Independence Day

This morning I am heading for Sloan Kettering's outpatient clinic, to have that darn catheter removed. Hard to believe it has been 7 days since my robot assisted prostatectomy. Day one and two I was feeling fine and felt this, compared to my nephrectomy a month earier, would be a "walk in the park". Days 3,4,5 my abdomen was severly swolen and the pain was ecrutiating. Since the pain has subsided and I am back to exercising and working that stiffness out of my system. To to put this into context, I don't tolerate opiates well since leaving the hospital my main source of pain relief was Tylenol.

Having a catheter to deal with was another big difference from my operation in August. Its not very comfortable and certainly it's not an accoutrement to receive house guests with. There was the portable bag but there is nothing like the freedom of not having to deal with it. Anyway, I digress... I'm truly on the mend, and in great spirits today. I thank all of you all for your continued support.

Four days out, but who's counting?

Thank you all for helping me keep a strong mental outlook with your wishes of support. Today, four days after my operation, my abdomen is swollen and painful but knowing those "rebellions" in my body have been defeated, it is just a matter of healing. I can tolerate the pain for that!

Although robotic assisted prostatectomy is considered "non-invasive", the surgical team did sink six rods though my abdomen to my pelvis to perform the procedure. I entered the operating theater at 7:30am and was wheeled out at 2pm. Oddly enough, I was less swolen and in less pain the day after the procedure and was allowed to go home after just an overnight. Dr. Frankel, my robotic surgeon's weekend attending physician, said that only happens in about 2% of the operations they perform. It was when I got home Saturday evening I kinda forgot that I had major surgery a day earlier. I stressed myself out physically by Monday. I think, however, I am past the threshold where I can only feel better and I'm playing it a bit smarter. As much as I want to "will" my healing, it will only occur in nature's time.

Right now, my daily exercise is punctuated by a catheter as a "fashion statement". If I keep moving, however, I feel so much better so I'm okay with lugging it around. I go back to Sloan on Friday to have it removed. It's not something you get used to!

No driving for three weeks, no heavy lifting for 5 weeks, but I plan to be back at work well before that. In heavy lifting, I'm sure they were not referring to my mind!

Will is at home recovering....

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I wanted to keep you all up to date on Will's progress since his surgery on Friday, October 22, 2010.  His surgery went well and the surgeon thinks that he is now cancer free.  He was released from the hospital the next day and sent home to recover.  Recovery has been somewhat difficult but he is holding up as expected. He is taking it one day at a time and is determined to be back on his feet and better than ever in 6 to 8 weeks.

 

We want to thank all of you who have sent him prayers because it has surely worked.  Thanks so much to all those who sent flowers, food, cards, emails and phone calls. These wonderful actions mean a great deal to our family and let us know just how much you all care for us. Please keep reaching out, we want to hear from you

 

With sincere appreciation,

 

Pat, Will and Patricia Wright

112 Sunken Meadow Rd.

Northport, NY 11768

631-269-2128

516-315-1925 Will's cell

631-988-1839 Pat's cell

Back into the breach!

It is 11pm Thursday October 21, 2010 and I am 8 1/2 hours away from another stint at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I was last at Sloan August 12th, where Dr. Guido Dalbagni and his surgical team removed roughly 20% of my left kidney and eradicated my renal cell carcinoma This time, Dr. Vincent Laudone will operate a surgical robot to do laparoscopic surgery to remove my prostate gland. I, along with my surgical team are confident that this will end the prostate cancer that was detected back in July.

One can't underestimate the impact of friends, colleagues and co-workers when it comes to the mental state of cancer survivors. Friends who came to visit, colleagues who welcomed me back to work, family who recommitted their love for me, all this has been priceless. Knowing that I had to re-enter the hospital in a month, the warmth, welcome and affection recharged my determination making this re-entry a lot more tolerable.

I could name names of those who had particular positive impact on my psyche. Of course there are my two Patricias who have fulfilled my childhood dream to have a home filled with women who love me. There's Dave and Shayna who came by every other day to make sure I walked at least a mile to regain my strength. My co-worker and partner Tim Peek with his special blend of intellect and inspiration, My Boss Alex who makes me light up every time I meet with her, John and Naomi on the job who are superior team leaders led by David, who is warm and wonderful. Tiran, Finn and Jacqui who are my extended family. Talking about family, regularly hearing from the big and little sisters Bev and Geri kept me connected to my roots. Then there are all my wonderful friends on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook. My underground tribes of Kostume Kult and Disorient gave some awesome events that made me feel so creative and alive! All this and more make me look forward to opening my eyes 13 hours from now when my surgery is scheduled to be completed.

You know, after I recovered from the renal cell operation, I felt a love and appreciation for everyone I encountered. I say "hello" to everyone who catches my eye and smile with sincerity and meaning. I look forward to chatting with Drew DiCamillo, my partner in pain who helped get me through that first round at Sloan. This operation, though less invasive, is more difficult to physically overcome. Through either evolution or divine providence, we were created almost perfectly with all of our bodily functions well laid out and engineered on a level that only godly intellect could conceive. A radical prostatectomy strongly inteferes with that order. It challenges whether my mind can muster the godly work to repair and compensate for what I am about to lose. I take solace in knowing that I am not alone. That I have all of you.So I ask, if after this procedure, if I appear a little "off" please be patient. I can assure you that after this cancer is removed, I will be better.