MEDICAL UPDATE:

Met with the surgeon this afternoon.  I had a first to happen.  About two minutes past our appointment time the surgeon’s assistant stuck her head in the door and said, “We are really sorry but are running about 15 minutes behind.  We hate to get off on this foot.”  Are you kidding? 15 minutes wait in a doctor’s office?

Great doctor.  Life, intelligence, spirit (and I believe Spirit).  Matter of fact, to the point, helpful and hopeful.  We don’t really know any more for sure than we did.  Scope surgery, have the tissue analyzed while I am on the table (pathology just across from the operating room), and then do what needs to be done.  He told us some more possibilities—some better than we thought and some not.

We’ll know the surgery time at 9:30 p.m.  (Lexington time) this evening.  We’ll post it then.

Let’s pick the kind of surgeon that you think I might like: Less than 5’9” tall, probably called a husky when he was a kid, lots of laughter, and a steak and potatoes kind of guy!   That’s my surgeon.

All the surgeons here want to look at my leg, which most of you have never seen.  He was very impressed with Dr. Shives' and Dr. Tran’s work.   He noticed the two tattoos on my leg (two dots to set up the radiation from before.)  I told him that I tell teenagers that I have a couple of tattoos.  He said, “Show them your leg and tell them, ‘This is what happens when a tattoo goes bad.’”

LIFE UPDATE:

Some more things I have learned.

1.) Longer the grey hair, the better chance of getting the senior discount.  I got a haircut this morning.  We went back to the same buffet this afternoon where we had eaten yesterday.   Cost was $3-$4 more.   Guess Teresa must have looked too young.

2.) Dietary admonitions for this afternoon: no fruits or veggies, no red meat, no pork.  Are you serious?  I had a carbohydrate overload from mashed potatoes, bread, corn bread, and ice cream.  Well, and more ice cream.  Actually all of the ice cream I wanted.  (When we were checking Teresa’s mom into the nursing home they asked about her mom’s food likes and dislikes.   I told Teresa if she is ever asked those questions and I am in the shape her mom is in, just cross out everything and write in, “Ice cream.  He only eats ice cream.”

3.) There are lots of believers here, in spite of how global this place is.  We have heard “How Great Thou Art” sung in the main lobby and “Amazing Grace” and other hymns played on the piano.  The “ask the question girl” who signed me in told me about her small church just outside of town.  The surgeon and his assistant have the Spirit of Jesus.  Even the vampire who took my blood told me that her brother had returned from a month long mission trip to Taiwan (her home country) and Viet Nam.  

4.) I started a book while I was lying in bed in the middle of the night.  Got up early and headed to the breakfast room so I wouldn’t keep Teresa awake.  I have eight chapters done already—well at least the chapter titles!  I am not sure whether anyone else will ever read it if it ever gets down on paper.

5.) This could be trouble.  I already have the sermon theme for the first Sunday I am back.  Two-three weeks preparation on one sermon.  Oh no!

Thanks for your prayers.   We’ll sure take them tomorrow.