Port-a-cath

Just a quick update to say that Wayne had his port-a-cath, an under-the-skin port for use with his chemo, implanted surgically today.  The procedure was short--twenty minutes, and he didn't even spend much time in recovery.  The worst part was that although they wouldn't let him eat after midnight last night or drink anything after 11 am today, they didn't get him into surgery until after four!  He spent more time in the admitting room than he did in surgery and recovery combined! By the time the doctor took me back to recovery, Wayne was sitting up wide awake drinking apple juice and asking for food, which they promptly brought.  He made short work of two packages of pudding, one apple sauce, one jello and a plate full of various crackers.  Then we left, stopped at the store and bought him a new pair of jeans because he has outgrown all his old ones, and went out to eat, where he ate a hot turkey sandwich with potato soup and mashed potatoes and gravy.

All that food is getting to him. His belly is still growing and his face is rounded.  He looks great to me, and he is gaining fast.  As of today, he weighs 156 and is in the biggest sized pants he's ever been in.  And he just came in from outside and now is eating chocolate pudding out of the bowl he made it in.  He is really enjoying his food, and I am really glad.  I hope that continues after he starts chemo.

Yesterday we went to Leavenworth because I had an appointment with my doctor.  He lost his first wife to cancer the year after the Sorenson family reunion.  They were our next door neighbors, and I remember how quickly she went downhill.  When we talked about Wayne, I told him I knew he knew how I was feeling.  He told me that there would be bad days, but that there would be great days, that will become cherished memories.  With that in mind, after my appointment, we decided to play tourist and check out all the new shops downtown.  We had a great time, and we ate our way from one end of Front Street to the other.  We got cream filled cream puffs at the Danish bakery, ice cream at Bearly Perfect, and taffy from the taffy store.  And while I was at the doctor's, Wayne was enjoying a free meal at King Ludwig's.  Then we went for Chinese (hoping to recreate our memories of eating Chinese delivery in Korea.  It didn't work, but we had a great time anyway.)  We had a great time and although he may have said good bye to friends who work downtown, we didn't dwell on that at all.  And we also got a couple of angels: a guardian angel lapel pin for Wayne, a courage angel lapel pin for me, and and angel of hope worry stone to share.  Our day yesterday is a memory I will cherish, regardless of the outcome of his cancer.

Tomorrow morning, he starts chemo.  He's getting carboplantin, and old but strong drug that works well for his type of lung cancer.  To that Dr. Tucker has added a newer one called pemetrexed.  They give anti-nausea meds before they start the chemo, and although he will lose all the hair on his body, he shouldn't get too sick.  I really hope the doctor is right about that because I think Wayne needs to be able to eat.  Donna and Arlen are coming to be here for his first treatment, and Wayne is excited to see them.  I think that one of the good things that is coming out of his cancer is he is getting to see his family more.

I'll write again tomorrow after chemo, when we find out how well he did with it.