It's Been FOUR Years!

WARNING: This pic is not for those who have a weak stomach!!

Every year on March 4 I feel the need to celebrate. Four years ago today, Mike had his "big surgery" on his leg. It was a very long day, 6-1/2 hours of surgery followed by a week or so in the hospital. Mike's mom came to live with us for a while to take care of him, since I was still working full time and was preg with Jake and Mike needed full time care after he left the hospital. I feel like I could write a novel on those few months, so I am thinking of what is most important to say. That time in our lives was difficult, only been married 8 months and preg with our first child. We were also fearful of the unknown, what would lie ahead for us in the coming years, etc. We were suddenly burdened with medical bills and just getting to know each other in a way no newleyweds ever should have to. I don't remember Mike complaining much, but that is just Mike. He has so much faith, and I know that is what got him through those months. Our wonderful doctor, Dr. Scott, said Mike's surgery was one of the biggest surgeries you can perform. Mike got through it amazingly well, and I know this trial was given to him because he could handle it. He had 3 more surgeries after the big one, and after all was said and done, they could not remove ALL of the cancer cells. There was a small margin left of low-intermediate grade cells. We knew we had done all that was possible, with the exception of chemo which we decided was not the right path. This type of cancer does not respond to radiation, and the doctors were unsure what type of chemo would work because it is a "rare form of a rare cancer". This was decided after 2 trips with his mom, one to see doctors in Seattle and one to see doctors at Stanford. After much thought, prayer and blessings, Mike decided to just let things be. He would choose to keep his leg and move on with life with hopefully no more surgeries and no chemo. The last day of his IV meds and meds in general came on the day Jake was born. We both had an IV after the delivery! This was such a special day for us, one of new life and one of letting go of the previous few months. Four years later, we know the chances of the cancer coming back are virtually none, but we still pray daily that he will live a long and healthy life with us. I am so blessed to have him here with me, and our children. We couldn't do life without our daddy! We are grateful for him and his persistance and strength. He is a huge example to me that we as people can get through anything. He also finished all of his classes that semester at BYU! He had great teachers who let him do a lot from home once he was feeling better.

Mike's cancer was called Parosteal Osteosarcoma. I think I spelled that right! His tumor grew from the outside of the tibia inward which was a huge blessing. Most grow from the inside of the bone outward, which is usually a not so good outcome since the cancer has been in the bone longer. This cancer attacks boys around the age of 13 and young men about 24. It is not hereditary. It was also a blessing that it grew on his tibia where he could easily see the growth, since a lot of times this cancer grows on the back of the femur which usually results in the person not finding it in time since there is more fat and skin back there.
Mike had a large skin graft taken from the top of his right thigh and placed over the surgical area. This is all graft that had to heal and that his body had to "accept". It looks so good now! He will probably have one more very small same day surgery next year that will help him run without any pain. It's so amazing to me what the human body can go through and still heal itself.
We love you daddy and are thankful every day that you are here with us!