The surgery went well yesterday. As we posted earlier, Sugarbaker had to take Rick's pleura, his lung, part of the pericardium, his 5th rib. The disappointing news was that there are a few cells left along the aorta. He said he could have resected the aorta and taken them, but he felt there were so few that he "clipped" them so they can be targeted with radiation later. They took out all the lymph nodes in the area and the analysis done during surgery was that they were all clear of mesothelioma. They will be analyzed more later.

Rick is doing as well as can be expected. He was awake and came into the intensive care with the breathing tube already removed, which is amazing for someone who just lost a lung. He is on oxygen, of course, but is breathing very well and has been very aware of what is happening around him. You might think that his chest would be in extreme pain, but they have blocked that. The pain he talks about is because his arm had to be held in an awkward position during the entire surgery and the nurses said that is the pain all the people who have this surgery complain most about.

I just called the hospital and his nurse, Eugene, said that Rick was able to get some sleep and that he is feeling better. All of his vital signs are excellent. His potassium is a bit low and they are adding that, but otherwise he is recovering quickly. He wants to be allowed to have ice chips, but that will have to wait for awhile. All he can have is a wet swab in his mouth and when Tricia asked how long it will be until he can have water, the nurse just said, "it will be awhile." He will probably be in intensive care with a 1:1 nurse until Monday.

It is icy cold and raining today and I am sure the walk to the hospital will be one to remember for Tricia and me. Hearing that there are mesothelioma cells left behind was hard to hear, but as Tricia pointed out - Even when the doctor said he "got it all" - It doesn't mean there aren't a few cells left behind. We know these are there and they will be treated. Today is a new day and we move on.

That's all for now. Keep checking the blog,