Woke up kind of early this morning, must have had the weather on my mind. The normal routine; shave, wash my face, get dressed, feed Suzanne then my breakfast. Just another day . . . NOT! Today is the day we learn what if anything else can be done for Suzanne’s cancer.

Since we were taking a road trip and the weather may not cooperate, we packed some clothes & feeding supplies. Then just before we headed out the door, a little prayer & a tearful hug.

Got there a little early as we never know what the traffic might throw at us. So after checking in, we wait, trying to be calm as the unspoken emotions inside us both churn. Finally, we hear her name and off we go.

Bottom Line: Surgery. Actually a pretty long and radical surgery. All the details will be explained at our pre-operative appointment but here is what we know. Suzanne will lose a third or more of her tongue, a number of lymph nodes, and other connective tissues inside her throat. Then re-construction will take tissue from her arm to replace & cover the open areas inside her throat. This surgery will take from 8 to 10 hours and she will be in the hospital for a minimum of 10 days. A tracheotomy tube will be placed to prevent her from using her throat in any way for 4 to 6 weeks which will be removed in stages.

Scheduled for February 23, Suzanne will meet the reconstructive surgeon on the 15th of February. She will also meet with her throat therapist to work on pre-op exercises to strengthen her throat muscles.

Total recovery after surgery is expected to be two to three months if there are no complications. The unknown, which will be revealed during surgery, is whether she will talk or eat again. This will all will be determined by the skill of the surgeon and the hand of God.

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 41:13