Surgery in 2 Weeks!!

We saw Dr. Eckhardt today and he said that Vince will have surgery in about 2 weeks! It's sooner than we thought by about 2-3 weeks. We were hoping that he would have more time in between all the treatments, but that's not going to happen. I can't say that I'm not bummed, but we trust that he knows what he is doing. He said that Vince will never have full range of motion in his shoulder, which means that he will have to learn to shoot baskets left handed, and it may also mean that skateboarding will be a bit tougher because your arms are used for balance. I almost wanted to cry when he told us that! When he explained that his goal is to save Vince's life, first and foremost, and that limb salvaging is second to that, and that amputation is always a small possibility, but highly unlikely, then I realize that some things are just NOT that important anymore when your life is at stake. God has his way of allowing us many opportunities in life through adversity, so I know that better things are yet to come! Who knows? Maybe he'll be a better drummer because of it, or maybe he'll decide to play guitar, paint, sculpt (I know, I know...ya right?) or even become a train conductor like he wanted to be when he was a little kid! LOL!

Dr. Eckardt said that life doesn't end because of bone replacement or amputation, and we know he is right, but no matter how many months or how many times you read other stories to prepare for it, just hearing it about yourself or your loved one is always a bit hard to swallow. I have to remind myself about all that Vince has been through in the last year, and how we always just kept thinking, "we just have to get through this" and then the next trial, the same thing, and we always get through it with a stronger faith than ever before. So far, he has been through extreme pain 5 mths. prior to any treatments, many, many CT scans, MRI's, x-rays, blood work, 2 bone biopsies in his arm, a bone biopsy in his hip, a few trips to the ER at 3 a.m, a port-a-cath put in his chest for chemo, 3 chemo treatments (1 in the hospital), hospitalized with Mono at Christmas, 25 radiation treatments over 5 week period, & now the surgery to replace the humerus with a metal rod. He will need 8 mths. of chemo, which he is not evenremotely looking forward to. We are extremely grateful to get through to this point with such great results and that he is feeling so perfect and healthy! God has been faithful so far, and I know He will continue to protect us through the road ahead. How blessed we are!!

Vince had blood work, a CT of his chest, a chest x-ray today, and we have to go back to UCLA-SM hospital tomorrow at 6:45 a.m. for the MRI. He will be in the hospital for about 5 days for the surgery and then 6 weeks recovery time and maybe physical therapy. The reason that he won't be able to play basketball with full range of motion is because that when he does the surgery he will be cutting into certain nerves and muscles, which will limit his movement to raise his arm higher than his shoulder. We are feeling very hopeful that Vince is going to do better than anyone expects, he has always had a "better than expected" attitude and we love that about him. He is never angry or upset and just shrugs his shoulders and says, "what option do I have".

I guess Vince will be playing basketball for the next few weeks as much as possible and taking good care of himself to prepare for the journey ahead. Thank you for praying for him, as always, and I hope that you and your families are happy and healthy and that you are counting your blessings each and every day.

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Psalms 71:14