Time to Recover

Finally. It's over and we can start to recover and find our "new normal."

In general, the surgery went okay. As expected, the tumor had ruptured and he has a fair amount of blood in his belly. There is no way to know why it ruptured and sometimes "it just happens."

The plan prior to rupture and internal bleeding was to remove the tumored mass with significant enough margins in hopes that we could bypass chemotherapy. They will test the mass to see what type of cancer it is, and some require chemotherapy regardless, but some do not if you remove it with enough margins. But, because the mass ruptured, it basically sneezed cancerous cells everywhere, and to unknown places, so Conley may end up doing chemotherapy just to make sure all the cancerous cells are gone. We should know by mid next week what the final reading is from radiology and oncology. If he requires chemotherapy, he will go back to surgery to get a port placed to use as access.

We are so thankful for his amazing surgeon and team of doctors. Conley bled a fair amount during surgery, which was expected, and he had lots of blood in his belly from the rupture, so he ended up getting yet another transfusion. This made the surgery much more complicated, but never once did I question the quality of care he was receiving.

Surgery also had to cut off part of his tummy where the initial infection started weeks ago beccause it continued to look infected despite several ongoing antibiotics.

Now, for the good news! He's alive and stable. Lungs and heart are stable and doing great. He is still intubated, meaning a tube is down is throat helping and controlling his breathing so he doesn't have to work as hard. Also, since he is not able to do dialysis until tomorrow, all the extra fluid he is receiving can put extra stress on his lungs. He seems very comfortable with pain medication and sedation, but it's quite hilarious that every time mommy talks or touches him, his heart rate and blood pressure escalate! That little warrior is already trying to play with me again!

We are hoping for a restful night since they are trying to minimize stimulation. I hope to be posting smiling pictures again soon!