I absolutely cannot wrap my mind around what happened today!! 

From my anxiety immediately prior to the surgery when they were placing my epidural, to my surgeon saying that there was more than a 50/50 chance that they wouldn't be able to continue the surgery robotically.... to now.... y'all ready for this?

As I was waking up from anesthesia, the first thing I remember was the nurses so excited, telling me that the surgeon didn't have to remove any organs because the cyst is gone!!! Meaning... no sign of it, whatsoever.... the membrane isn't even there! I still have a fully-intact pancreas, stomach, and spleen! They all have been saying that this is a miracle that only the Lord can do! 

Over the last three years, I have battled with extreme upper abdominal pain (right under my lower ribs), nausea, and vomiting. Starting in November, it got so much worse and in December, they identified the pancreatic cyst as a Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm (MCN). Once this type of cyst reaches 3cm, it is medical standard to remove it. MD Anderson didn't want to touch it and, instead, reevaluate me in December. I wasn't comfortable with that and came to Moffitt at the suggestion of friends and family. I am thanking God DAILY for this facility and my surgeon. 

The discrepancy and confusion came after my PET and CT scans from last Thursday, when they found nothing concerning. But, EVERYTHING leading up to now, led my surgeon to stage me at Early Pancreatic Cancer. The surgeon wasn't comfortable with taking those results as-is and felt that surgery was still important. 

So, long story short... from my surgery in Feb. 2016, adhesions formed. Those were removed. He could not find the cyst, even after using ultrasound directly on my pancreas. He did not remark on the second cyst (if it was there and if he did anything with it), and I couldn't remember to ask. And, subsequently, I still have my spleen because my pancreas remains intact. Finally, my stomach is fully intact because it was the adhesions that caused the appearance that my pancreas was attached to it. 

I am so glad that God spoke to me and told me that Moffitt is right where I need to be. We now know a path... to find a way to prevent the cyst from reforming and to find a way to prevent my liver enzymes from going wonky (which the doctor feels may be related to the cyst).

Anyway... the pain meds are strong and I'm getting sleepy. I'm sorry that this is long and if there is bad grammar and spelling. But, can y'all believe this?!?!? GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I am going to sleep soon with a very thankful and humbled heart. I cannot thank you all enough for rallying around me and my family with so much prayer and love.