Welcome to the Flipside,

Recovering from liver and gall bladder surgery is a colorful blend of searing pain, delusional fatigue, and utter exhaustion, but you will find that the most delicious of fruits are often protected by a spiny, painful armor and the reward inside once reached is euphoric and well worth the laborious struggle to obtain it. Life is exactly that if appreciated, euphoric. The simple, beautiful, intricate things we overlook everyday can be so amazing if the time is

Everyone,

Great news! We met with TJ’s surgeon minutes ago to hear that TJ had the best of possible outcomes. Dr. Tanabe successfully removed 9 lesions/tumors from his liver leaving enough healthy liver so that he can continue to “Beat The Challenge”. We learned that we should expect some bumps along the road to recovery but again, the surgery, 6 1/2 hours long, was a success.

Once again, we cannot thank everyone enough for the positive thoughts and prayers. At this moment we could not be any happier.

Love,

Tony, Jackie, Amanda and Families

Everyone,

Teej was wheeled off to surgery this morning at 6 AM telling us all and especially Amanda that he was going to be just fine and he would see us on the “flip side” of the procedure. We have to remind ourselves constantly that surgery is a positive path since it was not a consideration when he was first diagnosed back in July. Lacking any alternative cure (as of today) surgery is the only cure for colon cancer. Thanks to all of your positive thoughts, messages, emails, posts, masses, healing gifts of all kinds and prayers, he continues on “A Path to a Cure”.

We will continue to keep TJ’s Army posted. Thanks.

Love,

Tony,Jackie and Amanda

Hi Everyone,

In less than 12 hours I head into the operating room for a nice little nap while my surgical team prepares for their end of this battle. At that moment, I get to to take my first vacation from this challenge and rest (until the fun times of the recovery room begin.) That moment is where I am asking you to begin…. I know so many of you have been fighting alongside me 

Hey Guys and Gals,

I have successfully and healthfully made it through the first leg of what is turning out to to be a triathlon against cancer, my first six cycle’s of chemotherapy treatments are complete! My body reacted to the chemotherapy better than expected and has thus opened a new door as I enter the second leg of this challenge: surgery. I am scheduled for a complicated liver surgery on October 17th. A surgery that was not originally possible at the outset of my adventure my surgeon is planning on performing multiple types of liver resections to remove all eight of the tumors in my liver. Six of the tumors because of their size and location are “easier” to remove, while two sit fairly close to my portal vein and might be a little tricky to manipulate, but it can be done. The tumor bordering my portal vein should be easier to remove if the chemotherapy continued to shrink its size. Ironically enough, I am hoping that I didn’t shrink all those suckers to non-existence because to be “cured” of colon cancer they actually have to surgically remove the original tumor themselves, which is a little difficult to do if they are not there. My gall bladder will also be removed during the surgery, which is very common during liver resections. The surgery should last around five hours and I will be in recovery for about five hours (before anyone can see me,) so it’s going to be a long day for the family. I also will be in the hospital for about five to eight days and have a total recovery time of about six weeks. At that time I will be headed into surgery number two, Colon Surgery, but we will cross that bridge when we get there., 

My healing Bowl

I was given my first percentages of this journey, even though I didn’t ask for them. The mortality rate of this surgery is 1-2%. Meaning 1 to 2 people out of every 100 that go through a similar surgery do not make it out alive. What I told my family immediately after the surgeon left the room was, “Just so you guys know, that 1-2% does not apply to me.” It’s a similar statement to what I have been saying from the start. Those averages are of people all around the country, at varying ages, various stages of health, and at various hospitals. My body is young, healthy, and strong. My mind is strong, clear and more focused than it has ever been, and I completely believe and trust in my medical team.

So that’s currently where I stand, I have some pre-operative tests on thursday which include an EKG,  a chest x-ray, and some blood work but that’s about it until the big day. I have to arrive at the hospital Monday the 17th at 6am and then it’s go time. Positive thoughts bring positive results, as I dive head first into the second leg of this challenge I grow ever closer to the light at the end of the tunnel and all of your positive thoughts and prayers carry me to the finish line.

Much Love – Teej

p.s. I heard chicks dig scars, well, Amanda better start breaking out the boxing gloves because I am going to have a zipper like scar that travels from the base of my sternum, to my navel and bangs a sharp right over towards my kidney. (And that’s only going to be my second one.) I might have to break out my “blue steel” and give my modeling career a shot: http://www.colonclub.com/the-2012-colondar/




p.p.s. Don’t worry, I will have someone on update duty the day of surgery.