Well, we learned one thing, an OR minute is equivalent to 2-3 hours. We went in at 11:30 for the scheduled appointment, Sara went in at 4:20. They were very thorough, each person that came in asked the same questions 10 times.
We all took turns staying with Sara until she was wheeled away in a dramatic moment to the OR. Then we waited. The surgery took 5 hours. Then an hour in recovery. By then we had eaten all of Chelsea's cookies and had passed them around to all the 'waiters'. {Thanks Chels!} Finally, Dr. Park came out with a big smile on his face and told us everything went even better than expected. Her liver was clear and anything left on it was probably scar tissue and there was no reason to even touch it, which was very good as the liver can present all kinds of compications. The big tumor was alive and well, feeding off a giant vein that provided it with a nice blood flow. Also, to back up, they gave her the octreotide shot before the surgery to basically 'drug' the tumor. Kind of like smoking a bee hive so they don't get mean when you disturb them. Then, he took off the major portion of the tumor on the pancreas, having to cut through the vein which he cut and repaired twice during the procedure. They could then see the tumor was encapsulated, which is the MO of the neuroendocrine tumor, so they just scooped it up and that was it. The surgery was done by a robot, didn't catch his name, {who was that masked man?} and required 5 small incisions. {That if connected form a happy face flipping the bird} Sara was sent to a regular room to recover. Actually, it is the same floor she was on before so we knew some of the people and of course they remembered Sara. Trevor stayed with her the first night, Sarah Hess stays tonite, then me till she no longer requires someone there overnight and/or she gets released. Then, Dr. Park wants her near to monitor her for a week, so she will stay with Shanna.
Dr. Park expects her to make a fast recovery since the surgery was not so invasive. As of this morning, she is awake and walked a little. She is tired, but happy. We are all super excited and so thrilled.
One resident came in and told us he was so impressed with Sara's whole story, he had stayed up late to read her whole chart. He said her progress was remarkable. I am writing this because we all truly believe the prayers, energy, good vibes, call it what you may, was an integral part of her AMAZING recovery. Thank-you is just two little words, but the gratefullness behind those two words is huge and cannot be measured.
Love to All! Merry Christmas and here is to a fantastic new year.
posted by Colleen, a very happy mom
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
December 20, 2011
This is a Pre-op post update from Seattle. Sara, Shanna, Trevor and Sarah went to the pre-op appointment which turned out to be a 7 hours.
The surgeon, Dr. Parks, said that they expected positive results by removing the tumor from her pancreas. The extent of the surgical procedure will be determined when it actually occurs. There are possible complications, involving the spleen. Possibly removing part, if not all of the spleen. Worst scenario. Dr. Parks said the recovery from the surgery will be 2 to 5 days. After that, he wants her to stay in Seattle for at least 7 days so he can monitor her as some complications can show up later. She will be recuperating for a month, at least.
I will post Thursday sometime for a post-op update. We will all be there for her and know you all will be with us in spirit. Thanks amazing friends and family!
posted by Colleen
The surgeon, Dr. Parks, said that they expected positive results by removing the tumor from her pancreas. The extent of the surgical procedure will be determined when it actually occurs. There are possible complications, involving the spleen. Possibly removing part, if not all of the spleen. Worst scenario. Dr. Parks said the recovery from the surgery will be 2 to 5 days. After that, he wants her to stay in Seattle for at least 7 days so he can monitor her as some complications can show up later. She will be recuperating for a month, at least.
I will post Thursday sometime for a post-op update. We will all be there for her and know you all will be with us in spirit. Thanks amazing friends and family!
posted by Colleen
Thursday, December 1, 2011
December 1, 2011
Well, here I am to report to y'all that Dr. Lin has given the go ahead for surgery for Sara D. Sara and I went on Monday and stayed in Seattle for 3 days so she could get scans done. Wednesday was the appointment with Dr. Lin when he reviewed the scans and declared her liver was 99% clear of tumors and the big tumor on her pancreas was shrinking but still there. At the beginning of the appointment he was inferring the surgery could happen soon, by the end of the appontment after looking at everything he was calling his surgeon friend to get her scheduled. Sara said you mean like as soon as my next 6 week appointment? Dr. Lin said no, I mean like right now. Shanna, me and Sara kind of started hyperventilating. He also said she was textbook material and would probably be written up. I always figured she would be famous, but her pancreas?
The one scan she had was like a real photograph, totally cutting edge. It has only been out for a month and Sara was one of the first to get to use it. The other scan was a radioactive scan where the remaining tumors light up like a golden orb. She has to carry a card to prove she is medically radioactive and not a terrorist. {Even though some of her shoes could be used as weapons.}
The surgery has to happen fast because her liver is clear, this happened way faster than Dr. Lin anticipated, and he does not want the main tumor to start shooting off more tumors to the liver. So the surgery will be to remove the main tumor from the pancreas and possibly any left on the liver. Which will be determined by the surgeon, who Dr. Lin said will be "jumping up and down" to do this surgery because he "loves neuroendocrine tumors". To which Sd replied, "I love that he loves neuroendocrine tumors so he can get rid of it!"
Sara will continue to do maintenance chemotherapy and will still be battling cancer. Hopefully, the dose can be reduced so she does not suffer the terrible nausea and other yukky symtoms of chemo. This is not considered a cure. Dr. Lin's analogy was even if you kill all the dandelions and can't see them, there are still seeds underground. He also was fascinated that she has a full head of hair. He did not explain this, just did the Doctor thing like "uummm.."
We are ecstatic over this turn of events and are very grateful to Dr. Lin, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and everyone who has been rooting for Sara D. throughout this experience. As Sara's Mom, I want to say how impressed I am with how much love and support is out there. I am so proud of Sara and love her more than I can say. "That's my daughter!!"
Posted by Colleen
The one scan she had was like a real photograph, totally cutting edge. It has only been out for a month and Sara was one of the first to get to use it. The other scan was a radioactive scan where the remaining tumors light up like a golden orb. She has to carry a card to prove she is medically radioactive and not a terrorist. {Even though some of her shoes could be used as weapons.}
The surgery has to happen fast because her liver is clear, this happened way faster than Dr. Lin anticipated, and he does not want the main tumor to start shooting off more tumors to the liver. So the surgery will be to remove the main tumor from the pancreas and possibly any left on the liver. Which will be determined by the surgeon, who Dr. Lin said will be "jumping up and down" to do this surgery because he "loves neuroendocrine tumors". To which Sd replied, "I love that he loves neuroendocrine tumors so he can get rid of it!"
Sara will continue to do maintenance chemotherapy and will still be battling cancer. Hopefully, the dose can be reduced so she does not suffer the terrible nausea and other yukky symtoms of chemo. This is not considered a cure. Dr. Lin's analogy was even if you kill all the dandelions and can't see them, there are still seeds underground. He also was fascinated that she has a full head of hair. He did not explain this, just did the Doctor thing like "uummm.."
We are ecstatic over this turn of events and are very grateful to Dr. Lin, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and everyone who has been rooting for Sara D. throughout this experience. As Sara's Mom, I want to say how impressed I am with how much love and support is out there. I am so proud of Sara and love her more than I can say. "That's my daughter!!"
Posted by Colleen
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