Kevin vs Cancer

 I haven't updated in a few days, as things have pretty much been the same. Appetite is still coming slowly, restlessness, and not getting comfortable enough to sleep well...however the body temperature regulation is improving. Changing sheets less. His walking distance is gaining.  His stamina slowly gaining.  Wednesday was probably the best day so far with Thursday and today (Friday) being less so. But again...all to be expected after major surgey. Just because they could do it as laproscopic surgery shouldn't fool us into thinking otherwise.😘 which by the way all incision spots healing beautifully! I will update again next Friday, following his oncology appointment, so as not to bore you with the everyday.😘 We appreciate every prayer🙏🏼❤️ Pray for continued improvement and that the appointment next Friday is what we anticipate...cancer has all been removed. And for wisdom if treatments are a possibility. ❤️❤️ Tracey

  The days are a bit the same that is why I waiting until today to update, since we had a trip to Plattsburg.  We saw an infectious Disease doctor. Because Kevin doesn't have a spleen anymore there are a few things to be careful of. He got 4 immunizations today. Will get 2 boosters in 2 months, another booster in wvery 2 or 3 years. Possibly antibiotics for a year, but we are looking into that. Yesterday while I was headed to an appointment..I had left Kevin tucked in on the couch taking a nap. Before I even got to my destination he called and said he was going for a drive!  Just went to the farm.. Didnt get out or anything...but was whipped when he got back!   Building up his stamina will take a little while! His appetite is improving.  Was craving steak, so 2 nights ago got take out. He ate 1/2 of a 14 oz delmonico. Yesterday I went to Price Chopper and picked up a couple cuts and some salmon dinners. He has eaten steak 3 times so far! Building up his str...

A better day than yesterday! A longer walk outside with a short bit in the woods.  Has eaten more today!   Still moving slow and tires easy, but we knew this was going to be a slow recovery...takes time.   I keep reminding him. Tuesday we go to Plattsburg for his 3 vaccinations. We have to consult with an infectious disease doctor. These will be yearly. Thank you again for all the love and prayers!❤️❤️

  Sorry about yesterday....it was a long day and didn't get a chance to write before I crashed. The ride from Burlington wasn't too bad. We got home and both were on the couch. He slept down in bed, first-time since surgery! Kevin was feeling a bit better Thursday so I went to work doing the shopping job with Rachel. As I called and checked on him he was doing ok. First time he had been outside. Walked to the backyard,  laid (yes, I said "laid" like have to get up off the ground) out in the sun, but it got too hot.   The next time I called he had made himself some chicken stir-fry. (Yes he had easy foods easily available). By the time I got home he was feeling poorly. Went right to bed.  His pain is actually doing ok. He feels weak and drained and very full no matter how small he eats.  His body isn't regulating its temperature very well, one minute cold, next hot. We have read that can be common with spleen removal.  So today, Friday, similar to yeste...

 Home again, home again, jiggity, jig. Well, no jigging!  But home sleeping on the couch. He has been up had broth and toast...sleeping again. He tires quickly, but is moving around better.  All to be expected! When we left the hospital we went over to Hope Lodge to the room and he was able to shower and take things at his pace.  What a wonderful place! Cookies and hand made earrings this morning.❤️ We have the surgeon's personal cell phone number if we have ANY problems. He is fantastic! So, rest and recovery and we go back October 3 for post-op visit, to discuss pathology results and "a plan". I will update tomorrow after his first whole day at home! Thank you again all❤️❤️❤️

  We are on the up swing. Pain has been at its best so far and with minimal pain meds.  Eating small amounts, but we are doing it frequently...every 2 hours or so along with enzymes. The team here stopped the antibiotics...not certain he had any infection.  All typical post-op symptoms after a surgery like this. So today was many walks around "the loop" Sister Donna was here She did some walks with us. Not their usual hiking,  but Kevin was moving at quite a pace! They sat in the solarium and enjoyed the sun. He has eaten the most today..and not felt sick. The worst part today was when he had to cough and he didnt have his binder on..it was quite painful.  Still sleeping a lot ..which is a good thing  So a spot of delicious nostalgia for me today!! They sell Wlicox Ice Cream from East Arlington VT here at the hospital!! Was just like being at Grammy Hill's house! Except hers was in the white plastic tub! The flavor was still the same! 😋❤️ I even went and g...

  I would like to say "nothing much to write today"...but....things didn't go as predicted or planned. But when does it!?   This is how the day was at 4:30pm... Don't panic...nothing is horribly wrong with Kevin. And he hasn't gotten worse. But the hospitalist that came on today at Alice Hyde wasn't comfortable with some of his lab values, and the low grade fever that popped up a few times.  And typically the best thing is for those who are familiar with the surgery, with what was done and what happens after, are the best to check things out. We were glad his surgeon accepted him as a transfer patient back to UVM in Burlington...so he and his team could monitor him.  Because to the hospitalist from Alice Hyde these things that seemed potentially serious, the surgical team and even the nurses here at UVM  look at as typical post-operative ailments.  But they will keep an eye out for any issues and are going to be watching his nutrition...as he isn't eat...

 Today has been marked with improvement.  The IV meds were doing their job and he slept better last night...but still not eating..he is on a clear liquid diet..but just couldn't tolerate anything, except some apple juice.  He showered this morning. And walked the halls a couple times. Slept well in between.  The day doctor shifted his meds to oral that he will go home with. Tweeking the time intervals to help the best.  So this evening he was downgraded and been moved from IMCU to a med surg room...so definitely improving! They also started pancreatic enzymes. Which, after the third dose seems to be helping the stomach. He actually had a whole cup of sherbet, And once in the new room had a jello! Most he has eaten in days! Amen! (Thank you Marah for all your wisdom!♥️) We were told  pancreatic enzymes might be a possibility,  how ever, they should have been and will be from now on, a necessity!  So, if things continue upward possibly home tomorrow...

We are at Alice Hyde Emergency.  We came last night,  late, as he was having tremendous pain. Scan showed nothing for concern. Just post operative, gave him some more pain meds and we got home around 2am. By this afternoon he was feeling awful and pain bad again.  Back we came. This time.. They are admitting him. Will do the pain meds that work and IV fluids. No food until he feels better and the stomach starts working again.  All he is feeling is post-op...but better managed in the hospital. They will monitor his labs etc. No need to go back to Burlington, as it is all easily managed right here.  There is some fluid collection inside, but normal post-op and usually reabsorbes, but of course is attributing to the pain. The stomach being "stalled" is normal post-op as well.  And all should begin to be better over the next couple days. He is in good hands here in Malone, so many care about him here. But of course we know he is held in the BEST Hands through i...

 7pm It has been a long day for Kevin.  Keeping meds managed. Eating very little. He has walked to the mailbox twice. I had intended on posting a photo of that...but didn't get one. The pain in his left flank has been bothersome today. Though the meds have allowed sleeping in between.  He is staying on the couch recliner...getting up from the laying down position is too painful.  Praying for some improvement in the pain level tomorrow.  We thank everyone for their prayers!  More tomorrow 

 It is 2:50 pm, and I will update a bit early today. Yes, that's Kevin waiting for his discharge meds. I have just gotten him settled on his couch at home! The bumps were rough and it was a long ride home....but we are here! He saw the surgical team and Dr Pineda, his oncology  surgeon, had blood work and got some pain meds before they sent him on his way. We will see Dr. Pineda on October 3 when we will discuss the pathology results and the plan.  Now, rest, keep pain managed and pray no fever. Just new things to watch for when someone doesn't have a spleen. If he spikes a fever we have an antibiotic that he takes immediately and then we head to the ER.  So pray he does NOT develop any fever, his pain lessens and he can rest and eat. Still not much of an appetite.  We can not tell you how much we appreciate all the prayers up to this point! In doing some research; this cancer, PNET (Pancreatic Neoendocrine Tumor) is truly a blessing from what the original MRI r...

  When I returned at 6am he had had a rough night with dizziness,  nausea and vomiting. Couldn't pee so they had the catheterize him twice😞 They gave anti nausea meds and a patch behind his ear to help with dizziness. He ate some jello, managed to pee on his own, and we walked the loop in the hall! All before 10am!  Then he had broth, walked some more and used bathroom again.  He sleeps a lot in between, which is good.  There is some significant bruising and swelling today. They put a binder on to help with the swelling  He tried mashed potatoes and spinach tonight..just a couple bites.  He is working hard at drinking and walking. There is a lot of pain when he moves around.  But is sleeping in between so that is a good thing. Will help him heal.  He asked for some.pain meds (he didnt really have any during the day) to hopefully have a better night and get some sleep.  I left about 930...they had given him anti nausea meds and pain meds...

  Tuesday September 9 Arrival at hospital 9:45am. Sister Bobby Jo followed us.  Pre op began around 10:30 He got a intr athecal injection; something new to us. [ delivers a medication directly into the subarachnoid space (the space containing cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) surrounding the spinal cord .  This route allows medication to reach the central nervous system (CNS) ] less side affext as medication being administered traditional routes.  He went back for surgery  around 12:30. Into OR at 1:10. All went well. The surgeon came out and said they removed the tumor and approximately 1/3-1/2 of pancreas and had to do a larger incision because his spleen was "huge". The large spleen is just Kevjn, bot an indication of anything. He feels he got it all but we will wait for pathology to be sure. And he will have a PET scan in 3 months to be sure there is none anywhere else. Kimberly Burgess happened to have to be in Burlington for work so was able to come over to see ...

Background It was suggested this might be easier for people to follow and be updated. So will give it a try. First a quick back story (as a few people have asked) So....the end of 2017 Kevin had hernia surgery with mesh repair. Had issues with a saroma needing to be drained in 2018. In 2023 he was having pain and thought it was hernia bothering again. They did a scan said "hernia fine...but we ound a mass on your pancreas tail."  They biopsied in Feb 24. Results..."inconclusive" but no cancer. He had a scan in July '24 and no change. A repeat scan in July '25 showed marked increase in size. And a MRI showed adinode carcinoma (not good). Biopsy August 7th revealed cancer but neuroendocrine tumor which is better, more treatable, Slow growing. Can be removed and that is all to be rid of it.  No symptoms  that we are aware of or anything.  We saw oncology for the first time August 29th at UVM in Burlington. We left the hospital that day with a surgery date and a...