View from my room. Back of the OHSU Ariel tram platform:
Today should be a big day for updates later. Up to now they have been pretty unexciting and not particularly blog worthy but I wanted to get some news out there anyway since I know so many of you are thinking of me.
Updates:
I have continued to build strength in my legs. I will be able to walk. This is a big blessing given how invasive the tumor was in the nerves that are important for muscle control. I am thankful for this.
I have slowly regained some sensation of two nerves that where obliterated by the tumor but they are far from what they were and I have lots of new numbness to learn to deal with. This is my biggest challenge.
Most of my original back and all of my leg pain is gone. It has been replaced by surgery pain now. It is most painful when rolling in bed or trying to twist where I no longer can because of the new metal in there but I am managing that better every day. I am sitting and walking more.
Today we will likely have the pathology report from oncology to determine the next course of action on the cancer front. Since CT scans have shown no other tumors (praise God), a PET scan is ordered for this afternoon to confirm there are no other sites of tumors that need to be treated. Any cancer treatment must wait until my back surgery has healed and they are sure no infection is taking over. That probably means weeks (depending on cancer type and how fast it likes to move).
I slept much better last night. I got several 3 hour stretches between vitals and pain meds. That is great compared to the last two nights. The docs are happy with my progress.
When can I go home?
I have a way to go yet. I need to learn to deal with my new numbness and how to get around. That probably means an intermediate stop at an inpatient rehab center in NW Portland which specializes in such things. When they feel I’m ready to leave the hospital (maybe tomorrow at the earliest), I will probably check in there for a few days. When I can function at home, they will let me return there to continue to heal and build strength for the fight ahead.