Here's the Deal....

There's a funny thing that happens when people love you.  They ask questions.  You know.... the hard hitting ones.  The questions that you can't lie about.  The ones you can't avoid.  The questions that actually reveal the truth of the situation.  It was a good news/bad news situation.  So to help break the news, I'm going to insert randomness that helps make everyone smile.  Dr. Pytynia, the head & neck surgeon came out after her portion of the surgery was finished to talk to the family (myself, Bryce's parents & my mom) to let us know that she did all that she could, but some of the squamous cells could not be removed by surgery.

She did not get clear margins on 3 areas.  She was visually upset when breaking the news to us & said she got very angry at this tumor.  One spot was behind the breast plate.  Without breaking through and removing some of the breast plate, she had to leave microscopic cells in there.  The other 2 places were a spot the trachea and a spot on the voice box.  Had she been able to remove everything else near / underneath the collar bone, she would have taken the trachea & voice box.  Because she had to leave in some of the cells, she decided to leave him with the ability to speak.

Now.... that wasn't great news.
OK...... it was not at ALL what we wanted.

So.  Good news.  He will still get chemo and radiation to try to get rid of these microscopic cells.  Actually, she left in 3 metal pins at these areas so that Dr. Chronowski (radiation oncologist) can find them & hit them hard during radiation.  She did say that she felt like his tumor did react to the chemo that he received a couple of weeks ago.  It might have gotten a little smaller, but it certainly prevented it from growing.  So that is great news.  There are still things that we have questions about, but we do know that the plan is still the same.  Heal for 6 weeks.  Start chemo & radiation.

So, there is it.  For now, we are concentrating on making him comfortable.  He is in pain.  Not the neck, but the chest is killing him.  They did finally get him on a pump.  He can hit the button every 8 minutes if he needs it.  He is eating well.  Considering everything they did in there yesterday, all doctors are very impressed with that fact.  But that's about it for now.

Again.... the love, prayers & kindness we have been shown....  I am in awe.
Thank you so very much!!!!!!

PRAY! FIGHT!! WIN!!!
Jess