Weekend Update

Time for me to let you know what has been going on. Phil now has a team of doctors at a big University Hospital. They are scanning and doing biopsies to find out if the melanoma has spread. Then a surgeon will remove Phil's lower eyelid, and anywhere else the cancer may have spread.

About a week later, a plastic surgeon will operate again. She will make him a new lower eyelid by taking skin from the top of an upper eyelid, and from underneath the other eyelid. She will create the new lid, attach it, and sew his eye closed for a month.

No one has ever heard of such a thing, so we have no one to talk to about it. We feel like we are in a bad science fiction movie. We will be spending a lot of time in the hospital with tests and surgeries. I STILL plan on returning to posting when things settle down! Thank you all so much for your comments, prayers, and sticking by me!!

Bad News

This is Phil after the doctor did a biopsy on his lower eyelid. We got the results yesterday, and he has stage ll melanoma. They will likely have to remove his lower eyelid and reconstruct it with skin from his neck. But first they need to check and see if it has spread anywhere. I WILL return to blogging, but we need to get through this first.  Getting old is definitely NOT for sissies!

I believe he will have a team consisting of: a head surgeon, a dermatologist, an oncologist, and an eye doctor. We go to the big University Hospital on Tuesday, and then we will know the plan. I love and miss all of you, you are the BEST!!

July Update

Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments, prayers, and cards!! They mean a lot. Now to the latest. Phil has had three infections in his incision. They had to cut his whole abdomen open and let it heal from the inside to the outside. I am packing and bandaging it twice a day, and nurses are coming twice a week. It is finally healing, though still a big open gash. Monday we go back to see the surgeon and see when Phil will be cleared. He still has a way to go, but we are walking together and he is going out now. I hope to return to blogging sometime this month!! Thank you so MUCH!! I miss you all. I have a lot of pictures to catch you up on when I return.

Monday Update

Just to let you know I am still here and thinking of all of you! I have gotten an attack of diverticulitis and am on strong antibiotics. Phil's incision may be infected. We are to go to the surgeon's office in the hospital in the morning, where he may need another surgery. I am so overwhelmed. But I know that God sees everything and is always in control! Thank you for waiting, it has been a long time. Love you ALL and I will be back! Just don't know when...

Tuesday Phil Update

Hi to everyone!! You are true friends to me, and I cannot tell you how much your comments and prayers mean to both of us!

Now for our update. Yesterday, we went to the surgeon's office. The good news is that Phil does not have an infection! But there is a hole in his incision. The nurses taught me how to clean, pack, and bandage it twice a day. They even gave me a bag with all the supplies, including surgical scissors and tweezers and sterile gloves. They also will be sending Home Health out twice a week. If all goes well, the hole will be healed in ten days. And Phil should be healed by mid to late July. I think of you all every day! And I plan on returning when we have gotten rid of this hole. LOVE to you all!! I miss you all! I am wondering what is going on in your lives.

Monday Update

Hi to everyone! I want to give you an update on what is going on. Phil has been improving. But tonight it looks like he may have an infection starting in his incision, around his navel. I am calling the surgeon's office in the morning. Thank you all for your prayers and wonderful comments! I miss you and plan on returning as soon as we are back to normal.

Saturday Update

Phil and I just got home from the hospital. He is still pretty sick. He has lots of imitations, and is taking lots of meds. He should be back to normal in six weeks to two months. I will see how things go here, and may start blogging soon! But for now, Phil still needs a good bit of care. Thanks you all so much for prayers, good thoughts, and your wonderful comments!!