Happy Spring to all!!!  FINALLY!!!

It has been a long time since I have updated Caring Bridge; however, today marks the very last post for this very scary journey!  What a blessing ❤️

I want to thank each and every one of you for following dad's journey and for providing so much love, encouraging words, support and prayers.  Dad may have gotten through the physical side of this journey on his own, but I fully believe his whole army had a hand in pushing him mentally.  Each and every message mom and dad have read have always provided smiles.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

We finally got the second opinion back from Cleveland Clinic regarding dad's tissue slides from surgery.  As you already know, both Community Hospital (where the biopsies were done) and Cleveland Clinic found cancer in the biopsy tissue.  They said it was either pancreatic, bile duct or ampulla of vater cancer.  However, we are very relieved to learn that IU Cancer Center AND Cleveland Clinic were unable to find any cancer anywhere in any of the surgery tissue, including all 27 lymph nodes.  Either a miracle happened or they got all the cancerous tissue in the biopsy, which would also be pretty much of a miracle!!  Both IU Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic said they have only seen this happen one to three times in the last 30 years!!!  In addition to this wonderful news, the possibility of IgG4-related disease/autoimmune pancreatitis has also been ruled out.    

Dad does now have an Oncologist that he will continue to follow up with; however, the Oncologist did not recommend any type of post-surgery treatment.  Per IU Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic, any current findings represent predominantly dilated biliary system with features of chronic pancreatitis.  I do not know about you, but I call that a major win-dad definitely kicked cancer's booty! 

Again, many thanks and so much love-  The Browns.