Tornado

Yesterday was, well, a tornado.  A whirlwind of new information that threatened to sweep us off our feet.  We are still trying to process it all. 

We met with Dr. Whipple at McKay-Dee hospital yesterday.  He is the radiation doctor we were sent to by Dr. Gouw.  After meeting with him, radiation sounded like a walk in the park compared to what Trent has been through.  He said that when you radiate the lungs the affect is permanent and that he doesn't radiate sarcomas in the lungs very often.  They usually are not super responsive to radiation-meaning they don't just dissolve into nothing like lung cancers do.

Then we headed down to the Huntsman to meet with Dr. Gouw.  First we met with Amy, the social worker to see about trying an antidepressant for Trent.  It is very common for cancer patients to need some stabilizing medication.  I really think Trent is doing very well-all things considered.  It is just that crazy chemo that made him go insane.  We might try an antidepressant for awhile and see if it helps any. 

When we saw Katie she was all excited saying they had something for us.  Dr. Gouw told us that Trent's case had been discussed in the Monday morning sarcoma meeting and he thought that Trent should go right to surgery.  The Hunstman has recently invited a highly trained cardiothoracic surgeon from Philadelphia to join their team.  Dr. Gouw explained again that chemo was not our best option now and we might revisit it in the future if we have to but then it would only be a clinical trial.  All the the mainstream chemotherapy drugs no longer work for Trent. 

Then we met the surgeon.  Dr. Carr sat down and told us a whole crazy amount of information that kind of blew us away.  First, there is no cancer in Trent's right lung.  Yeah!  Second, the cancer in his left lung is pretty ugly and possibly involves the pericardium (we knew that) and the nerve that controls your diaphragm.  Oh.  Okay...Third, he does not have the skills or expertise to take Trent's case.  He believes there is only one person in the world that can perform surgery on Trent and that is Dr. Joseph Freidberg, in Philadelphia.  Wow.  I am sure that Trent and I both had our jaws on the floor at this point.  That is NOT what we were expecting to hear.  He said that if Trent was a 60 year old man no doctor in the world would perform this surgery, but because he is 38 and has five kids who need him, it is worth a shot.  Trent could lose as little as the tumors, or as much as an entire lung.  There are a couple more tests that have to be done first, a cardiac MRI and a PET scan.  Then those results will be sent to Dr. Freidberg and we could be flying to PA as soon as next week. (I am shaking while I am typing all of this because it is still so overwhelming!)  We may be there as long as a month if all goes well.  We are very anxious to hear from Dr. Freidberg in a couple of days. 

We talked a bit more with Dr. Carr and he explained some of the things that might happen.  He said that Trent would never run again.  Whatever.  Dr. Jones also told Trent that he would likely have a significant limp!  I am amazed at how much Trent has been able to do that he was told he would never do.  So, I am very optimistic about what his life would be like after this surgery.   I said to Dr. Carr , "If we do this surgery, we are not looking for an extra six months, or year or two..."  He immediately said, "No.  If we do this surgery, the goal is a CURE."  Oh my how beautiful that sounded!  We have no interest in going through something this big to "prolong life".  Our goal remains the same as always.  CURE. 

Of course, all of these possibilities are dependant on the results of the testing in the next few days so we are trying not to get too freaked out, nervous, or excited.   Until then, we are praying like crazy!  (When has that ever NOT been the case?) Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the prayers on our behalf!  We are overwhelmed and grateful.