Good evening friends & family!  Can you believe it's just about Christmas Eve?  I apologize it's taken a few days to update you on Chris' surgery from Monday.  We had a good crowd at the hospital that morning - Karen (my sis), Sharon (his mom), Tim, Janelyn, Lydia (his brother & fam), Abby (our amazing daughter) and Brandye (my bff).  Ed, one of our elders at church, came by early to sit and pray with us before everyone got there (so sweet & thoughtful).  The surgery was about 5 hours...which kind of answered my question of which route they were going to go in order to get the &%@# nodule.  Unfortunately, they tried the laparoscopic way and they just couldn't get to it safely.  So, they had to "open him up" as she referred to it. He has an adorable addition to his battle wounds - approx. 6-7 inches starting under his armpit down.  His original cancer was in his left bicep and this time it was in his left lung - so that side is already tender and sore most days because of the original surgery in May 2019.  

I received a call from recovery saying everything went well and they believe they were able to get all of it.  Depending on pathology report - there is a slight chance he may need a few zaps of radiation but she doesn't think so.  The nurse proceeds to tell me she did have some bad news...because of the census, he was going to be in a "semi-private" room and I would not be able to stay past visiting hours.  Well, it was already about 7:30pm at this point.  I won't go into all the details, but I was very, very emotional. In all the 4.5 years of chemo, overnight hospital stays, etc. I have never not stayed with him overnight. There was literally a curtain separating him from the other patient.  It was very difficult to leave him that night.  The medical team had initially told us if it was the more invasive surgery, he would most likely stay until Thursday or Friday.  They would take his chest tube out on Wednesday and see how he did without it.  The tube was probably the most painful for him.  He doesn't remember it being as painful from the other surgeries.  But, we found out the tube was place much higher - almost to his shoulder and that's why it felt so different.  He was really ready to get that chest tube out!  He was willing to do whatever they wanted in order to go home.  I think he was trying to show off - because he would want to go for walks around the nurses station a few times a day to prove how well he was doing.  He obviously did something right, because they decided to take the chest tube out on Wednesday and he got to come home late Wednesday night!  This was a huge answer to prayer! Oh, and two of his buddies came to visit on Wednesday - J.P & David.  That was a nice distraction while waiting for them to take the chest tube out.  

Since being home he has spent most of his time on the couch - except for getting up to use the bathroom.  Honestly, he's been hurting a lot.  He keeps comparing it to the other surgeries - but I have to remind him that this surgery was much, much bigger. Because of that, his recovery will be longer than we anticipated.  But, overall he's in good spirits.  He really wants to attend our Christmas Eve service at church tomorrow - that will be his first outing...and I bet he will do whatever it takes to be there.  It's always a special tradition in our family and he doesn't want to miss out. 

A little God moment today - I ran up to Kroger because the kids are home and wanted "snacks"...well Chris did too actually. I ran into my sweet friend Embry from church at the checkout line.  She said she wanted to sign up for our meal train but instead she insisted on buying our groceries!!!  I kept refusing telling her it was much more $ than a meal...but she wouldn't take no for an answer.  The lord blessed us today with this little reminder that He is our provider and is always in control.  Thank you to Embry & Tracy for loving us in this way. 

I attached a few pictures from the last week.  One is his incision - only because it's so rad looking.  I told him it makes him even hotter! :-). Thank you to everyone who has prayed, called, texted, etc. We feel so loved and cared for by our peeps.  Praying for a beautiful Christmas celebrating our Savior's birth for all of you!

Love you!

Nicki & Chris