tomsepper.net

My surgery has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 1st. I’m hoping to get that moved up to this week, but if not, that’ll be when it is.

I’ll be posting all further updates over at tomandmonica.com. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers!

I’m asking for your thoughts and/or prayers in the coming month.

Long story short..

I will most likely be having surgery next week to remove what appears to be a cancerous testicle. I’m posting this rather private information publicly for two reasons:

1) I am a firm believer in the power of thoughts and prayers. The support that comes from the thoughts and prayers of family, friends, coworkers, and even those people not known can and does work wonders.

2) Awareness. Not that I’m this beacon of health, but there were absolutely no signs until one week ago. It has literally appeared out of the blue. Guys – regular exams are a big deal and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

I’ll be posting semi-regular updates when possible, so your continued thoughts/prayers for me and my family would be greatly appreciated.

My Mom gave me a copy of this the other day and I thought I’d share. My Dad came up with the text.. I definitely got my Dad’s sense of humor!

Mom does not need chemotherapy!

The pathology report said that except for the bladder, there was no cancer. Ten lymph nodes were removed and none had cancer. Since the cancer was in the bladder muscle but did not penetrate it, the oncologist said there was less than a 10%-15% chance of reoccurrence. Preventative chemotherapy would not have improved that chance; therefore, no chemo!

She will need to have a followup CT scan done in four months just to be sure her remaining organs are still cancer-free.

Thank you to everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers! God is good!

Karyn Ann Sepper
Born August 25, 2009 @ 9:02pm

Weight: 8lbs 1oz
Length: 20.8″

Great news on my Mom today! Pathology results are in — cancer was found in the inner muscle of the bladder.. but not in the outer muscle! Additionally, cancer was not found in any of the removed organs or lymph nodes!

The surgeon will be forwarding the pathology results on to the oncologist who will then decide if chemotherapy is even necessary.

God is good!

My Mom’s surgery was yesterday. The surgeon performed what amounted to five surgeries: removed bladder, appendectomy, hysterectomy, removed both ovaries, and removed all lymph nodes from the top of the aorta to the bladder. The surgeon had originally given a 5-6 hour timeline for the surgery but ended up only taking 4! A blood transfusion was not necessary during surgery itself. We will not know whether or not chemotherapy will be necessary until pathology results are in — which will take about a week.

Once out of surgery and into ICU, Mom’s blood pressure was low.. probably due to the amount of blood lost during the surgery. She was given three units of blood via a central line, and an arm IV “thing” (that’s definitely NOT the technical term!) was put in for accurate blood pressure monitoring. While still droggy, she knew Dad, Kim, and I were there with her in her room.

Today, Mom is looking much better. She’s on self-controlled morphine at the push of a button for pain, but she’s only pressed that button twice. She’s also nauseous and on medication for that. She might be in ICU again tonight; that’s yet to be determined.

I’ll continue posting updates.

On behalf of my entire family, I sincerely thank everyone that’s said a prayer or two, and continue to appreciate the prayers still coming.

On behalf of my entire family, thank you to everyone who is praying for my Mom. Your prayers are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Mom had the follow up appointment with the surgeon today.

• Stage 3: Tier 1
• The cancer has not gone into the bladder’s muscles.
• Because of that, chemotherapy prior to surgery will not be done.
• Surgery within a month or so to remove the bladder and possibly one kidney.

This will be a major surgery lasting upwards of six hours and requiring two surgeons. Recovery time in hospital is usually 7-10 days; recovery time once home is around two months.

I would appreciate continued prayers. Never underestimate the power of prayer.. I’ve witnessed first-hand what the power of prayer does. The good Lord does listen to us.

Update on July 27th:
Mom’s surgery will be August 18th at 1:00pm.