Dr. Crago wanted to move my post-op appoint to next week, but we already had flights booked so she agreed to keep the appointment.  She was happy with the incision but wanted to keep the staples and drain for another week.  When she asked if we could drive to Ann Arbor to have the staples and drain removed, I asked if Danielle could remove them.  Dr. Crago wondered out loud if she'd be comfortable with that, not knowing of the staples and other surgeries Danielle performed on the boat.  😜  So we scheduled a telehealth appointment for next week when Danielle should be able to remove all the hardware.  Then I'll just be left with the port in my starboard side.

The pathology report was not complete at the time of my appointment, but it popped up on our portal later in the day.  Dr. Crago was able to cleanly remove the entire iliacus (in the figure, the green part of the iliopsoas muscle group).  Because it is mostly redundant with the psoas major (the pink part), she said I should be able to walk and run (and ride bikes, Theo) as soon as the bone heals.  However, there will likely be no ballet of professional sports in my future, even women's.  The tumor was completely encased inside the iliacus, like a mushroom growing off of my left ilium (hip bone) and sacrum.  Dr. Vaynrub had to take over to remove the bone still holding on to the tumor.  He used CT-guided tools and the pathology report showed clean margins.  There were a few areas the tumor got close to the margins that we'll keep an eye on but overall success!  We will continue with scans every 3-4 months to check for recurrence and spread, but for now we are very happy. 

It's hard to explain what it feels like to walk around for almost a year with something growing inside me trying to kill me.  While I did have the epidural, c-section scar, and frequent urination of a pregnancy, I feel this has been more like an exorcism, removing something evil from within me.  Now, I have to do the work to keep the demons from coming back!  

Thank you for all your prayers and support.  It has been so inspiring for me and a source of strength and courage.  With the worst behind me and a little bit of survivor's guilt, please pray for my friends Jeff and Chad and others struggling with cancer and other diseases.

Peace be to you all!

Kyle