Surgery a Success!

/ Writings By Rosemary
HDU_HooksPancreas

Hook’s new pancreas as drawn by Dr. Fleming post op.

3:21pm  We got the third call from the surgical assistant that the surgeon was closing Hook up and that the surgeon would be by to talk with us.   Sagging my shoulders with relief, I let out the deep breath I didn’t even realize I was holding in.

3:25pm  A second surgical assistant walked us from the surgery waiting room to the ICU waiting room.

3:27pm  The fire alarms began going off in the ICU and a twirling light started to circulate blue light.   Someone said the fire doors have automatically shut and locked.   Mary Joy is looking out the window of the waiting room to see how far down she’d have to jump in case there’s a real fire.

3:45pm  The surgeon met us in the ICU waiting room with a final update (and all was forgotten about the fire alarm!):

  • 10% of functionality of the pancreas left.  Too early to tell whether this will be enough pancreas that the body needs.
  • Hook’s spleen was removed which is fine because you can live without a spleen by re-routing its filtering functions to somewhere else in the body. Sorry this is so vague but the super technical details are too much for my head.
  • A small piece of the stomach was removed but that will only mean Hook will feel fuller faster and will probably eat more meals but in smaller portions.
  • There were some suspicious looking cancerous nodes on the back part of the pancreas which is why more of the pancreas was taken than originally planned.

The surgeon said there was a point during surgery when, had Hook been an older man and less healthy, he may not have continued with the reconstruction of the pancreas and instead would have opted to remove the entire pancreas.  Instead, Hook got the full court press surgery (neither Plan B or C) but somewhere half-way in between.

Thank you family and friends.   Thank you for staying with me the entire day.  Thank you for allowing me to communicate via blog, to keep you updated as I was updated, and to allow me to release some mental stress through writing.

Love, gratitude, and a huge, HUGE hug from the bottom of my heart.   Your prayers worked.  Your positive thoughts came through.  You helped.

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28 thoughts on “Surgery a Success!”

  9. …and here we thought that Dr Hook was a lover and not a fighter… That man’s got some fight in him! 🙂 So happy to hear the great news.

  10. Awesome news! It amazes me the wonders of science but what fascinates me the most is the power of prayer. Thank you Lord Jesus for guiding the surgeon, for giving Fish the best medical staff possible and for sitting next to my friend Rosemary on such a difficult day! Week! Month! Year! We praise you and we glorify you. Alleluia! Amen!!! Love you RMGH….. Jo Ann (JAG)

  14. Dear Rosemary, What a day you have had! I do hope that you will be able to wind down enough to sleep tonight. I am so thankful that Allan came through the surgery and hopefully is resting comfortably thanks to medication. It sounds like a pretty traumatic surgery but knowing my brother he will try to bounce back as quickly as possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both. Claire

  15. I am so thankful that the surgery is done. I am still thinking of you guys and wishing Al a speedy recovery.

  18. Giving thanks! Prayers continue for a swift, comfortable, and complete recovery. Take care of yourself too, Rosemary.

  22. WONDERFUL NEWS!!! Thank you for keeping us posted, and our thoughts and positive energy are remaining with you!! Give Al a HUGE smile for all of us at St. Ed’s (I know it may be a bit early for a hug)!!!!!

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