Dad's Surgery

Well, my dad made it through surgery. The doctors say he did really well and he's strong. Yesterday was hard and I'm sure today will be harder. The cancer has spread to his stomach so they had to remove half of his stomach and 40% of his esophagus. They removed all of the tumor, so everything left is clean. I guess they can't tell if lymph nodes are cancerous so they are sent for biopsy and we'll get results in 5 days. Because the cancer had spread he will have to go through chemo and radiation, but won't start for 2 months until he's recovered. He's in ICU at Crawford Long on the ventilator. The doctors want the anesthesia to wear off gradually, so he should wake up today. If he breaths on his own and follows commands then they'll take the vent tube out. He's on a continuous Fentanyl drip for pain because the anesthesiologist wasn't able to get the epidural in for his pain block. They'll try again today. Apparently this is the most painful surgery you could have. So it's farther along than we thought, but hopefully they removed it all. He's got a 30% chance of long term survival meaning more than 5 years. I just hate seeing him like this. I know he's drugged and still under anesthesia, but he's so helpless. He's got a chest tube draining fluid from surgery, a nasal tube draining blood from his stomach from surgery, and a tube to breath. They had to give him some volume for his low blood pressure last night. I know the pain medicine can make his blood pressure drop, but it can also be due to blood loss or shock to his system. I'm hoping they didn't have to start of blood pressure drips last night. That's stuff I see and do every day just on a smaller scale. I know what they're for, it's just hard to see someone you love have to go through that. I'm feeling ok....a little scared because I just want to know what's going to happen. God gave me a night of wonderful sleep with no dreams or interruptions. I'm thankful for that b/c I went after work yesterday and stayed up 28 hours. We're about to go visit him this morning. We need your prayers now most of all. I can't thank you enough. I love you guys! Keep you posted.

* Please pray that he comes off the vent today and breathes on his own. That was his worst fear.
*Pray for God to take his pain away, for the epidural to work. The pain medicine his on only decreases his respiratory drive.
* Pray the cancer hasn't spread to his lymph nodes and chemo/radiation works
*Pray for an uncomplicated and quick recovery