CT scan. This will help the doctors to see if the mass is responding to the chemo-therapy or if we need to try some other medications. I am praying that the chemo is blasting the mass and crushing it. We probably won’t hear anything right away. But we do thank you so much for praying.