David T. Music And Stuff

Hi friends and family,

I’m home!!!!

The surgeon, Dr. Sang Kim, approved my release after spending his day in surgery. In other words, pretty late in the afternoon. At first he said ” David. We have to keep you for two more weeks.” Then he smiled and said, “You can go home, now” . . . We were ready.

Sue and I arrived home about 6:40 after picking up a ‘healthy‘ meal from Wahlburgers which is right next to the hospital. Walking in the house Sue and I were greeted by two extremely enthusiastically ferocious, loud, and happy furballs running around in circles and bumping into each other and us. A fitting greeting for the returning conquerors of the doctors and surgeons and bureaucracy of Beaumont Health Systems. Getting released is always a problem from any hospital. At least for me . . .

Part of the reason for the hospital’s reluctance to let me go was , on Monday, after eating my first solid food lunch, I passed out after alerting Sue to my increasing queasiness and profuse sweating. Immediately, I had every nurse on the ward all over me, holding me up and asking me questions. I was already hooked up to vitals monitors so they found my blood pressure was very low and I was incoherent, unable to answer simple questions. It was and is a mystery we couldn’t figure out. They are leaving it up to my family doctor and heart doctor to figure out. I theorize that it’s a blood-sugar problem. And, the surgery exacerbated what I already had. I had the start of the same problem after eating other meals, but, not always. I get a little lethargic and sweaty. Not my usual state.

I don’t know if I stated in my first article on the subject the reason for using a one-word title, “Cancer!” When I first found out about cancer in my lung, it was just called a “node”. I then saw the pulmonologist and she only used the word “cancer” in passing sentences, “The cancer doesn’t look like it wants to spread. But, we can’t be sure until we do more tests. We will first have you . . . . . . ” At one point, I stopped the doctor and said, “Wait a minute! Did you say I have cancer? The “Big C”? Lung Cancer? Doctor Ternes looked straight into my eyes (something she hadn’t really done before) and said, “Yes. But we think we can give you the best possible outcome.” She was very upbeat whenever we spoke with her (I always put Sue on speakerphone) and all the other doctors were just as encouraging.

It took time, weeks, for the word, cancer, to sink in. Whenever I had thought of cancer, it was in the context of somebody else’s problem. And, I rarely thought, although I encouraged a positive attitude in others, that cancer would be easily overcome, let-alone curable. In other words, the word cancer was a dirty word, to be avoided at all costs. Nothing good ever came to those who used that word.

I’m beginning to get used to the fact that cancer has touched my life. The word is still hard to say. Especially while referring to myself. In my case, it appears I am very lucky that it was caught accidentally, early, in a CT Scan to check my heart. I keep thinking that scheduled CT Scans should be included as preventive measures to anyone who is at risk of having cancer. Early detection could save many lives. Cancer can spread very quickly and the earlier the detection, the better the outcome will be.

We are waiting on the Pathology Report which will tell us how successful the surgery was. They said five to eight working days for the report. As far as healing. The doctor says it may take weeks to heal. They took the upper lobe of my right lung right out. Cancer node and all. There are two lobes of the left lung and three for the right lung. Doctor Kim said the space left from taking the upper lobe out will fill up by the other two lobes. They just take over that space. Before I left, X-Rays showed that the empty space was already being filled by the other two lobes and expect that within a couple weeks it will all be filled.

There was quite a bit of trauma to my body and that will take some time to heal. But, Doctor Kim was optimistic about a full recovery. Before the surgery, all the doctors were optimistic that the cancer would be completely gone. I guess more testing will be needed to be sure that’s the case and that I will not need Chemotherapy.

For those with a weak heart. Close your eyes, now. Here’s a picture of my surgery wounds we took today, just after taking the bandages off and just before showering for the first time in nearly a week. The hole that looks like drooling lips is the where the drainage pipe, that’s what I call the 1″ diameter tube that went from my side, up into the upper chest cavity. About six or eight inches of tube/pipe/garden hose was inside me. Yikes! That was the reason for the epidural I had in my spine until they took the tube out. The hole is left open for any residual drainage. They said if I cough and have a little spurt of blood shoot out, not to worry . . . I’m not wearing my favorite t-shirts . . .

I would like to make a special mention that all the staff, doctors, nurses, surgeons, housekeepers, you name it, were above exceptional. I have never felt so cared for and loved in all my life. Everyone was professional and personal. A big shout-out to Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. Thank You.

Thanks for reading. Please, please, stay safe. Don’t take any chances with your health and life. And above all, the health and lives of your friends and loved ones.

Love to all,

David T

p.s. Comments are very welcome. You can comment at the end of this article.