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1.24.2009

Zebra


Zebra, originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So I suppose I'll update everybody on my health. Today I got a call from my tumor surgeon. He basically admitted defeat and told me I needed a 2nd opinion on my tumor biznass. So he referred me to a specialist at UCSD Medical Center.

After some phone tag, I got the nurse who told me some stuff. That most likely I am going to need another surgery to clean out the remnants of the tumor, and that I will need some (most likely) minor form of chemo to clear the rest of the junk out. I'm not worried, just not ready for another surgery.

She kept telling me that what I have is extremely rare. Mucinous Cystadenoma. I asked how rare, and she said, "Take it this way...what you have is only .5% of all gastrointestinal cancers." and I asked if that meant I was one in a million...and she over-excitedly agreed. I would say that one in a million might be a slight understatement with what I have.

So basically, what I understand to be happening is that the tumor spilled it's junk inside me. My surgeon cleaned out what he could, BUT the leftover crap in my abdomen can actually start sprouting more tumors if left untreated. I don't know how this is still considered benign, but it is. It's just benign with an attitude.

Prayers welcomed. I'm going to be ok. Financially this added junk is going to kick the crap out of me. I've never had debt in my life and over the course of less than 2 months I'm already looking up from the inside of a $7,000 bill. I guess thats a big savings from what I would have payed...so I can be thankful for that. :) Insurance is saving my tail to a great extent. Ugh, money.

There's my update, sorry if I worried anybody. Thanks for checking in on me! Now, go enjoy the (obviously a boy) Zebra at the top of this post.

7 comments:

SidebySide Video said...

we'll be praying for you :) so what does it feel like to be 1 in a million? is that the silver lining??

~JOSh-X said...

Man, this sounds like an episode straight out of Trauma Center (for DS or Wii).

Serena and I will be praying for you, Jonny.

Lean on Him, the Healer: Jehovah-Rapha

<3

~JOSh-X

Meggan Lambesis said...

Jon! I can't believe this! I will be praying lil' guy...keep us posted.

Miles Vincent Grimes said...

you definitely will be in my prayers jon.

ARBC Youth said...

Congrats...you won the cancer lottery???
I'll definitely be praying for you! Doesn't sound like a lot of fun but I believe you are going to be just fine in the end.

Corrigan Vaughan said...

Oh my gosh. That zebra... yikes.

You're a medical anomaly! 'Atta boy, Jonny! If you're gonna rack up debt for some sort of med. thing, it being benign, curable, and super rare is a pretty cool way to do it. Praying for you, buddy, and I hope that some anonymous donor decides to pay for everything and you get out in the clear.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Jonny. Hope the upcoming procedure(s) are able to make you 100% healthy again. Thinking about you.