How do you wake up (if you call it waking up when you've been not really sleeping) and think this is the day that some guy in a $400.00 suit is going to tell you what the future holds. My knees were shaking the entire morning while getting around - driving there - and entering the place. I will say we both liked Dr. Nattam quite a bit. He took his time with us. He had done is homework ahead of time. He knew our case before he walked in and met us. He is labeled as one of the best Oncology dr's there are.
So we got some good news and some bad news. We'll start with the good news. The CT scan did not show any cancer in his pelvic or abdomen area. The Cancer is up and down his spine and no where else.
The bad news -- he does not have a clue at the present time what kind of cancer it is. The suspicions are all pointing to Melanoma - but it is a rare type of Melanoma and it's not a typical cancer he has seen. He felt he needed more information. All he had to go on with the Radiologist reports and nothing concrete. There has not been a biopsy yet. He got us on the fast track to gaining more knowlege today. Dr. personally made the call to get us in quickly for the next test.
We spent the rest of the day (literally the rest of the day) at Lutheran Hospital. They did a spinal tap to get some fluid to test and see what they can come up with. We visit Dr. Nattam again on Thursday. He and we are hoping to learn more from the pathology report. If it doesn't' show anything - we are back to square one. We of course - aren't wanting to go backwards.
Randy had to lay flat on his back for 3 hours following the tap. Very hard for him to do - but he managed. He even ate his lunch flat on his back. We made it home - and he is now in a great deal of pain from the tap. He has to take it easy for the next 24 hours.
Pray that we have a better night than last night..... he can no longer lay in the bed - it is too painful - he moved to the chair in the middle of the night. Pray that he loses the macho image of pain management. He needs to take his pain med - before it gets so bad he can't stand it. He is having an issue of his left leg going numb and being tingly. Dr. did not like hearing that. We have to get through the next couple of days and hope we get some answers and get going on things. More than likely Randy will be having Radiation treatments to help knock down the pain soon.
We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers coming our way. Keep them coming!!
Mom and Dad Bungard,
ReplyDeleteI have been praying sooooooooo much for this. I'm glad Ang sent your blog so I can keep up and know more specifically how/what to pray for you. I know we want answers and we want to fix. But I also know that God has a divine, PERFECT plan and this (as hard as it is) fits into that plan. I will be praying for peace for you, sufficient rest, less pain, and comfort from our Heavenly Father. I love you both so so so dearly. Here's a HUGE Dina-hug for you both.... Love you!
You guys are never far from my thoughts. It is a rollercoaster of emotions when things keep coming fast and furious. I don't know if you have hit what we called the "punch drunk" stage. There is always so much to do and the brain is just trying to grasp all that is going on. We took our digital voice recorder with us so we could "rehear" things if we needed to. May the Lord continue to provide you with peace beyond measure, comfort and relief from the pain Randy! I don't know how God will work through all of this but I can tell you that HE does work and it will have ETERNAL value. Susan if you want anyone to talk to, we are here and it's any anytime proposition! As we walk this journey together just know that you are loved by us and so much for by the Lord, since He created you, saved you and continues to sustain you! Suzanne and John
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