January 12, 1999

Posted January 12, 1999

Here's an update on Wally's 1/11 surgery:

Wally came through yesterday without any surgical complications, but the end result, unfortunately, wasn't the outcome we'd hoped for.

I talked to Wally's disappointed surgeon just after the operation; he told me that he'd found evidence of new cancer cells in Wally's pelvis that were too small to show up on the CT scan. Although these cells are mostly very small and aren't showing up in any vital organs, it's unlikely that they could all be removed surgically without missing some of them. So it looks like a surgical cure isn't an option any more.

Wally's not in as much pain as he was the last time around, and we're thankful for that (although he still needs morphine to control the pain this soon after surgery). Since it was a shorter, less invasive procedure, he probably won't be staying at the hospital as long as expected, and will come to stay with me again for a while to recuperate before going home.

The bad news, of course, is that we're moving into a period of uncertainty. The next course of action will be more chemotherapy, which I'm told is enough to control the advance of the disease in some patients. The last time Wally had chemo, the results were encouraging so we're hoping that another course, probably administered in a way that allows for better results with fewer side effects, will help to keep the disease at bay.

Although he's often groggy from the painkillers, our friend is often quite lucid and seems to be adopting a stoical attitude toward his situation at this point. He's been through a lot already, and I think that attitude could help him deal with these new challenges. His GP came in today and mentioned how depressed he felt after talking to the surgeon; Wally remarked to me later that he thought his doctor was "more depressed than I am."

Once again, I'd like to thank all of you for your kind thoughts. They really do help to keep Wally going during these difficult times. I'll again be printing out your messages and taking them to him at the hospital, and will post another update in a few days.

Love,
Jim