bobleboeuf

We are holding clear.  Time for lunch!

Progress continues in my effort to overcome the Chyle Leak that has been “dogging” me for the past two weeks.  I am still on a nutritional IV with no food by mouth (15 days), and my chest tubes remain in place to drain and track fluid in my lungs (19 days). The current plan is to continue monitoring the chest fluid and if the amount of fluid draining from my chest is under 200ml/day for 4 consecutive days, we will eat food to “challenge” the Chyle Leak. Hmmmm . . . DK Diner  . . . Rotolo’s . . . Marcellas . . . Ramen . . . the sole of a shoe? I’ll eat anything!

The past 48 hours, my fluid output has been under 200ml/day, so we are on track for a Tuesday (1/6) challenge provided the output continues at the current pace! The success of the “challenge” will determine next steps. Right now, our only focus is winning this current battle.

I”m crediting the positive direction on my fluid output to being at home with Heather and the kids,  a Buckeye Sugar Bowl Championship and the friendship of my lovable labrador retriever Ollie.  Ollie likes to lay at my feet and stay close to me during the day. Or, at least he does when he isn’t licking the dirty plates in the dishwasher, stealing shoes out of the mudroom to chew or barking at visitors and dogs walking past the house.

We are praying hard for success in the next 48 hours and we appreciate all the support we continue to receive from friends and family.

 

 

 

We still have some work ahead of us! Tests yesterday (12/29) indicated the leak did not heal in this go-around so I am going to continue on the IV diet and no food by mouth for several more days. We will monitor fluid output from my lungs during that period and provided fluid output continues to decline, at some point, we will again try food by mouth to see if the extra time has allowed the leak to heal naturally. As I said before, this is the ideal scenario.

I’m confident the extra time, continued positive thoughts, and the trust in God’s healing hands will resolve this situation.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭1-3‬ NIV)

It is day ten (12/27) of my hospital stay and as much as I would love to be home, we are all focused on a much bigger prize!

Update:
Today (12/27) I will complete my 5th day of IV nutrition and 6th 24 hr period without food by mouth (started 12/21 7PM). This has all been done in an effort to eliminate chyle fluid from leaking into my chest cavity through a perforation in my thoracic lymph duct (see previous post: We knew it couldn’t all be fun.)

All signs are positive at this point in time. The plan is to continue the IV nutrition for another 24 hour period beginning at 10PM this evening and conclude Sunday (12/28) at 10PM. The following day (12/29) food will be reintroduced into my diet and the fluid draining from my lungs will be monitored for 24 hours to confirm that no chyle fluid is present. Thank you for your continued support and we will win!

Just returned from my midday walk which today included my great friend and brilliant doctor, Dr Peter Lafferty. Pete has been by my side since I texted him on October 23 with the news of the diagnosis.

When I returned to the room, I was greeted by a gift from Joe Gallo and The Columbus Dispatch reminding me to keep my spirits up, smile and enjoy Christmas! The Dispatch Co.’s support for has been unequaled. They have provided exceptional benefits for me as I have had to miss work, they have been understanding on a personal level and had my best interests at heart! And their assistance navigating and utilizing The James has been a godsend.

I am incredibly thankful for all the support and kindness so many people have show us since my initial diagnosis on the 23rd and over the past 60 days. We will all keep our spirits bright and we are #crushingit

Luke 2:9-2:12

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Merry Christmas!

As tough as yesterday may have been, today we received the best news we could have expected. The surgical pathology report for my lung tumor indicates that the lung cancer is a “primary” lung cancer. This is important in that it is not a metastasis of the colon cancer. Also, the cancer has not spread and there is no cancer in any lymph nodes. Finally the type of Lung Cancer appears to be highly unlikely to return when removed at an early stage, as we have. We believe no further treatment is going to be necessary! Merry Christmas! Raise a big glass of your favorite holiday cheer and enjoy it! Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!