Gloria’s Story

Site created on October 25, 2020



                                          I asked God, “Why are you taking me through troubled waters?”  He replied, “Because your enemies can’t swim.”


Following a perforated appendix, an emergency appendectomy and a few days' hospital stay, an ERCP was performed a week later to investigate an additional abnormality found on the abdominal CT obtained as part of the appendicitis diagnosis.  During this ERCP, biopsies were taken from a tumor found in the common bile duct.  At this same time, a temporary stent was placed for widening the duct.  Lab tests later showed signs of pancreatitis, caused by the weeks' surgical procedures; and the biopsy results revealed the tumor to be cancerous.

We are using this space to keep family and friends updated as we travel on this unexpected journey. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Gloria Marko

It's been a busy few days of recovery!  Mom is home now.  She's had some really long days and tough nights.  Eating is a challenge and she's not been able to eat much without a lot of pain or vomiting.  Yesterday's success was keeping down about 4 Tablespoons of chicken broth...small steps, but important ones as she continues to heal.  She tires easily so rest is also important when she is comfortable to do so.

A post operative appointment is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) and while she will get some stitches removed, we suspect that the staples that run vertically from the upper abdomen to beyond the lower abdomen will remain in place for another week or so until they too are ready to be removed.

Even though her original bile duct biopsy was cancerous, because all of the other biopsy results were benign and the entire tumor was able to be removed, there will be no need for treatment!  While recovery will be a long road, it's a tolerable route given the original and narrow path that was anticipated - one we're so thankful not to be traveling on at this juncture.
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