A Work In Progress

A Work In Progress

Monday, July 30, 2018

Debbie's Caring Bridge Updates From 7/26, 7/27, & 7/29

Journal entry by Debbie Heiman — Jul 26, 2018
This morning, the surgical team came in and said that the epidural was going to come out today. The great news is that Scott is free of all cords, tubes, etc. except for 1 IV in his right arm. It is much easier to walk the halls with less tubes and things coming out of him.

The down side to not having an epidural anymore is that he can’t just push a button when he needs more meds. He has to call a nurse to come and give him more in his IV. It doesn’t get through his system as quickly or as well either. He has been experiencing more belly pain for this reason. 

Overall, today was a pretty quiet day. He walked the halls 4 times. He also did some simple exercises to help get some strength back. He’s doing everything that he needs to do to get closer and closer to going home.

The pain meds make him very sleepy. He was awake a lot more today than he has been. He still struggles to stay awake throughout the day while watching a show or talking to me at times. 

Slowly, but surely, he’s improving. He looks really good for a guy who just had an 11 hour abdominal surgery 6 days ago. He continues to amaze me, after 3 years and 3 months of fighting DSRCT.

Some friends of mine have recently received really tough news about their husbands cancer battle. It is very important to be there for them and encourage them on this road that we’re traveling together. None of us asked for this or deserve it, but we stick together in the fight. I encourage all of you to be there for each other, no matter what you’re going through yourself. People need each other to keep going and to be told to never give up! 

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Proverbs 12:25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24

On that note, I am forever grateful to friends, family, and complete strangers who have shown love to us in one way or another. Blessings flow abundantly in so many ways! Kind words that are spoken, cards sent, meals delivered or dropped off to our home, gifts given to me as survival tools for the hospital stay, offering help in whatever way is needed, giving our kids time and attention, giving a much needed hug, and on and on. We are blessed with an entire community of amazing people. If you think that good doesn’t exist in the world, I beg to differ. God is so good!

Of course our life is far from easy, but we will all be better equipped to face tomorrow because of what we are going through today. Much love to all of you reading this update.
Journal entry by Debbie Heiman — Jul 27, 2018
First of all, not that this is about me at all, but I finally slept straight through the night. I slept from 1AM until the surgical team came in with Dr. Mogal at 7:45AM. The lack of sleep has been adding up for me and affecting me, so it felt so good to sleep!

Dr. Mogal shared the best news ever with us! He said that the pathology reports all came back. He told us that he removed so much scar tissue, nodules, possible small areas of concern, etc. and the ONLY thing that came back cancerous was the golf ball sized tumor that was connected to the sigmoid colon! How Great is our God?!?! This news is truly amazing for a person with DSRCT! We couldn’t be happier!

Scott is free of everything, except for an IV in his right arm, which is not hooked up to anything. It will stay there until he goes home, just in case he needs it. He is taking medication by mouth. He will get Lovenox shots for a month, so I’ll be doing those twice a day. I’ve done it before and the nurses say I’m a pro. It just stinks to have to stab your husband.

Scott is being so tough and pushing himself so hard so that he can get out of here. It’s great to walk the halls now with no pole dragging alongside him. He has been walking without the walker as much as possible. I usually push it alongside him, in case he needs it. That is comical. The nurses just smile. We have fun with it, because why not??? You have to do something to bring joy to a hospital stay. 

He begins to really feel pain when he’s about to be due for his next pain medication. That’s always a hard part of the day for him. 

He was put on a low fiber diet this morning and ate his first bite of food since last Wednesday. He’s going light on the food, because his stomach needs to get used to eating again, slowly but surely.

I’m working on this post in shifts. We just got back from walking the halls again. PT caught us at the end. She had him do one flight of stairs up and back down. He did an awesome job. She had him get in and out of bed alone. He passed the test, and was cleared by PT. She took the walker away and said she doesn’t need to see him anymore. I’m so proud of him! One step closer to going home. 😁

Scott has always been a hard worker. In the past, that related to his job. Currently, that relates to his fight against cancer. This passage comes to mind.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

All of his hard work makes him tired. I love this passage! He definitely has God on his side in this battle.

God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31


Scott was discharged from the hospital and was able to go home at 12:30PM today. They have been mentioning the possibility of going home for a couple of days now, but we didn’t want to tell anyone until it was reality. We are so happy to have him home with us!

I will update later and let everyone know how we’re adapting to life after surgery (at home). Please continue to pray for Scott’s complete healing. We were told that it could take 3 months for a full recovery.



From Jen:  Thank You for your continued Thoughts and Prayers for my Family! :-)

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