Update #2

I just spoke with mom, and she asked me to update this blog. She wants you to know that she truly appreciates all of your prayers and concern for Victor. She asks that you continue to pray for him.

Victor was kept in recovery longer than expected because he had a dangerously high blood pressure, heart rate, and sugar level. Once everything was under control he was moved to a room. His cardiac functions are being monitored by a box which remotely transfers information to the cardiac unit (he is in the cancer unit). He is in a lot of pain which is being controlled with pain medication. Although Victor is kind of "out-of-it," he knows that the doctor had to stop the surgery, and he knows why. The doctor is testing the cancer to see if a chemotherapy medication could be used to control the cancer growth, but Victor said he does not want to do chemotherapy again. The doctor will not give a time limit on Victor's life. Victor said he wants to return to work.

My mother explained that when the doctors opened Victor up they found that the cancer had fused his organs together. The doctor spent four hours separating his organs. His gallbladder, stomach and pancreas are not cancerous. The cancer is in his liver but most of the cancer was in his umbilical area. The doctor removed cancer from that area. He tried to remove as much cancer as he could. The cancer is also around the outside of his large intestine. The doctors decided not to wash out his abdomen with chemo as originally planned.

Victor may be released from the hospital this weekend, but he will be required to stay close to the hospital for a few days afterwards.

My mother said the doctors, nurses, and pastoral staff at Mercy Hospital are the best. They are compassionate and dedicated to Victor and his care. They also have gone out of their way to show compassion to my mother.

Please continue to pray for Victor.

Tracey