Wednesday, December 15, 2010

while we were away

So I didn't think anyone would actually notice my absence all that much since BlogHer. But apparently I have been missed. The reasoning behind my silence is the result of numerous things. After I got back from an amazing time in NYC, I joined the new rec center (first ever gym membership for me!) because of the employee incentive of it costing $12.50/month if you go just once a week. We've also been dealing with a plethora of renovation stuff. After almost 4 months of waiting, and sending back a sliding glass door that was incorrectly ordered by the association contractors, we finally had a new deck door in October. With that they had to rip up our kitchen floor because of rotting underneath where the door leaked. Over a month of splinters and walking on plywood, we currently have Durock down waiting on tiling to be completed.
And here's where things get to the bad and the ugly. S's dad is a contractor, who planned to help us. He put down travertine in the half bath and started patching the walls in there over Thanksgiving, but he'd been feeling sick. Two weeks ago Thursday he turned yellow, painless jaundice, and went into acute care that Friday morning. A CT scan showed a mass in his pancreas, he refused to be admitted because his wife was sick and opted to be seen in the clinic where I work that Monday. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The size of the mass (3cm) meant it had probably been growing for 2 years. I scheduled him for the necessary procedures with the best docs on Wednesday and Thursday. Spent Wednesday afternoon with S's mom while he was in the procedure. Two days ago they saw the surgical oncologist and Friday they see the rad oncology doctor. From the biopsies they believe he's a good surgical candidate for resection, but they want to use chemo and radiation to try to shrink the tumor as much as possible before they go in to remove it. At the very least the biopsies came back clear that the cancer had not metastasized to his liver.
Pancreatic cancer has something like a 3% survival rate and S's dad is only 60. He's an extremely large presence in all of our lives. My parents live 800 miles away and because S's parents live on the other side of town, they have become my family these past 4 years. Right now all we can do is take it one day at a time and whatever the experts recommend.

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6 Comments:

At 12/15/10, 11:30 PM, Blogger SUEB0B said...

I am so sorry to hear that. I hope for the best. Give Steven an extra big hug from me.

 
At 12/16/10, 1:14 PM, Blogger mar said...

Thanks, I will.
Thoughts & prayers are appreciated.

 
At 12/16/10, 4:37 PM, Blogger KitKat said...

Well, if one HAS to get cancer, the UIHC is a good place to be. I'll never forget the wonderful care that K received there while he was undergoing chemo and surgery. My best to you guys - you're in my positive thoughts!

 
At 12/16/10, 6:57 PM, Blogger mar said...

Oh definitely. I know you of all people know for sure. Thanks for the positive thoughts.

 
At 12/21/10, 7:04 PM, Blogger Suzanne said...

We are sending you, S, and your families our love. Dana also wants to know if there's anything she can do for you.

 
At 12/24/10, 8:01 AM, Blogger mar said...

Thanks Suzanne. He hasn't even started treatment yet, so we're okay. I'll be sure to let you or Dana know if they need anything.

 

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