B.T.H.O. Cancer and Iowa State

Here is a photo from this weekend.  Dad and I watched the Aggies beat the hell outta Iowa State.  We all keep doing what we can to help Dad beat the hell outta cancer.

The good news so far is that Dr. Chang reports he is NOT seeing evidence of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leakage from the scalp.  The lumbar drain seems to be doing its job and keeping that fluid away from the brain and maximizing the healing environment.  If all goes well it could be removed this week.

As anyone would expect, Dad has been exhausted.  Six brain surgeries in a year can really take a toll on a person.  His body is working overtime to heal, and that doesn't leave a lot of energy for much else (besides cheering on the Aggies).  Even talking is exhausting for him, and I don't have to tell you that talking has never been an area of weakness for Dad.  Although he isn't able to contact everyone and check in personally, he is so appreciative for the many voice mail messages and cards and words of strength and encouragement that keep flooding in.

Thank you.  From all of us.

Well, You Got Any Grapes?

Dr. Chang has bad news and good news.  The bad news is that we have to go ahead with surgery number 4 to attempt to repair the dural leaking.  The good news is Dr. Chang feels confident about the outcome of surgery number 4.   This surgery, scheduled for Monday at 1:00, will include the work of a plastic surgeon.  Instead of synthetic material the doctors will use a bit of vascularized tissue from Dad's right rhomboid muscle to create a flap and close the opening where the prior tumor resection surgeries have occurred.  Dad says it's Aggie plastic surgery because only an Aggie would have a plastic surgeon work inside his head where no one will be able to see it.

Dad continues to get excellent care here at Medical City Dallas (by the paid staff in addition to Yolanda).  In spite of their excellent care, Dad says he's seen better looking nurses in the Medical Service Corps--most of whom were "broke down army sargents".  One nurse in particular is referred to as a "two-faced water buffalo".  I don't know about all that, but I'm so happy to see that in addition to his appetite, dad has not lost his sense of humor.  In that spirit I will leave you today with one of dad's favorite Willie Nelson jokes.

Did you hear about the duck that went into the bar and said, “You got any grapes?"  And the bartender says, “No.”  

So the duck leaves, and then comes back the next day and says, “You got any grapes?” The bartender said, “No.”  

So the duck left, then came back the next day and said, “You got any grapes?”  The bartender said, “No.  I don’t have any grapes.  I didn’t have any yesterday, and I didn’t have any the day before.  And I won’t have none tomorrow.  If you ask me again, I’m going to nail your feet to the bar.”  

The duck comes back the next day, and says, “You got any nails?”  The bartender says, “No.”  And the duck says, “Well, you got any grapes?”

"One Tough Dude"

"I'm one tough dude," my dad told me this weekend.

He is still in the ICU working on properly healing his dura.  He is able to sit up in bed and he even got out of bed and rode around in the wheelchair last night.

I promise he was way more excited about it than he appears to be in this photo.  Dr. Chang has a lumbar drain installed in his back to divert fluid that may otherwise go into his head and inhibit healing at his incision points.  This is the drain:

So far it seems to be working.  There was evidence of a small amount of fluid leaking from his scalp on Friday, but I think Saturday it was dry.  No update yet today.  Dr. Chang says if it's leaking early this week he will consult with a plastic surgeon and see if a fourth surgery is necessary to stop the leaking.  Right now we are taking things slowly and hoping that another surgery can be avoided.

As usual, Mike and Eleanor are always here for support, food and fun.  From 6:00 pm-8:30 pm the ICU kicks all visitors out and makes them go home and take showers or something.  We had a nice cocktail and dinner.

This morning, either before or after the "one tough dude" comment, Dad put the hurt on some doughnuts and Starbucks.

That's what I call tough.

Thanks for checking in.