Journal entry by Erin McNamara-Ankney —
Well... Here it is. Time to start journaling and detailing this journey. 🙃I have what is called ampullary cancer. I have a 5/8 inch malignant tumor in the Ampulla of Vater. On April 10th, a wonderful team at the University of Iowa led by Dr. Scott Sherman will be performing a Whipple Procedure to remove the area that is affected. I know this is a major surgery. I have a long road to recovery. I am encouraged that the surgery should take care of the cancer. I will have a 2 to 3 week wait as they test the tissue that they take out for additional spots of cancer.
Here is how the day will stack up: I will arrive at the U of I and be prepped for surgery. The doctors will make a couple small incisions and send some cameras around my abdomen looking for any obstructions or reasons not to proceed. Should they find nothing, no abnormalities, they will then make a long incision taking part of my pancreas, duodenum, stomach, and then hook it all back up.
I will be in the hospital at least a week, maybe two. I may come home with a drainage tube and there is a small chance that I will have a feeding tube. The doctors say I have a 4 to 6 week recovery period, hopefully at home. :)
I'll be encouraging my family to make updates while I can't. Leading up to the surgery, I'll let you know how I'm feeling. Here are a few things to be very clear about:
- Please, no financial donations.
- We don't know what I'll be able to eat right away, but as soon as I know and hopefully Starbucks London Fog and Petite Vanilla Scones will be allowed!
- If you have some extra prayers to give, I'll take those
- I'll have good days and bad days, hang in there with me
- I might cry somedays, I might be angry others
- Send me all the bad dad jokes you can
- As soon as I can have visitors, one of the kids will post that
I love you all, I can't wait to be healed.
-Erin
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