Twelve Weeks Post-Op

Dear Reader,

Hello!  Thank you for loving us!  Are you wondering about the health and well-being of DJ since he underwent surgery on May 8?  Are you wondering why it has taken me this long to post to this site? Are you wondering what I ate for dinner?  :-)

Here are some answers for you:  The super-good news is that DJ's body continues to improve from the invasiveness of the surgical procedure.  The first four weeks after DJ's lung was removed, he was in a fair amount of pain and discomfort; but in the 8 weeks since then, his pain has continued to diminish and his health is improving.  After our lovely vacation in Hawaii, DJ returned to his work in a modified, "light duty" status.  DJ is also spending time several days per week coaching volleyball and preparing for the upcoming season of Paso Robles High School girls' volleyball.  He is able to move and speak and think and interact and to make a contribution; he is not able to perform with full motion on the right side of his body, or to lift more than 15-or-so pounds.  Neither is he able to run or to perform activities that require a lot of pulmonary function (I do believe and hope that, with time, DJ's lung capacity will improve and strengthen so that he will be able to run.)   Although I think it's fantastic that he hasn't needed pain medications for almost 2 months, it is also true that having one's muscles cut into and the chest cavity disturbed enough that one's lung can be removed takes a good amount of time to recover from.  Every once in awhile, I see DJ wince or groan with what seems to be shooting or sharp or random pain that courses through his chest.  I suppose that those muscles may take some more months to be completely restored to pre-surgery health.  He has experienced a post-surgical cough, also, which I think is diminishing.  My guess is that DJ is 85 per cent recovered from the pneumonectomy at this point in time.  I am grateful for every day of healing and health and restoration and grace that is given to him and to us!!

We love to spend time at Lake Nacimiento with the Benyos.
This is what DJ looks like riding in the boat (July 21, 2013).
(I would be happy to post a photo of the scar left from his surgical incision, which is on his back;
but perhaps neither you nor he desire for that to occur.)

Regarding cancer and its habitation in DJ's body, Dr. Theodore (the surgeon who removed DJ's lung and the cancer that lived there) gave us the pathology report when we visited with him on May 24.  My understanding is that 4 lymph nodes that lived outside of DJ's lung showed no sign of cancer; and that one lymph node inside of DJ's lung (which is now donated to scientific research) did have some cancer in it.  Dr. Theordore suggested that DJ's local and primary oncologist will possibly prescribe chemotherapy, since that one little lymph node did house malignancy.  DJ does not want to take chemotherapy.  He does not believe that chemotherapy is successful at removing cancer from his body (besides the fact that chemotherapy is yucky).  He is scheduled to meet with Dr. Spillane this coming Wednesday, and I am interested in what will transpire.  Additionally, a new member of DJ's medical team will be added, a lung specialist who I suppose will aid DJ in learning to live and function as a one-lunger.  :-)

In the meantime, I am happy for the remaining days of summer vacation - I love the sunshine, I love the leisurely pace (more or less) of the summer time, I am enjoying the moments.  This answers the second question that I posed in the opening paragraph.  Here are some family photos:

Brooke Bigelow waved to her fans after the last game of her All-Star softball season.
Her team qualified to play in a State Games tournament, in which they won second place.

DJ helped to coach Brooke's team; here they are along with the pitcher and Brooke's friend Sara (July 14, 2013).

Caedmon Van Bigelow was super happy to spend a week at Hume Lake with his super-good buddy Dylan;
Dylan's brother Dayton is a patient big brother and good friend (July 25, 2013).

Alexandra and HollyB took a trip to Washington to visit with Grammy Catherine and other family members.
Here is Alex with cousins Analee and Raelee (July 27, 2013).

Here I am, Holly Lisa McDonald Bigelow, flanked by my father Scott and my brother Drew McDonald.
My mommy is holding Drew's son Raelee (July 28, 2013).

Kevin and Grammy and Alex (and HollyB, the photographer) enjoyed time together,
including a meal at Guiseppe's on the Bellingham waterfront.
If you know Alex, you know how she loves her some pasta!! (July 30, 2013)

I realize that this blog and these words that I use to communicate to your are primarily from my own viewpoint and way of seeing and understanding the world.  I try as much as possible to give to you an accurate answer to the question, "How is DJ?".  But these are my words. So in preparation for this post,  I asked DJ to tell me how he feels, that I may correctly portray him here to you.  This was his answer: "I feel like a strawberry ice cream cone on a hot day that someone wants to lick."  What on earth does that mean?  I have no idea.  Except that it means that DJ is a funny, crazy, weird dude.  What do you think?  :-)

The end, for now.  Thank you for loving us!  We love you back!  ;-)

"Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."