Successful Surgery!

After many hours of waiting yesterday, it is over.  The cancer is OUT!  We hesitate to proclaim that Trent is "Cancer Free" until he has had a full body scan, probably in one month.  But for now, we are shouting from the rooftops, THE CANCER IS OUT OF TRENT'S LUNGS!

We were schedule for surgery yesterday at 12:15pm.  However, the case before us was a very difficult heart valve replacement and they had a few problems.  So, we waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally at 7:00 pm they took Trent and I both down to the pre-surgery room.  I am sure Trent was FAMISHED by then!  But, in true Trent style, he was not complaining one bit.  We were informed what anesthetic procedures they would use and that Trent would have an epidural.  Surprisingly, Trent was pretty nervous for the epidural.  They gave him some loopy meds so he would be nice and calm while they inserted the epidural though.  After they had fully explained everything to us they wheeled him away.  I didn't even shed a tear.  I really felt very calm and at peace. 

During surgery I watched the Jazz game with my Dad, Josh, Joellynn, Tracy, Doug, and Rita.  It was nice to have something else to concentrate on.  We were told it would be at least 2 1/2 hours of surgery, possibly 6-8.  But just two hours later the nurse came out and said they were done and that Dr. Karwande would be out soon to talk to me.  Dr. Karwande brought me a picture of the tumors as I had requested.  It was so comforting to see them on the outside of his body, even if it is a little gruesome looking for some.  I don't mind looking at the pictures at all by everyone else, including Trent, is a little grossed out by it.  To me it is closure.  All the time I have seen those little blobs on the scans they have seemed abstract.  But to see them for real is different.  I guess I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that those little things tried to take my husband's life.

Two different nurses told me they had removed three tumors during surgery.  That really concerned me because there were five on the last scan.  But when Dr. Karwande confirmed that he removed three tumors from Trent's right lung it finally dawned on me.  We finally got the miracle we had been praying for.  Every scan day we would say to each other, "Wouldn't it be a miracle if the tumors were just not even there today?"  It happened.  Another miracle to add to our ever growing stack of miracles.  The two tumors in Trent's left lung were gone.  Dr. Karwande said his lung looked "pristine".  As he spoke I just bawled.  I asked him specifically, "Is Trent cancer free?"  He said it appears so but the body scan would confirm that.  He checked over both lungs very carefully and said that the two smaller tumors removed looked to be necrotic tissue.  They were no longer viable.  They will all be sent to pathology and we will know for sure in about four days.   He said Trent did very well during surgery and I would be able to see him shortly.  A few minutes after that the anesthesiologist came out and said Trent was awake and said to tell me he loved me.  I wanted to run jump on Trent right that second but I am sure that would have been a little painful so I politely restrained myself. :) 

We all got to go see him just after that.  He was alert but in a lot of pain.  He kept pushing his pain button every couple of seconds.  I cried and whispered in his ear that all the cancer was gone.  We made it!  If not for all those tubes and the fact that he had just had his chest cracked wide open,  I would have been in that bed with him squeezing him like crazy!  He just kept saying, "I love you, I love you."  Then he looked me right in the eyes and said, "Just remember the pickles."  Uh...I don't know what that means, and neither does he.  Must be one of those weirdo things you come up with right after being loaded to the hilt with all kinds of anesthesia and pain meds! 

We stayed with him for about 1/2 hour and then everyone left.  I went out to my car alone and had the most gut-wrenching, soul cleansing cry for about ten minutes.  It was like a million pounds of weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  I thanked my Heavenly Father over and over for allowing another miracle to be dropped down on our family.  I am in absolute awe of the love He has for us.  There really are not words enough to express it adequately. 

I finally made it to Josh's house and shortly after I got there the nurse from ICU called me.  She said Trent wanted to talk to me.  Trent had called to make sure I got there okay.  Oh my goodness!  He has just had his chest cracked wide open and he is still concerned about me driving six blocks in the evening snow!  It just doesn't get better than this!

A huge, heartfelt thank you to ALL of you who have been fasting and praying for this day!  I know Trent's name was in at least 16 different temples yesterday.  There is no doubt about the power of prayer.  It is tremendous and has changed our lives permanently.