Happy Thansgiving to us.

Just as we were leaving to see Steve's primary doctor this morning Stanford called. Oh...I haven't told you. We go to Stanford on Monday morning for pre-surgery consult. Surgery was scheduled for Friday November 21. Well they called this morning to re-schedule because the doctor has a conflict that day. So I ask her just how long will we need to be at the hospital that day {I didn't ask when they called earlier because...well...I have a lot on my mind these days!}. He will be in the hospital for 3 to 5 days!

Take a look at your calendar. It's Thanksgiving week. {and that Wednesday happens to be Laryssa's 10th birthday} *sigh*

Steve called back and tried to use his charming personality and see if they could bump it up a little but no dice. And the next available date is well into December.

It's not like we will be devastated to miss Thanksgiving but it just adds another thing to the whole picture of a really rough year. I have no idea what we will do, or what the kids will do. I definitely can't stay there all those days but it won't feel right to have turkey day without Steve here either.

So we went to his doctor appointment. She didn't feel comfortable clearing him for the surgery without seeing a cardiologist first, she is trying to get someone to see him tomorrow. But she did give him a release for work...at his own pace. I think this will do a world of good for Steve to be able to go back for a little while and feel useful again {not like he isn't useful around here because he is!}. He went down there yesterday to visit and is just itching to get back.

Then after the primary doc we went over to see the surgeon who did the biopsy in September. He was visibly horrified that we are doing a tracheostomy. We're horrified too but can't see an alternative. He admitted that he didn't know the entire history and could understand our feelings of desperation. I actually appreciated his honesty and he was very humble. He asked if we would consider seeing a general surgeon {he said "I'm just a little ole thoracic surgeon, LOL!} and see if he would do the fundoplication {the stomach surgery to stop the acid reflux}. We said of course and he is trying to get him to see us tomorrow.

While it would be nice to be able to have the surgery sooner than later I still question if Steve is strong enough to handle it and the stress could also aggravate the vocal cord issue so he would still have the breathing difficulties. It's so hard to know what to do!

And if that was not enough Steve has a nodule on his adrenal gland that the surgeon says may be another carcinoid tumor so he needs to see an adrenal specialist. He also needs to see a hematologist because of the blood clots.

While we were walking out to the car Steve asked what happened to the good old days when you had one doctor who did everything. I said "like when they had Doc Baker in Walnut Grove and he delivered the babies and buried the old folk and got paid with chickens?" Well Ma & Pa still had to go to Mankato to see a special doctor when Doc Baker couldn't figure out what was wrong with Baby Charles Jr. {I left out the part where he died anyway!}

We aren't making any decisions right now. If we can get into the surgeon we will go from there. We are still going to go to Stanford on Monday and explore all the options we have. Prayer is, as always much appreciated. And opinions and advice are welcome too!

And Bruno continues to do well. He did get sick all over our bed at 3am so I am limiting his intake today and giving him boiled rice and chicken, which he loves.
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