Good Weekend Visit

Hope you like the new picture I added. He's kinda cute with a shaved head. In fact, they kinda look alike!

We so enjoyed our weekend visit from Anna and little Claire. Jayme is a man of few words these days, but did find Claire "quite entertaining". We miss them already, and look forward to a few of their summer trips to KC from Denver.

Jayme is holding his own. He has had a few bouts of nausea the past 3-4 days, so we are trying to adjust his anti-nausea medication so he isn't too drowsy. If were up to him, he would just sleep until the surgery on Monday. Really can't blame him. Up until the nausea started, he had been gaining strength and walking independently, but I am making him use a walker due to his recent drowsiness. Sometimes he is not the best judge of what he can and cannot do safely.

I recently realized that I have never explained the surgery Jayme will have next week. Without being too graphic I will do my best. It is called an esophagectomy. They will first make an incision in his abdomen and, at that time, decide if they can use the stomach to rebuild the esophagus. If they can't use the stomach, they will use the small intestine. Usually the 3rd option is the colon, but in Jayme's case they can't use it due to the recent diagnosis of colitis. The Dr assures us he can do it with the stomach or intestine. Then they make an incision on his side between his ribs and remove most of his esophagus. They then "stretch" the stomach or intestine up and resect it with the remainder of the esophagus.

He will continue with the feeding tube for a week after surgery, then progress to liquids by mouth. If all goes well, he will then start on a soft diet and may be able to discontinue the tube feedings within a month. He should be able to eat what he wants, just small and frequent meals. However, knowing Jayme, he will be making a diet change in an attempt to keep cancer away forever!

Tonight I was telling Jayme about all the recent gestures of goodwill, the emails, cards and blog comments (he even received one from Costa Rica), the donations and interest for Relay For Life, the help with the lawn, the wonderful and delicious food, the "get Kay out of the house" lunch and dinners, etc. He has not been able to witness it all himself recently, but I am doing my best to share with him all the unbelievable kindness of our friends and family. It is quite overwhelming. The human spirit lives on in this crazy world and we are more grateful than ever.