I found the jar and put my name on the paper. The final leg of this journey was completed this last Friday. Dr J was the surgeon and he had the honor of not only installing the Port but also removing it. The answer to your question is no- I did not get to keep it. (he offered, but i declined) It would have been a great Christmas gift for Erin, right?
The nurses and the other staff were friendly as always. The procedure lasted about 45 min, and I took a "recovery" nap afterward. The picture is from me on the way out. They said I still have to stay off the weights for a little bit. Carrying around a 40lb child is good enough now.
Brag time- I have been so blessed with amazing friends, church members, clients, family, and, of course, my rock Erin. The positive thoughts and prayers, even from Conway, AR, have kept me pushing to reach the top.
There is a time when you get to the top of a mountain, enjoy the amazing Godly view, celebrate, and then realize that your journey is not quite over. The hard part is out of the way, but unless you have a helicopter to pick you up, there is still the trek down. So that is why we still need your thoughts and prayers (or a helicopter?).
*Prayer for my nasty cough- Radiating my throat seemed to cause a little irritation, causing some intensecoughing and thus less sleep for me but especially Erin.
*Prayer for my arm- My arm you ask? Yes my arm. Here is the back story.....
After Chemo, and before/during radiation, my arm every now and then had a funny numb-like feeling. If you want to know how it feels, remember back in gym class when the teacher told us to spin our arms in a circle, and you can feel all the blood rush to your fingertips. Yeah like that. Well this feeling has gotten progressively worse as the weeks have passed. It makes my arm a shade or three purpler and swollen (not that I mind that my arm is bigger, but just one side looks weird). It is not a clot, so no worries there, and the doctors surmised that it might be Thoracic Oulet Syndrome, possible caused by the port. Which means the port catheter took up room in my vein and thus does not allow for full blood flow, plus I am an athletic guy. This odd arm feelings started when I started working out again, so it makes some sense. I guess I am just too muscular for my own good! (just kidding)
*Prayers for my doctors as they continue to help my through recovery.
*Continued prayers for patience with all the curveballs that the mountain, life or cancer can throw your way.
As always- much love
Nate
