Meet Buster: My Big, Fat Tumor

I will stick to the facts in this post.  I am still reeling with raw emtion, denial and just can’t go that deep yet.  These are happenings in fact form from the last 24+ hours. 

DISCLAIMER:  My brother is a writer, I am not.  I will be posting only to keep you updated. 

Morgan was checked in and the nurse started an IV.  She was unsuccessful the first time, so she poked him again.  She placed it in his arm.  I arrived to visit just before he was served dinner.  Kasha (wife) was there and Michael (big brother) arrived shortly after me.  We visited, laughed some and it was an easy place to rest and just belong. 

We had questions about when the Dr (oncologist) would arrive to let us know that he knew Morgan was here and give the plan for what lay ahead in the week to come.  Just a reminder, Morgan is a new cancer patient and has never stayed in a hospital.  His first trip to the hospital was his biopsy.  We were hoping for  a bit more than this…

I left at 7:30p.m., no DR yet.  I checked back in with Kasha about 9:00.  The urologist had checked in and said they would place a stint on his right side to help his kidney start functioning again.  The stint would be placed on Saturday about 1:00 p.m.    

I called Morgan about 9:00 a.m.  He had had a PICC line put in at 11:00 p.m. the night before.  That’s the 55 centimeter  long catheter threaded through veins until it rests close to the heart.  This is how they will administer the chemotherapy. 

I couldn’t get to the hospital until 1:00.  I ran from my car to his room in time to sit for 2 minutes.  The transport nurse came and was ready to take him for the stint procedure.  Kasha and I  followed him in his bed and made conversation with her.  I guess she liked us OK, because we were able to go to the next level and wait with him while he waited for the surgery.  The surgery room nurse had to restart another IV, in his hand this time.  It was hard to see him worked on. 

We got to speak to the Dr. Uro~ Morgan had left the room to use the bathroom.  I asked him to be gentle with Morgan.  It is so hard to see him going through all of this.  He is a gentle -giant, kind-hearted, sweet and it kills me to see him vulnerable to others who may not have the same invaluable qualities.  (My ongoing prayer is protection for him, amoungst many other prayers, but that is heavy on my heart as he is getting acclimated to what lies ahead.). 

Anyway, Dr Uro mentioned that he had a new appreciation for the family side of things~ that was comforting.  He told Kasha and I it would be a short proceedure and he would talk with us as soon as it was over.  We waited, it was longer than we expected, but not bad.   Dr Uro came out and said he had to do a stint on each side.  Buster (Morgan’s name for the tumor), has pushed everything around and his kidneys don’t have room to function correctly.  He said it was like threading the stint in a pregnant woman, have to weave around…  He said he would experience some pain and blood in his urine.  : (  I have to remind myself, we’ve just started… prepare.

Kasha and I were still concerned that the Dr Oncologist has not made an appearance yet.  We mentioned it to Dr Uro and he said he would place a call.  He also mentioned that Morgan needed to have good renal to start chemo, so at least we aren’t wasting time.  Things are happening… we just want to have better communication between the Dr.  Hello!  Can you introduce yourself and give us the plan……   we are new at this.

I’m at home, but I’d like to be at the hospital.   I’m the big sister who wants to love, nuture and protect.  I also have administrative skills, so I want to manage all the details…. 

This is the latest info as of 3:30 p.m. Arizona time, Saturday, June 20, 2009

side note: I pray to the God of the universe, the God that sent his only son Jesus Christ to save us.  If you do too, please pray. 

Warm Regards,  Melissa (the sister)