LifePart2

We had a whirlwind R&R doing all the things I listed in the previous email. Unfortunately the last Nationals home game of the season was rained out; so we now have "tickets" for a game next year. The Arena Stage plays were fantastic as always (go to www.ArenaStage.org). My family raised more than $2,400 at the ALS Walk in Grand Rapids. You may not know that my sister Ruth died of ALS in 2004 after about a 9 year fight! I had to complete my annual physical on Oct 16 -- that's where the big surprise came in. Here's the story:

On Thursday - Oct 16, we had quite a surprise. When I went in for a follow up appointment to complete my annual physical. The doctor noticed something out of normal range in my blood test results. She thought it was something with the liver. Because we were supposed to leave on the next Monday (Oct 20), she ordered a sonogram that afternoon. When I finished the sonogram at 4:30 p.m., the Doctor there said there was a mass on my right kidney -- about 2 inches. She said I needed a CT Scan immediately. Even that late in the afternoon, they got me scheduled for a CT Scan at 9:45 a.m. Friday (Oct 17). After the scan, the technician said the Doctor would contact my doctor with the results that afternoon. My doctor was at a conference but she got the message. Knowing we couldn't do anything but worry over the weekend, Dr. Earle called me on Sunday afternoon. She told us to delay our travel and come into her office f irst thing on Monday. In the meantime, she also set up an appointment for us with a noted urologist/surgeon. We met with him at noon.

The tumor is well contained. Because it is more than 4 centimeters (actually it's more than 5 cm), it is likely cancer - 60-75% chance. Even if not, it could cause problems and it could turn cancerous in the future. So, we are going to remove the kidney on Nov 4. Here's the schedule:

Nov 4 Surgery at INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital in Virginia
3 additional days in hospital until I can eat normal food (not a problem I'm sure), bowels work and pain is controlled
1 week after surgery, check up with Surgeon & doctor; if all is well as expected, Bill will then return to Congo shortly thereafter (his reservations have been changed to Nov 13 -- can change again if needed).
for 3 weeks after surgery I may not drive; my nephew Jessen (Nov 13 - 16) and his mom/my sister Sally (Nov 19-25) are coming separately after Bill leaves to tend to me. In addition, my friend Wanda is here as well as many, many other good friends (including some ex-Kinshasaites who are assigned to DC permanently or temporarily) who have offered their help.
for 6 weeks after surgery I cannot travel
6 weeks after surgery I have a check up with surgeon & doctor; if all is expected, I will get a clean bill of health, get my Medical Clearance by the State Department reinstated and go back to Congo before Christmas!

Obviously, I am very lucky to have caught this so early. And, a person can live a long & happy life with one kidney. It really is: pop out the kidney, recover & return to Kinshasa.

I have to see the surgeon/doctor again in 6 months; so we will be back for another R&R in April/May 2009 (a few months earlier than originally planned). After that, if all's well as expected, I'll see my own doctor on an annual basis as normal.

God is good and has dealt me the best hand possible. I am in good spirits; my faith is very strong; I'm content and ready. Bill's nervous but then we all know it's harder to be the caregiver than the patient.

We are now in a short-term apartment (Oakwood Falls Church); I will be here for the duration. The address is Oakwood Falls Church, 507 Roosevelt Blvd, C315, Falls Church, VA 22044. No flowers please; if you want to cheer me up, I prefer you send a contribution to the Grace de Dieu Orphanage efforts -- go to www.CongoOrphans.pledgepage.org - donations. Or contribute to Stand Proud (www.StandProud.org), an NGO that does surgeries and rehabilitation for handicapped Congolese children.

I'm in good hands and very good spirits. I am blessed. It's still a bit flabbergasting...good health one day; minus a kidney the next.

Thanks for your thought and prayers. I'll update this again as soon as I can after the surgery.

Until then....