Today's Bible reading led me to Hebrews 12:1-2a, which says
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
I thought I would keep a journal of this new journey that my husband, Jim, and I are taking and title it "The Race."
The specifics are more about him and what is going on inside him, but because we are husband and wife and in this together, it is about us.
THE CALL
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
I thought I would keep a journal of this new journey that my husband, Jim, and I are taking and title it "The Race."
The specifics are more about him and what is going on inside him, but because we are husband and wife and in this together, it is about us.
PRELIMINARY STUFF
- OCTOBER 7, 2014 ... Jim has Barrett's Esophagus. He has had problems with digestive issues for several years and he continued to be in distress while at the Cedar Falls Bible Conference in late July/early August. A visit to our friendly neighborhood gasterenterologist Dr. Gary Weinman determined it was 2012 when he last had an endoscopy, so another was scheduled for Oct. 7 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. A tissue sample was sent to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
- OCTOBER 21, 2014 ... Jim received a call from Dr. Weinman's office. The tissue sample showed high grade dysplasia related to the Barrett's Esophagus. Having Barrett's Esophagus means there is a chance cancer could develop and high grade dysplasia meant a greater chance. We were under the mistaken thought that cancer was present.
- OCTOBER 27, 2014 ... Jim and I met with a physician assistant at the Center for Digestive Diseases, UI Hospitals, and also met specialist Dr. Gerke, a tall langly man of German descent. We were told there was no evidence of cancer. An endoscopy procedure would be done with ablation (burning) or cutting off tissue. Dr. Gerke suggested this be done every 3 months.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2014 ... Endoscopy with ablation was accomplished in the afternoon by Dr. Gerke. The procedure went well, but recovery was slow and painful for Jim with eating and drinking. Thanksgiving Dinner was not very enjoyable for him and he lost 20 pounds. Fortunately by mid-December he was much improved and with eating Christmas goodies, was able to gain back weight lost.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2015 ... The second endoscopy procedure was scheduled for 9:45 a.m. This time the doctor chose to cut off the tissue. Afterward, he said there was not as much scar tissue as hoped from the first time around. Since this time they cut tissue instead of burning it, a biopsy was sent to the lab. Dr. Gerke wanted Jim to come back again in three months. A stronger dose of sedation medicine, called proposol, would be used next time. An appointment was scheduled for May 6.
THE CALL
- FEBRUARY 19, 2015 ... Today between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Jim received a call from Dr. Gerke. Today we learned the tissue biopsy indicates cancer.
Today appointments were scheduled:
9 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, bloodtests
9:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, PET/CT scan
This procedure will determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. It is the hope of all that it has not. Dr. Gerke said the cancer was caught in the early stages, so that is a good sign. The doctor also said because Jim is relatively young at age 66 and in pretty good health (no lung or heart issues), recovery would be better.
10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, Endoscopial ultrasound
Everything will be done at UI Hospitals.
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