Chapter Two: Meeting the First Candidate

Wednesday, January 7

After the surprising revelation of a tiny malignancy on Tuesday, Dad and I met with the surgeon early on Wednesday. Dr. Esnaola looked young and spoke with knowledge and kindness. His physician's assistant, Laurie, was also thorough and compassionate. The earliest they could possibly schedule the Whipple surgery would be a week from that Monday. The doctor laid out for us every detail we needed to know and answers to my Dad's questions--yes, he had prepared quite a list for the doc--including the mortality rate for this particular type of surgery. He had only lost one patient to the surgery, a very poor surgical risk but a person with no other lifesaving options. Dad told Dr. Esnaola his only misgiving was that Charleston was so far from home, especially for follow-up visits after surgery. We both had nothing but praise for the wonderful work and staff at MUSC. Dad promised to call by Friday to let them know his decision.

The previous night my brother Gary had discussed an option for my Dad in Atlanta at Emory University with a doctor who operated with one of Gary's best friends. As we rode in the taxi to the airport, Dad and Gary talked again. Dad got contact information for John to learn more about the other surgeon.

Steve met Dad and me at the airport in Atlanta and drove us back to Chattanooga. My mom was up and dressed, which surprised me, as she's spent most of the past two weeks in bed with her back. That was why she wasn't able to make the trip to Charleston. I prayed God would strengthen her enough to be with Dad for the surgery. Sitting--or lying--around at home waiting for the phone to ring with news from South Carolina was no picnic for her.

After that, things continued to work out for Atlanta, with my dad potentially the first case on the surgical docket for this Thursday. He and I head out at 4:30 a.m. (not my idea of morning) on Monday for a doctor's office-hopping day. If all goes well, we'll get the meeting with his surgeon, pre-op forms and workups, an ECHO-cardiogram, and whatever else precedes the operation, out of the way by no later than Tuesday morning. That gives us a day and a half to get things in order at home and pack up for Dad's indefinite hospital stay.

God has blessed us with multiple prayer warriors and encouragers who are too many to name. Thank you, Lord, and thank you, family and friends.

Next: Chapter Three: Monday, Monday, So Good to Me