Pathology Report

Well we just got the biopsy report back from pathology and it has been determined that the type of cancer Evan has is not Carcinoid cancer after all but is Neuroendocrine Cancer. In a month, once he has recovered from his surgery, he will have to go through chemo to try to get rid of the tumors in his liver. The report also showed that 28 out of the 29 lymph noids that were removed were full of cancer. So it looks like we have a longer battle ahead of us than we anticipated. He has been having a difficult time breathing today and we are thinking that it is because of the pain he has been in. The nurse has just hooked him up to a pump that will distribute his pain meds in 15 min increments instead of getting it all at once every 2 hours. If he can increase his oxygen saturation level then they will increase the dosage amount. We have a better nurse this evening than we did throughout the day but I am going to stay here at the hospital with him tonight anyway to make sure he is taken care of. Evan might be up to some visitors tomorrow but please call before you come just to make sure. His room is on the 10th floor in the tallest building here at the Intermountain Medical Center. (5300 South and just west of State St.) The number for his room is 507-1014.

Out of ICU

Yippy!!!! We are out of ICU!!! Evan has been moved to the 10th floor (Room 1014) and is looking and doing so much better today but he is still not up to visitors yet. They have had him up and sitting in a chair twice today, of course he didn't like that too much. He did great!!! He is doing a lot of sleeping but that is just what his body needs.

It's been a long day

It has been a very long day today that started at 4:00am. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 and by the time we got checked in and had a chance to speak with the Doctor, it was just after 7 when they took Evan away for his surgery. They anticipated the surgery would take around 6 hours but it took 10 hours. As the hours ticked by, someone would call me to let me know how Evan was doing. Finally at around 7:00pm the surgery was over and the Doctor came to speak with me. He said that the tumor was larger than they thought it would be so it took them longer than expected. He said that the tumor was about the size of a large grapefruit and was fully removed. He then said that they didn't remove the two tumors in the liver because there was no point in removing the two and leaving 100 behind. They will biopsy the tumor to verify that it is Carsinoid cancer as they originally thought. If it is Carsinoid then they will do nothing at this point with the tumors in the liver but if it is another form of cancer then they will have to do chemo. We should find out the results of the biopsy on Wednesday or Thursday. They took Evan to the ICU and told me to wait until they came and got me. At 9:00pm I still hadn't been called back so after some checking, JayDee, Matt, Melody and myself were able to go and see him. It was very difficult to see him so miserable but it was good to see that he had color to his face. He was still not fully awake by the time that we all left but he knew we were there. It is now 11:55pm and I have only been home long enough to make this post. When I left him he was in room 507 but they will probably move him by tomorrow. Thanks for all of your prayers, phone calls and posted messages. I will continue to post information as Evan progresses through his recovery. We send all of you our love.

Evan & Julie

Schedule Time for surgery

Tomorrow is the big day. We were told to be at the hospital at 5:30 in the morning so I imagine the surgery will start around 7:00. They said I need to go to the tallest building to check in, I don't know if this is going to be the same building that my room will be in but I'm sure Julie will post the room and phone number once I get settled in. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and concerns. I gain strength knowing that others are there to support me and my family.

Evan

My Favorite Wallpaper

I love this picture because it is so peaceful. I wish I could be there all day.

Dedicated to My Wife.

This is a song that I dedicate to you dear. I love you.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dVwhZ5GN_E


I Love you dear,

Evan

Rushing To Get Ready

As you all know, I am scheduled for surgery on Monday July 21st a week from today. I am trying so hard to get all the little things done that I feel like need to be taken care of before the big day so that I wont have to worry that something didn’t get taken care of and I will miss the deadline for getting it done.

I am a bit OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder) so that should explain what I mean. When I stop and think about it, I can’t think of many things that still need to be done but then some times it seems like there are a million things that I should be doing.

One of the other issues that we are facing is this mess that some of you are aware of with the “House” issue. I confronted the guy who did this to us and he just continues to lie and won’t face the fact that he is fully responsible for this mess.

I have just had to face the reality that what ever happens will happen and we are going to have to deal with it. So we might be moving into the second construction home at some point and trying to sell our house.

Today I talked with one of the Lien holders and he has been fantastic in understanding what we are going through. We ended up talking on the phone for about ½ an hour and really we have become pretty good friends. I won’t mention his name but I will tell you that if you ever need any hardware supplies, you can trust Burton Lumber.

This has been a little bit of a long entry but I wanted to update you on how it is going and I plan on one or two more entries before I go in Monday.

I really appreciate all the support I have been getting. It helps knowing that people really care.

Evan

For those unfamiliar with Carcinoid Cancer as I was, the Zebra is the symbol that is used because it is very good at blending in and hiding. It can appear to look like something else.

Breast Cancer has the pink ribbon and Carcinoid Cancer has the Zebra. Now that I have been diagnosed I am clinging to everything that I can that gives me hope and my hope is that the Zebra that was inside me was found before it had a chance to look like something else.

Evan

Whipple Surgery

Before After

Today was a Downer Day

Well, today is July 3rd and it was a downer day for me. I have been deeply depressed today due to several situations. I am trying to deal with a financial mess that a neighbor got me in to and today I was trying to work on it with no success.

I also am starting to get more anxiety about my surgery as each day goes by. I hate being in the hospital and the thought of surgery puts me into panic mode.

The only good news I got today was a phone call from a Carcinoid Cancer patient’s daughter who runs a big foundation for Carcinoid Cancer and she talked to me for a while and helped me feel better about it.

Her mother has survived her Cancer for the past Twenty years and is still doing fine. There is hope !!

She was able to get February 14th set aside as Carcinoid Cancer Awareness day in her state and that makes me want to push for the same thing here in Utah. I am going to try and set up a meeting with our Governor to see if I can push for awareness.

Well, that is all for today, I am hoping to feel better about life tomorrow.

Evan

Game Plan

Well,

I went to visit with the Oncologist yesterday and he advised me that he wants to do a surgery called a “Whipple” where they will be taking out the part of me where the Tumor is as well as 1/3 of my Pancreas.

The surgery is scheduled for July 21st and I will be in the hospital (Intermountain Medical Center 5400 S 700 W)for one week and then home recovering for four weeks.

He also advised that I should not need Radiation or Chemo after the surgery. I will just need to do regular check-ups and that I should be able to live a long healthy life.

Thank you all for your support as our “Fighting Hearts” battle through this.

Evan

Naming of My Blog

Just a quick note to let you know why I named my Blog "Four Fighting Hearts".

Julie and I have been married for Twenty years now and have two wonderful children and I just found out that I have a Carcinoid Tumor / Cancer.

So I thought it would be an easier way to share information with all of you on how I am doing by creating a Blog and updating it for everyone.

Well we as a Family are "Four" people, plus our Son-In-Law Matt. And we are all going to fight for my cure.

Hence the name "Four Fighting Hearts"

Evan