Update on Dad & BGP

Just got back from Duke Hospital and wanted to update you all.....

I know you all have been praying for my father and trust me, we can really feel them. Dad did beautifully during the surgery. He did require 4 pints of blood (more than the 1-2 pints that they had predicted) and the surgery took 4 hours. Dr. Harpole said that he removed ALL the cancer and that it was stage 1 (no lymph node involvement). Dr. Harpole feels fairly confident that he can "erradicate" this cancer with 5 weeks of pin-point radiation treatments and 3 rounds of chemo.

Dad is healing well. The nurses had him up and walking the day following his surgery. He's been up and walking tons and thus far, the issues he has are not really related to the actual lung removal. He has an epidural to help control the pain and that is making him constipated, his private area itches terribly from the catheter (day 4 for the catheter), itches all over from the epidural and he has a fairly painful kink in his neck from the way they positioned him on his left side during the surgery. They can't give him any narcotics because they decrease his respiratory rate (don't want to do that after lung surgery) so it's been a little difficult to try to get his pain under control in his neck. Today was the first day he could have food and yesterday was the first day he could have any liquids due to the risk of him aspirating.

They had to remove the sympathetic nerve chain in the lung, which is responsible for maintaining control of his blood pressure. Since it was removed, his blood pressure is and always will be low for the rest of his life (90-100/60-70mm Hg). Dr. Harpole wanted his blood pressure around 75/50mm Hg for the first couple of days. Dad's body has now stabilized his blood pressure and is now consistently around 85/90 over 50/60mm Hg. He also has an irregular heartbeat due to his heart being positioned differently in the body. They did an EKG and determined that this new, irregular heartbeat will likely become Dad's new heart pattern. It is not a cause for concern.

The doctors did say that this was one of the largest operations that they do at Duke. It ranks right up there with a heart or lung transplant. There was 1 in 20 chance that he would die. Given those stats, Dad was very emotional and scared before the surgery. Lots of tears were shed (and my Dad NEVER cries) and he read off what he wanted my brother & I to have in case he died (talk about sad/emotional -- whew!). It was very emotional when Dad came out of surgery: he kept saying, "I told ya'll I would be back, I told ya'll I'd make it, I can breathe with one lung....I can really breathe." Lots and lots of tears! Dad was terrified that he might not be able to breathe or breathe adequately with one lung so he was elated as soon as he realized that he was breathing beautifully with just one lung. It was a very emotional moment for our entire family. We all broke down, crying tears of relief and joy. Shortly thereafter, we gathered for a prayer to thank the Lord above!

Dad will likely be discharged on Wednesday. Two more days of rest at the hospital. His doctor really wants to get him home because he's a firm believer that the best healing occurs at home (as long as he's in great condition to go home).

BGP is still hanging tight. At my appt on Wednesday, I was 3cm dilated, 80% effaced and +1 station. My OB isn't sure what is holding BGP in! I did have lots of strong contractions early this morning (2AM-6AM) but they stopped when I got up to use the bathroom. Frustrating but I'm hoping she hangs tight until my induction on Friday so that my mom can be there for the birth! I have another OB appt tomorrow!

That's about it! Just wanted to provide you all with some info since I know many of you contacted me to let me know that my Dad was in your thoughts and prayers!

38 week belly shot (and perhaps my last one):