The Struggle Has Ended

Greg Hewlett passed away on January 17th after nearly eight years of battling colon cancer. While we grieve his loss, we are comforted to know that he is with his Lord.

If you would like to leave your thoughts on Greg, please see this thread.

If you would like to make a charitable donation in Greg's honor, please see this thread.

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

Done with colonoscopy

Thanks, Mark, for keeping folks up to date.

I finished the colonoscopy this afternoon in which they rexamined the size of the "hole" through which everythinig must pass. Even though the tumors have shrunk drastically, the hole size is pretty much the same. There is also a growing consensous among the docs here at UTSW that I had a temporary obstrcution and the painful symptoms that drove me to the emergency room Monday morning were because at that time, everything was clogged at the site of the tumor. They managed to get it under control and my system running again via vacuum tubes (I've found that everyone here at UTSW likes sticking tubes in various places, just like they do at MDACC)

The nose-to-stomach vacuum tube kept me from talking much and was extremely irritating. The tube worked well for a couple days and was supposed to remain in all week, but it came out as I was I blowing my nose last night. Not sure if they believe that I didn't just take it out myself! (I can't say that the thought hadn't crossed my mind...). This reminds me of the hole-in-one I hit at a Delaware golf course one year after leaning to play golf. Par 3-149yards. I was golfing alone at the time, so my story is all anyone can go by. You'll just have to take me at my word on both the tube and the hole-in-one story. Anwyway, the tube was supposed to remain "just in case", but I'll just enjoy not having it and pray there won't be a "just in case". I have considered this accident as a merciful gift from my Lord. Meanwhile, I've only eaten ice chips since Sunday, and the big question still remains - what will happen when food is reintroduced?

We are now trying to make the difficult decision of having the colon part of my necessary surgery here in Dallas (very soon) or getting ourselves to Houston to see what they think, with possible liquid diet and surgery there on the 19th. Or even possibly treat this as an isolated event and keep going with chemo on a more restrictive diet. The decision is difficult and the stakes are high. In any case, our smoothly running plan has hit a speed bump. Hopefully it turns out to be a small bump. I'll be trying to get more input from doctors here and at MDACC by tomorrow.

So we may be headed to Houston again as soon as I am able to travel. We'll see how the next day goes. That's really the best plan I've been able to come up with anyway - get through today... "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Jesus (Mt 6:34)

Yours,
Greg, writing from my hopsital room

2 comments:

W. Clay Jones said...

Greg:
In the words of a parent, thoroughly chew your food before swallowing.
Linda and I will pray that you and your doctors make the decision that will get you well the quickest. So far, with the exception of this latest road bump, things have been going in a very positive direction recently. Keep it up!
- Clay & Linda Jones

sarah said...

We know you must be feeling better because your humour is as sharp as a tack! Sorry about the unfortunate diet of ice chips but hang in there - things will get better soon.