November & 7 Nights Home

I can’t believe November is finally here. We’ve slept at home now for 7 nights, same amount nights we slept at the hospital. Of course we are sleeping so much better at home Thank goodness we have an adjustable bed so Willie can be at 30 degree angle all the time due to the feeding tube and his remodeled insides. We are both doing great wirh tube feeding, medicines, and shot in the tummy each day (a blood thinner he has to have for 30 days after the surgery, 14 days down, 17 more to go till he’s done with that shot

Nurse Cathy administering daily shot of Lovenox 💉

Yesterday we made a trip to the ER. One of the incisions below the J-tube was swollen, red, inflamed, very painful, and started leaking. This was an ongoing issue since Friday. But the leaking was new. Though the draining relieved some of the pain and pressure, it was scary. We thought maybe the feeding tube was leaking there. We called the surgeon on call who suggested we go to ER to have it looked at. Willie had been on antibiotics since Friday (10 day cycle). Long story short, a CT and several blood tests, it turned out to be an abcess. The ER surgeon, Dr Loewen’s partner, Dr Hess, cut it open, drained it out, and packed it with wicking. Very painful for Willie even with Lidacaine. We left at 7pm after a 3 hour experience during which we caught the Bills v Chiefs game and the first half of Seahawks v Commanders from room 10 of the ER.

Leaky painful incision area and J-tube where food goes in 50ml hour 22 hours a day, 2 hours off

👆🏻culture taken at ER 11/2/2025

Today we met with Dr Loewen for a scheduled appointment at 11. He repacked the incision wound and recovered it. He says Willie is doing exceptionally well healing and has graduated him to trying soft foods such as eggs and cottage cheese. He said that I don’t need to strain the creamed soups. Willie can swallow okay as long as the bite is tiny. He has to sit upright at a 90 degree angle for 30 minutes after eating or drinking. This is so the food goes down his newly engineered esophagus and stomach.

I forgot to mention in my last blog post on 10/31 an important update. Dr Loewen called on Friday to let us know about the pathology test on Willie’s esophagus, stomach, and lymph removed during surgery along with the little bump in his arm which was removed at the same time. All is well, he got all the margins, no cancer found. Except the bump on arm was cancer, but since it’s off now, it’s not a concern.

the next appointment on the calendar is with the oncologist, Ensi Voshtina, on November 12. I’m sure at that meeting she will lay out the plan for more chemotherapy. The rest of his treatment will include 4 more rounds which he is NOT looking forward too.

We are getting though this together, one day at a time. It’s been super tough but so are we. I can’t believe how strong my husband is. he’s so amazing and a superstar healer. keep the prayers and fairy dust coming! They are working miracles for sure. Both of us have been incredibly grateful for ALL the support, hugs, gifts, food, love, visits, calls, and friendship. You are all a big part of this journey to a cure and healthy life. Thank you more than we can say for being there for us both and for caring 💕.

This photo of us was taken on July 8, 2025 before he has his first chemo on 7/11/2025. His hair is starting to grow back now. He finished 8/30/2025 round 4, 2 months ago. I know both of us are looking forward to “hair” again but we know it’s possible now. Anything is possible.