Saturday, June 20, 2009
Back home
Since June 19 I'm back at home. I made a surprise appearance at the Relay for Life during the evening. Since then I rest a lot. The recovery will be lengthy, it is necessary process that I have to accept.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Success
I take a moment to inform you of the good news. Wednesday morning 8:30, Martin found himself in the operating room for surgery, a long-awaited moment.
Doc Y, accompanied by a good medical team, was ready for a long and delicate intervention that lasted 11 hours. They removed the cancerous masses, rebuilt the duodenum, took out part of the stomach, removed 51 cm of small intestine and 50% of the colon and ended with the HIPEC intervention . The doc has accomplished its mission, 98% of the cancer was removed, a total success.
Martin was then transferred to the intensive care unit for observation. I welcomed him by saying "You've won my champion, you are now in intensive care and everything went according to YOUR predictions, He responded with a huge smile. He could not talk, was still intubated but I could read his thoughts "I told YOU!". Nurses taking care of him turned to me and said "WOW we have never seen an conscious intubated patient as calm as he is and on top of it smiling! What an extraordinary patient" and I replied "Yes, yes, you're right he is a man quite out of the ordinary " This morning, after a short stay of 12 hours in intensive care, he was transfered on the surgery-oncology ward. The battle is not yet won, a long rehabilitation begins but knowing him, he would tell you tonight "Don't worry, watch me, I'll get there in no time" Speedy recovery my love.
We look forward to your return.
Your wife
Doc Y, accompanied by a good medical team, was ready for a long and delicate intervention that lasted 11 hours. They removed the cancerous masses, rebuilt the duodenum, took out part of the stomach, removed 51 cm of small intestine and 50% of the colon and ended with the HIPEC intervention . The doc has accomplished its mission, 98% of the cancer was removed, a total success.
Martin was then transferred to the intensive care unit for observation. I welcomed him by saying "You've won my champion, you are now in intensive care and everything went according to YOUR predictions, He responded with a huge smile. He could not talk, was still intubated but I could read his thoughts "I told YOU!". Nurses taking care of him turned to me and said "WOW we have never seen an conscious intubated patient as calm as he is and on top of it smiling! What an extraordinary patient" and I replied "Yes, yes, you're right he is a man quite out of the ordinary " This morning, after a short stay of 12 hours in intensive care, he was transfered on the surgery-oncology ward. The battle is not yet won, a long rehabilitation begins but knowing him, he would tell you tonight "Don't worry, watch me, I'll get there in no time" Speedy recovery my love.
We look forward to your return.
Your wife
Monday, June 1, 2009
See You Later
This is my last post before surgery. Tomorrow, I'll get a call from the hospital telling me at what time and where to go. I am admitted the day before because of the preparation needed which includes a total "oil" drainage ;-)
I thank everyone who sent messages of support on Facebook, by email, phone, in person or on the blog. I am telling you, I feel all the energy you send me.
Today MJ and I went to the St-Joseph Oratory. We prayed, attended mass, prayed again and bought souvenirs (we bought angels pins, a book of prayers and medals of St-Joseph). We lit lanterns and I believe I got a sign from God. Marie-Josée and I climbed up a very narrow staircase to light 5 small lanterns, we were stopped in our descent by a small boy about 8 years old. He, also, wanted to lit a lantern as high as possible, to a point where he leaned on me to do so. After ligthing his lantern, which took some time, he joined his hands to pray. All this time I watched him because I could not get down. I lifted my head a moment and saw his mother signaling with her hand for him to get out of the way. I responded to his mother with my hand saying that I was not in a hurry, he could take his time. I was very calm. When we got at the bottom of the stairs I told MJ: "God sent me a message through this boy, he gives me his blessing and will let me live longer so I can look after my children, his children. I was filled with a holy certainty if you allow me the expression.
If you are up for it, I've found an example of my surgery in a video on the web. The link is: http://www.or-live.com/WFUBMC/1478/event/rnh.cfm . You need the RealPlayer plugin installed to view it. It's really interesting, you can see the installation of tubes to circulate the hot chemo. You can also see what the cancer cells in the abdomen look like.
Many people sent me messages of support and I appreciate it. Since I will be unconscious I don't believe that day will be so bad for me but for my wife... June 3 will be hell for her. She will not be under anesthesia and she will live every minute of this long day. In my unconscious state I will try to send positive and reassuring thoughts, but I doubt that this will be enough. Think of her on this day of her birthday. I will talk to you through MJ as soon as there is new development. She will write on the blog and also on her Facebook account. If you want to contact her write to mjlafrance@videotron.ca because her phone won't be on ;) in the hospital.
A bientôt!
I thank everyone who sent messages of support on Facebook, by email, phone, in person or on the blog. I am telling you, I feel all the energy you send me.
Today MJ and I went to the St-Joseph Oratory. We prayed, attended mass, prayed again and bought souvenirs (we bought angels pins, a book of prayers and medals of St-Joseph). We lit lanterns and I believe I got a sign from God. Marie-Josée and I climbed up a very narrow staircase to light 5 small lanterns, we were stopped in our descent by a small boy about 8 years old. He, also, wanted to lit a lantern as high as possible, to a point where he leaned on me to do so. After ligthing his lantern, which took some time, he joined his hands to pray. All this time I watched him because I could not get down. I lifted my head a moment and saw his mother signaling with her hand for him to get out of the way. I responded to his mother with my hand saying that I was not in a hurry, he could take his time. I was very calm. When we got at the bottom of the stairs I told MJ: "God sent me a message through this boy, he gives me his blessing and will let me live longer so I can look after my children, his children. I was filled with a holy certainty if you allow me the expression.
If you are up for it, I've found an example of my surgery in a video on the web. The link is: http://www.or-live.com/WFUBMC/1478/event/rnh.cfm . You need the RealPlayer plugin installed to view it. It's really interesting, you can see the installation of tubes to circulate the hot chemo. You can also see what the cancer cells in the abdomen look like.
Many people sent me messages of support and I appreciate it. Since I will be unconscious I don't believe that day will be so bad for me but for my wife... June 3 will be hell for her. She will not be under anesthesia and she will live every minute of this long day. In my unconscious state I will try to send positive and reassuring thoughts, but I doubt that this will be enough. Think of her on this day of her birthday. I will talk to you through MJ as soon as there is new development. She will write on the blog and also on her Facebook account. If you want to contact her write to mjlafrance@videotron.ca because her phone won't be on ;) in the hospital.
A bientôt!
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