Bitter & Sweet; A Family’s Journey With Cancer
Chapters 1 & 2
Chapter One: 2010, B.C. (Before Cancer)
May 3, 2010: Back to the surgeon. It’s a relatively quick appointment. The MRCP results show nothing of concern. Whatever the reader saw in the first sonogram is not seen as a concern in this more sophisticated picture. The “impression” could be explained as gallstones. The ducts were not constricted. There is moderate fat in the liver, which often happens with age. What does that all mean?
Bottom line — “There is no contraindication for surgery.” We’re glad it’s a go but also thankful for his thoroughness. Better safe than sorry, right?
May 5, 2010: Back to see Grace, our family doctor. This time the agenda is listed as “pre-op for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.” Geez, why are medical terms so long and impossible to pronounce?
Tim weighs in at 156, just one pound less than the last appointment. Check. There is a super long list of questions, all with negative answers. Check. (I guess the medical world is one of the few places where “negative” is actually positive news.) “Medically cleared for surgery. Labs and EKG are within normal limits.” Check.
This is the first time we see a diagnosis on paper, compliments of Dr. Wright, Tim’s surgeon. 574.10 Calculus Gallbladder with Other Cholecystitis without Obstruction. We don’t know what most of that means.
But it doesn’t seem important to know either. Simple gallbladder surgery. Since telling people about this, at least a dozen people have said “Oh yeah, I had that done, it’s a cinch.”
