Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Finally, all settled in and GOOD news

What a long, long day. Rob's surgery went well. Actually, better than well! The initial plan was to do a skin graft which would have required removal of a piece of skin from his thigh, and sewing the graft and a bolster onto his tongue. When Dr. Jackson took the first piece, the margins were CLEAR. So, no need for a skin graft. Also, she had warned us that if the tongue swelled a lot, he would need a tracheostomy. His tongue is swollen, but not enough to interfere with his breathing, so no tracheostomy!

Since I tend to be a glass half empty kind of girl, I had assumed we'd be having all of the above. However, when I talked to Lamara (Rob's hygienist who found the lesion) she was thinking positively and discussed the possibility that maybe the lesion would end up being smaller than Dr. Jackson anticipated. She encouraged me to think positively and said she would continue to pray for us. That was the first time I actually thought "what if it goes BETTER than expected?"

HERE'S WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING.....Before Rob went back to surgery, I leaned over and whispered to him "Don't have a skin graft. O.K.?" He snickered, and we all kept going. They allowed Mrs. Peggy (his mom) and me to go back to the pre-op holding area with him. As we were walking away from his bed, I told him again, "OK, don't have a skin graft." He said he wasn't sure there was much he could do about that, but he'd try. I don't tell you all of this so you think I'm an awesome persuasionst, but to show you a concrete illustration of the power of prayer. So many people have, and were praying for him, and the outcome of his surgery was a miracle. My prayers were for his safety and for everyone involved in his care to have wisdom and be compassionate. When the nurse called to update and told me that they didn't have to do a graft, I was amazed! Excited, thankful, and amazed.

I can't tell you why he was blessed like this, or that the lymph nodes won't come back positive. If they do, we'll fight that battle then, but right now I (Rob's asleep) am thanking God for today's miracle.

Thank you for your prayers, calls, texts, e-mails and all of the love being sent our way!

6 comments:

  1. This is so awesome!!! By the way love the picture of Rob before surgery. Looked like he was ready for a fight! We are all so proud of both of you. Keep it up.

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  2. That's fantastic news!! Thank you for keeping all of us updated.

    Pete

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  3. Our God is an AWESOME God!!! We will all continue to pray and give God the glory!!!

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  4. Thanks guys and gals! Just curious....which Steve and which Peter is this? I can't see your profiles for last names.

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  5. Oooh, I'm so happy it went well! Gosh, what a big relief. Keeping you both in my prayers. Big Hugs.

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