Okay, bunch of updates (sorry for length):
Tegan dominated her MRI Thursday night. Yes, although an MRI requires you to just lay still, it is indeed possible to dominate it, especially if you’re afraid, you don’t like loud noises, and you don’t like being stuffed in tubes (does anyone?). Report from the sidelines (Christie): first ten minutes were dicey, then nurse came on intercom and said it’s now or never, then T got her game face on and went all Zen-like. Briton and Mackie road to and fro for mental support, meaning it was boy’s town here at home (aka Aedan going easy on me, but still crushing me in Madden). We have results from MRI: medically-speaking, well … basically her knee is jacked up (patella dislocation, avulsion fracture, stretched ligaments, etc. etc.). We will probably find out Monday if she needs surgery for sure, and if so, what that will entail and whether it needs to be done asap or can be put off a bit.
I received my biopsy report. It’s as clear as mud. What we know now: diagnostically it’s thymoma, but “further classification can’t be obtained because of small sample size.” So, we’d kind of narrowed it down to the thymus, and that’s what it is (again, very rare, like 500 cases a year in U.S. – I always knew I was special). But there are a lot of unknowns/points of confusion: what kind of thymoma (type, class, stage)?, what’s the deal with lung nodules (assume they spread from chest tumors as I have no risk factors at all for something originating in the lungs)?, what’s the deal with the sample size (I know they stuck me in the Mountain Dew tumor, but I’m not sure they even sampled the Coke-looking one)?, and, of course, what’s the next step (chemo/radiation, followed by surgery – that’s what NP indicated on the phone)? Unfortunately, the thoracic surgeon who has been leading the charge has had a family emergency and is completely off-line until Nov 1…
So, here’s where we’re at: we’re waiting for Georgetown University Hospital to schedule an appointment with an oncologist who works with the thoracic surgeon heading this thing up until now. I’m in the “call-queue” at Johns Hopkins, meaning we’ve reached out, and we’re waiting for someone to call to get the ball started on a 2nd opinion, etc. BUT HERE’S THE BIG ONE: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC is one of the best in the country and they do more thymus-related cases than any hospital in the world. I called their 1-800 number on Wednesday, and within 48 hours they … set me up as a patient, received all the reports I sent them, set up my online portal, initiated having my actual biopsy sample overnighted to them so they can run it through their own lab, reviewed my case with their “team,” and scheduled an in-person appointment, in NYC, on this Tuesday at 10 a.m. (with their main thymus cancer specialist). Wow. So I’m off to NYC for a few days (shout out to Francis, a.k.a. Frankie Two Phones, for being my driver!) …
Now for the important stuff. I have so much to say, but the waxing poetic will have to wait. Instead, I just want to say the following:
I believe in the power of prayer, and our family is eternally grateful for the blessing of having so many family members and friends praying for us. The fact I have an appointment in 3 days, with experts who specialize in these cases, at one of the best hospitals in the country, says it all.
With that said, I have an odd (I guess) request: I’d ask that you redirect some of those prayers to all of the people out there who are faced with similar situations but don’t have the support and resources I’m blessed with. That’s not just a vague, throw-away, nice-kinda-thing-to-say statement. Nor is it all heroic – believe me, I drop into “feeling-sorry-for-myself mode” at some point every single day, and to be honest with you, I would like to hog all your prayers. It’s just occurred to me over and over again how fortunate I am, and the thought of so many people (most people) out there having to face similar challenges alone and without any resources behind them makes me sick, quite frankly.
One final thing … This site is great in that it allows me to update everyone at once, hold you captive, and melt your brains with gibberish. However, I don’t want it to replace contact. In other words, don’t ever hesitate to reach out directly to Christie or I, or the kids, because you think we’re too busy, or whatever.
One final, final thing … shout out to my wife and kids. Amazing grace under pressure. Christie, love of my life and best friend – what more can I say? Tegan, she’s the light, for sure. Briton, Mackie, and Aedan … wow, I don’t even know where to begin. Three teenagers, with their worlds on hold (now more than ever) … your love, maturity, attitudes, commitment to each other and this family … I’m speechless!
Until next time …