Football sized tumors and remodled kitchens
Today was fairly uneventful on the health front and that’s a good thing.
As if he wasn’t already dealing with enough, my Dad’s eye got scratched during surgery and he’s been wearing a bandage on his eye reminiscent of K-K-K-Ken from A Fish Called Wanda. That bandage came off tonight and the eye seems almost entirely healed and is no longer an issue, so at least that’s one thing.
My Dad didn’t sleep much last night and was in pretty awful pain which actually got even worse this morning. Even with about 6 different kinds of pain meds, the pain is only barely manageable. Thankfully, the afternoon brought some relief. Sleep is still elusive, but the pain is getting better and my Dad’s spirits (which have never really been outwardly dampened) are getting correspondingly better too. All in all, the afternoon was positive.
We also got a bit more info on the tumor today (though we’re still waiting on the pathology that will guide treatment) that I think is fairly amazing. After the CT scan, they estimated the size of the tumor as about that of a grapefruit, which is way too big as it is. However, they learned during surgery that they were only looking at the top or end of the tumor and in reality, the tumor was more the size and shape of a Nerf football. It was so big, the surgeon had to lift it out with both hands. We’re talking 9-10 inches long. Staggering really. Turns out it was attached to the main blood supply for the abdomen, so had plenty of nourishment. The doctor suspects my Dad will feel better than he has in years after he has recovered since he won’t be sharing his body’s resources with this giant parasite.
Now something fun to report and a way that you can help if you would like.
My wife, who has a serious and dangerous remodeling/decorating addiction, has devised a great plan to help my parents out.
A few weeks ago, my parents oven/stove broke. Turns out it was a special size and the kitchen cabinets which stand in need of repair anyway, were built around it in such a way that putting in a new oven would mean busting things up. My parents have the modest income you might expect for a minister’s family that does not reside in Texas or Tennessee and purchasing a new oven was going to be a great burden while replacing the cabinets as needed was virtually an impossibility.
Enter my mactastic (see earlier blog posts for explanation of that handle) wife and her tireless urge to remodel. Tanya has remodeled completely our last two kitchens…and basement, and bathrooms and bedrooms and living rooms…and on and on. She’s a legitimate bona fide expert in the process.
Additionally, we are blessed with many friends with great skill in the areas you need if remodeling a kitchen. Electrical engineers who also do wood work and furniture making, architects, talented decorators, electricians, Phd geneticists (seriously) and mindless muscle (like me). Tanya hatched a plan to remodel my parent’s kitchen while my Dad recovers in the hospital. Our dedicated and generous friends immediately and enthusiastically jumped on board and the remodeling process is now underway. The demolition will begin tomorrow, and the kitchen should be functional by the end of the weekend, which is also when my Dad is expected home. It is an ambitious plan, but if there is any one who can pull it off it is my wife and our friends.
Here’s how you can help. If you live in the Portland area and want to get your hands dirty with labor or tools or supplies for the project, email my wife at 4stumps@comcast.net. Or, regardless of where you live, if you would like to join those who have already agreed to donate money toward the cost of this project, you can send that money directly to Westside Church of Christ at 17415 NW Walker Rd, Beaverton, Or 97006. Make the checks out to Westside Church of Christ and put a post-it note on the check that says "Stumps." Kitchen projects like this are expensive as you might predict, but in the unlikely event we gather more money than is necessary, any extra funds will be applied toward my parents’ medical bills arising out of this calamity.
If you have any other questions or thoughts about how you can help, email Tanya at the email address above and thank you in advance for your continued prayers and support.
As if he wasn’t already dealing with enough, my Dad’s eye got scratched during surgery and he’s been wearing a bandage on his eye reminiscent of K-K-K-Ken from A Fish Called Wanda. That bandage came off tonight and the eye seems almost entirely healed and is no longer an issue, so at least that’s one thing.
My Dad didn’t sleep much last night and was in pretty awful pain which actually got even worse this morning. Even with about 6 different kinds of pain meds, the pain is only barely manageable. Thankfully, the afternoon brought some relief. Sleep is still elusive, but the pain is getting better and my Dad’s spirits (which have never really been outwardly dampened) are getting correspondingly better too. All in all, the afternoon was positive.
We also got a bit more info on the tumor today (though we’re still waiting on the pathology that will guide treatment) that I think is fairly amazing. After the CT scan, they estimated the size of the tumor as about that of a grapefruit, which is way too big as it is. However, they learned during surgery that they were only looking at the top or end of the tumor and in reality, the tumor was more the size and shape of a Nerf football. It was so big, the surgeon had to lift it out with both hands. We’re talking 9-10 inches long. Staggering really. Turns out it was attached to the main blood supply for the abdomen, so had plenty of nourishment. The doctor suspects my Dad will feel better than he has in years after he has recovered since he won’t be sharing his body’s resources with this giant parasite.
Now something fun to report and a way that you can help if you would like.
My wife, who has a serious and dangerous remodeling/decorating addiction, has devised a great plan to help my parents out.
A few weeks ago, my parents oven/stove broke. Turns out it was a special size and the kitchen cabinets which stand in need of repair anyway, were built around it in such a way that putting in a new oven would mean busting things up. My parents have the modest income you might expect for a minister’s family that does not reside in Texas or Tennessee and purchasing a new oven was going to be a great burden while replacing the cabinets as needed was virtually an impossibility.
Enter my mactastic (see earlier blog posts for explanation of that handle) wife and her tireless urge to remodel. Tanya has remodeled completely our last two kitchens…and basement, and bathrooms and bedrooms and living rooms…and on and on. She’s a legitimate bona fide expert in the process.
Additionally, we are blessed with many friends with great skill in the areas you need if remodeling a kitchen. Electrical engineers who also do wood work and furniture making, architects, talented decorators, electricians, Phd geneticists (seriously) and mindless muscle (like me). Tanya hatched a plan to remodel my parent’s kitchen while my Dad recovers in the hospital. Our dedicated and generous friends immediately and enthusiastically jumped on board and the remodeling process is now underway. The demolition will begin tomorrow, and the kitchen should be functional by the end of the weekend, which is also when my Dad is expected home. It is an ambitious plan, but if there is any one who can pull it off it is my wife and our friends.
Here’s how you can help. If you live in the Portland area and want to get your hands dirty with labor or tools or supplies for the project, email my wife at 4stumps@comcast.net. Or, regardless of where you live, if you would like to join those who have already agreed to donate money toward the cost of this project, you can send that money directly to Westside Church of Christ at 17415 NW Walker Rd, Beaverton, Or 97006. Make the checks out to Westside Church of Christ and put a post-it note on the check that says "Stumps." Kitchen projects like this are expensive as you might predict, but in the unlikely event we gather more money than is necessary, any extra funds will be applied toward my parents’ medical bills arising out of this calamity.
If you have any other questions or thoughts about how you can help, email Tanya at the email address above and thank you in advance for your continued prayers and support.
Comments
So thankful to hear about your Dad.
I am still praying.
Nerf tumor - horrible image.
Glad we are keeping one and they got rid of the other!