Tomorrow will be two weeks since my loved one’s surgery.

The spot on his right kidney was considered an “incidental finding” as the doctors sent him for a scan due to stomach discomfort.  The urologist referral was made, and the doctor explained this is how 95% of kidney cancers are found.  Now that they knew about it, they could not ignore it.  A biopsy was performed which revealed results none of us wanted.  Tearfully, we tired to make peace with the news, trusting in God the entire way.  We knew the mass would ultimately need to come out.  Thankfully, it was a slower growing cancer, but it was cancer … and no one likes to hear that “C” word.  Ever!

What started out as a mission to get the spot on the upper right portion of the kidney ended in the removal of the whole right kidney.  Once inside, the doctor determined this was the safest way to proceed, even if it was not the desired outcome.  It was too close to a major artery.  Therefore, the doctor proceeded with removing the entire kidney instead of chancing anything detrimental and catastrophic happening.

It was hard to hide the disappointment in his face when we told him after he woke up in recovery.   That was his very first question, and we could not keep it from him.  He was still with us, and that was the most important thing to us all.  He still has a good functioning kidney, and we will pray that it remains healthy.

In these two weeks, he has had to adapt to a new way of life … for now.

He is used to going and doing, but right now, he has to take it easy.  It is at the end of Winter here, so the timing was right so he wouldn’t be tempted to get outside and do yard work.  But, being inside day in and day out is wearing on him.  Walking to the mailbox helps, but it doesn’t take the place of having your hands in the dirt or hooking up to your tractor to plant seeds in the field.

The doctor asked him to allow two weeks before driving again.  You don’t really realize all of the muscles you use to drive, look over your shoulder, steer, turn, etc.  Reluctantly, he agreed to wait and not push himself.   A massive sneeze snuck up on him over the weekend, and he felt incredible pain as a result.  Usually, he will keep a pillow nearby to hold next to his stomach if he sneezes or coughs to soften the force.  It happened so fast, though, that he was not able to get the pillow in time.

Ouch!

One would think the incisions would be on his back, but the mass was located in an awkward position facing his navel instead of his spine.  Therefore, it was necessary to go in through his stomach.  The doctor was one of the first trained in robotic assisted surgeries, so the incisions aren’t as big as what one would have with traditional surgery in years gone by.  Technology has advanced, and we are thankful for the improvements made.  Even still, there are five incisions.   The lower one, being longer than the others, is the main one giving him soreness.

Two weeks may seem to fly by for us, but they drag on for someone recovering from surgery staring at the same four walls day in and day out.

Please pray for comfort and complete healing, for his left kidney to be perfectly healthy and functioning as it should without any issues.  And please pray for his mental wellbeing as well as he allows himself time to rest and fully heal from this major surgery.

Thank you for those who have taken the time to follow along and for the prayers lifted up.  God hears, and we will continue to trust in Him.  We thank Him for His hand of protection over our precious loved one.  As much as we love him, we know God loves him even more!