Victor's Progress: I've Been Sprung!

Monday, April 20, 2009

I've Been Sprung!

Hi everybody - I'm finally back in the hotel room as of 1:30 today. I'm very tired and in pain (obviously) but I am glad to be out of the hospital and with Barbara and with high hopes to arrive home on Saturday. I just wanted to take the time to thank everybody for their kind messages and prayers. As far as the surgery goes, and you all read what happened, it's just hard to get used to not having a belly button - ha ha. It's going to be 3 or 4 months before I'm fully recovered from the surgery but there's a long road ahead beyond that.

Once again Thanks to everybody and I send all my Love and Best Wishes to all my family and friends for their love, prayers and support during my time of need.

God Bless -
Vic B

8 comments:

krisbApril 20, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I'm so glad you got out of the hopsital.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Linda AdamsApril 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM
We are all glad you are out of the hospital and coming home soon. You think you need a belly button? Were you planning on getting it pierced??haha. Nahhhhh they are not necessary.. Feel better!! Linda, Mom and Cathy
ReplyDelete
Replies
JudyApril 21, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Victor,
I am so happy you've been sprung, I know Barb is thrilled. No belly button...you can always have one tattooed on!!!! Looking forward to seeing you both when you get home.
Love,
Judy
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousApril 21, 2009 at 2:48 PM
So happy to hear from you :) I'm glad you're out of the hospital and doing ok...can't wait to see you!

--Steph
ReplyDelete
Replies
Charles SaltzmanApril 21, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Happy you are out of the hospital.I have been following your blog everyday.Hope to see you soon.Love,Charles and Rosa
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousApril 21, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Hey Mr. No Belly Button!!! We miss you!!! We are all so glad you are doing better. Mom and dad send hugs and kisses!!!!
Love you guys!!!! Your sister Gabi
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 11:35 AM
So glad U r doing well. Think about U every day and am so sorry for not being more in touch. I didn't know about this blog till U sent me a text the other day. I will try to stay more in touch. Praying you and your wife will be back home soon with your family and friends and you will make a full recovery and no longer have any pain. Thinking of you often, Blondie
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousApril 22, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Hey Vic, happy to hear that you're out of the hospital. Hope you get better soon. Wish you a speedy recovery!! God Bless you and your family!!

Manny and Jor Duarte
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Vic's Story

As you may or may not know, Victor Barrales was diagnosed with colon cancer in April 2007.

His first surgery was on May 10, 2007 and it was believed that all of the cancer was removed but to improve his chances on a full recovery, chemotherapy treatment was advised for 6 months after the surgery.The chemotherapy drugs proved very detrimental to Vic’s health. He became very ill from the first treatment and had to be treated at the Sparta Cancer Center daily with intravenous infusions. His white cell count dropped extremely low and was prone to severe infections.

After his 10th chemo treatment, he was rushed to Newton Memorial Hospital with a very high pulse rate and the physicians at the hospital believed he was having a heart attack. It was determined by Vic’s cardiologist that the one form of chemo was causing this problem. He then decided to stop the chemotherapy and his first cancer marker test numbers came back normal. However, another test was taken in early January 2008 and the numbers came back unbelievably high indicating that the cancer had spread.

At the same time, a “lump” was discovered in the back of Victor’s leg and again, he had to have surgery to remove it. This, Thank God, proved to be noncancerous. Victor’s cancer marker test numbers, however, were now going up almost on a weekly basis. He went to see a new oncologist at the Carol Simon Cancer Center in Morristown and went through several Cat Scans. It was discovered that his cancer had indeed spread and was now in his peritoneal lining. He was immediately started on new types of chemotherapy with the hopes that this new cancer was caught early enough. This chemo did even more havoc to Vic’s body. He had to be hospitalized each time he was infused, sometimes twice in a month. He also came down with serious infections from one of the chemo drugs, which meant more surgery in August and again in December.

Now, Victor has been told that there is a surgery to help stop the spread of his cancer, but it is only performed by 4 doctors. Two doctors are located in Baltimore, one in Washington, DC and the other in California. This is very serious surgery, taking as long as 14 hours to perform and up to 21 days in the hospital. Complete recovery will be about 6 months. If the surgery is successful, it would mean not having to get chemo treatments unless the cancer returns.

Victor has been scheduled for this surgery (Cytoreductive) on April 14, 2009 by Dr. Sardi with Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. His latest Scans have shown that the cancer is showing in the surface of his liver but is still contained to the right side of his abdomen. We expect to be in Baltimore for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Victor's Progress

Monday, April 20, 2009

I've Been Sprung!

8 comments:

Pop Pop and kids

Vic's Story

Blog Archive