One More Time

Update: July 8
My surgery went well today. We were at the hospital at 6 AM and finished by noon. I have two small incisions, both of which are sore, but I am doing fine. I have a restriction on how much weight I am to lift for 6-weeks - not more than 15 lbs at one time - but other than that I am expected to be sore for a few days and then resume normal activity.
Thank you to all for your prayers. And thanks to our loving heavenly Father for His great kindness.

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."

- Lamentations 3:21 - 24

Time for an update -
We met with our surgeon last Thursday, June 26. It was a standard followup visit to review the CAT scan that I had recently. Dr. Morris reiterated what she had told us the previous week via the phone, that the scan looked very good, there was nothing in it that caused her any concern. So this again was good news. Also today we received the standard blood test results from my last appointment with the oncologist. We had met with him last week to once again check my blood thinning levels and to access the shoulder port, a routine procedure every 30 days to keep it functional. The results of the blood work looked real good with my levels continuing to increase toward the normal level after being so low for so long. The "tumor marker" test was also well within the normal range and that too was encouraging. So it was a very good visit.

When we met with the oncologist he indicated that it would OK to remove the port in my shoulder any time. My surgeon agreed and has scheduled me for ONE MORE SURGERY early the morning of July 8. This time it will be pretty minor compared to the last two. The surgery to remove the port should only take a few minutes. She is also going to repair two small hernias that have developed along the abdominal incision. The combined surgeries should take an hour and a half, and I should be able to come home that afternoon or evening. So a minor little cut job...smile. Actually I am very eager for both of these operations. I am very anxious to have the port removed from my shoulder. It has served its purpose well, but it is time to have it out. And the small hernias create a pouching effect on my belly that I don't care for, and hopefully this surgery will correct part of that. Part of it too will be corrected with time and exercise. But I am anxious to have these two small areas repaired. So... "Here I am doctor, have at it!". I will have the normal recovery period of 6 weeks in which I am not to lift anything heavy, but other than that this should be relatively easy.

And God willing this will be the last surgery related to this situation. I say God willing, because while things look good and we are pleased to be regaining our health once again, and God has been most gracious and kind to see us through this ordeal while it could easily have been otherwise, we do not know God's specific purposes in all this, nor the future here He has planned for us. We trust Him whatever befalls us, and He is entirely free to work His good purposes in our flesh and our spirit. So for now with a good report, we are full of thanksgiving. And whatever the future holds nothing can take from us what He has given us, that joy "inexpressible and full of glory" that is the precious and abiding possession of all those who have tasted of His grace in Christ Jesus, who have known their sins forgiven and the sure promise of life now and forever.

If you share this joy, if you are a Believer with us in Christ Jesus, then rejoice with us in this good news of His kindness to us in this latest report. If you know not Christ, we urge you to look to Jesus in faith even now. The Scripture promise is sure, "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 16:30-31). And again, hear Jesus' kind, welcoming invitation; "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." - Matthew 11:28-30. How can anyone turn away from such a gracious overture?

Walt

P.S. The picture at top is of a beautiful, calm stretch of the Nehalem River close to our camp spot this past weekend.