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Husband will have surgery on September 21, two weeks from Monday. They will remove all lymph nodes on both sides of his neck from below his ears to his collar bone. Praying this gets all the cancer, the cancer that was NOT supposed to have spread and he can be well and get on with living. I am worried because of 4 hours of anesthesia, but we are anxious to get it over with.
Again I will be camped in my RV at the Kiwanis House RV park on the hospital campus grounds. Finally I get to go camping again.
The best news was his surgeon who did the surgery two years ago, and who is leaving soon for a new job at UCLA, WANTS to do this surgery so has arranged to be the surgeon like days before he leaves then turn Mel over to one of the other senior cancer ENT surgeons. The Fellow( a ENT Dr taking another year or two of a sub specialty) will be assisting and will also follow him as he recoverers. Then our radiation oncologist who did the previous radiation will get to focus her beams on him another 30 times or so.
So another step in the journey. Tomorrow, or make that now today, we head to the lab for blood work and chest X-ray. Friday we see the doctor for pre-op physical, and after for EKG. I moved his dentist appointment so,his teeth will be cleaned the week before surgery. So I just need to damp dust the van, check fluids and air pressure, as well as shop and stock the larder for a week, along with putting personal stuff in. They say 3 to 4 days in the hospital, depending on drains.
Somehow this is not how I planned to use my RV and yet I am so glad i have it and to pay the Kiwanis a few bucks rather than an impersonal hotel room at $167 a night !!!
Velda

Velda, you know my thoughts and prayers will be with you and your DH. Yes, not the best camping experience to have, but there will be some comfort that you're in your own space with familiar things.

(((hugs)))

So glad it's all scheduled, and hoping it all goes beautifully.

Having your own home away from home ought to be a blessing too, a bit of comfort and familiar in a trying situation.

Prayers for both of you and hopefully they will get it all this time...
Thank goodness you have your rig instead of paying out all that money and you will be more comfortable at your own place

..
Velda, prayers for a beautiful and healthy outcome.
Stay strong. Being in your own "home" should help with that!
..

More prayers for you and DH --

Velda - Now you and hubby have a plan and you get to use your own living arrangements. Prayers for both of you.

Linda

Praying for a great outcome and a swift recovery, Velda. We're all pulling for you. And, please keep us informed of his progress whenever you feel comfortable or need to "talk."
Eileen

Velda, thanks for the post and the info on Mel. I have been thinking of you and wondering what you and Mel decided to do. Now that it is all decided, and you have a nice place to "camp", I hope you are feeling better about your decisions.

That was interesting about the surgeon deciding to stay and operate on Mel himself! What a caring Doc.

Keep us informed and know we are all pulling for Mel and success of his surgery.

Love you, Lyn

Glad to hear that everything is moving forward. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

Healing prayers going up for both you and your precious hubby, Velda! Damn cancer, I'm so sick of it!

Wonderful,

Hugs and prayers as you take the next step. As Sharon said - 'damn cancer'.

Thank you everyone. I will post that day when I can. There is good Internet at the hospital though it can be busy during the day, there is always Verizon. Hard part will be sitting in waiting room waiting for news on progress. They are good about calling back to OR but not knowing what my nurse brain wants to know is hard as they give generalities while i want more specifics I am pleased Dr Luu wanted to do this. He is a good guy as well as good Dr and UCLA is lucky to get him.
Velda

Velda, stay strong and know that we are all pulling for you and DH. What a good thing Kiwanis is doing by providing a hookups/camping for the hospital. I wonder if they do it at other hospitals.
Big hug. Peggy