Minor surgery tomorrow (2/23)

I have minor surgery tomorrow to a) remove the infusion port that was put into my chest to make chemo drug delivery easier, and b) repair the hernia on my abdomen - a complication from my liver surgery. Removing the chemo port is quite easy but the hernia repair will be a little more involved. They will be using a mesh to reinforce that area, and get this, the mesh is porcine dermis....aka pig skin! Yes there are all sorts of jokes that can be made here. Apparently it is better than an artificial mesh. The surgery will take around two hours and I may spend the night at the hospital depending upon how the pain is.

The hernia came on about 3 months ago but it was best to wait until I was finished with treatment and feeling stronger before having another surgery. Remember the movie "Alien"? Well it is kind of like that - the bump keeps getting a little bigger and I have to think that guys in the locker room where I shower after exercise have been wondering "what the HELL is that?" and "is it contagious?"

NED! NED! NED!

I had my first post-treatment CT scan and blood test yesterday, and I am officially disease free or "No Evidence of Disease" (NED) as they say in cancer speak.This is the culmination of the tough 9+ treatment plan that started last March. I’ll be getting scans every 3 months or so the first year, while living fully and intentionally, and hoping and praying that there is no recurrence. I'm feeling stronger each week though cardio fitness will take months as my body recovers from the 6 months of chemo.

Luisa and I are thrilled, elated, and so thankful to reach this point, and for the love, support, and encouragement we have received.