cancerschmancer - surgery details

so surgery has been scheduled. if nothing changes, here's where we are:

tuesday, 1/14 at uci
it will take place in the morning somewhere around 10am.
it will last 6-7 hours
a surgeon who removes head and neck base tumors and specializes in the sinus area with team with a neurosurgeon.
i asked if they've ever worked together.
i also asked if he paid attention in med school.
and i asked if he got good grades.
he looked at me and finally smirked.

recovery will be determined by the surgery.
the plan is to do this endoscopically, through the nose - of course if they get in there and see that they eye is at risk, they'll change the method of surgery and remove the eye and whatever else. we're praying against that.

back to the plan:
a camera will go up one nostril; instruments up the other.
the surgeons will cut and drill away at a bone and tissue. they will remove what they need to; put back what they need to and do reconstruction if they need to. they mentioned, dura, flaps, and other words that had more than 4 letters. they'll biopsy as they take out and they will take more as they need to.

if there is brain fluid leaking, a drain will be put in and matt will stay an additional 2 days. if there isn't leaking, no drain will be needed and he may leave a day or so earlier. we've been told to expect 5 days, that's right in the middle. could be 4 days, could be 7 days. he'll have his nose packed for a week.

matt will go from surgery to neuroICU and from there he'll be in a step down room. that's a step down from ICU but not a regular room. he'll be in a private room for the whole stay. they told me once we arrive and give our car to the valet at the door, i won't have to leave until matt is discharged. i can stay in his room the whole time. HUGE answer to prayer!

i'm not sure of the hospitals rules regarding visitors in neuro ICU but we are wanting to really limit them because the surgery will expose matt's brain and of course the rest of his head. with such a nasty cold and flu season, it would really tank if he got sick from a germ when he is so close to beating cancer. if we can get him through this, we'll have lots of years - Lord willing - to visit.

we ask that you continue praying during the next couple of weeks. we see His hand in the details. we're encouraged by each call, text, email, letter, facebook comment and message. your prayers sustain us so thank you. we'll keep this updated as we can.

thank you for walking this cancer road with us. we're blessed and ever in awe - for He is good.