Cryo complete

Doc T came out right about the three hour mark. She was confident she had gotten 50% of the tumor which is the most optimum outcome she thought she'd be able to get. There was a point where they got close to his bowel, but they stopped the freezing, pulled back right away, and started defrosting. She thinks they were able to avoid any damage since they spotted the encroachment right away. But otherwise she was quite happy with how the procedure went. In the mean time she is releasing Alan to Doc L's service, who will be the one to determine when he is discharged tomorrow.

Judy and Alan went to the recovery room where Alan was quite cranky. The anesthesiologist was surprised with how quickly he woke up. He also noted that Alan's hiccups had come back. Between those and the gas used to knock him out it seems that Alan had a lot of air in his tummy. All he wanted to do was cuddle on Judy's lap and slowly sip water. After a couple of good belches he calmed down. It seems he just needed to relieve the pressure.

Since he was awake and taking in liquids, we were moved upstairs to a room in the Children's Cancer Hospital for observation. The floor we stayed at in December 2010 was under a major renovation, so we are now in the temporary location on the 10th floor. By now, Alan was working on his third cup of water and feeling a little drowsy. For a while he was dozing hunched over his pillow, yet unwilling to give up his (open) cup of water. He wasn't happy with his right hand bandaged up with the IV, so the nurse accessed his port so Alan could have both hands free. His right hand now sported an Angry Birds Band-Aid. He did a little painting, ate a few marshmallows from a cup of Lucky Charms, but mostly he laid back and watched movies. Kung Fu Panda 2, Cars 2, and now Kung Fu Panda 2 again (by request!).

Judy saw Doc HJ by the nurse's desk and she asked after Alan. She was part of the multi-disciplinary conference that discussed Alan's case a few weeks ago. She also mentioned that she and Doc H2 were working on a paper about the difficulties with unclassified sarcomas like Alan's. They have seen tumors seemingly respond to chemo, only to come back more and more resistant. She expressed their frustration, knowing that ours must be so much greater. They are looking at solutions where the patients may need to take a medication for the rest of their lives to keep the tumor down. We would gladly take that option, but who knows what stage of research they are at. The point is, they are not giving up.

We're keeping an eye on one of the bandages on a probe site, but otherwise Alan seems comfortable, if unwilling to move around much. Hopefully as the night goes on his appetite will return. For now, we are glad he is awake and well.


Drinking water in recovery.


Up in his room, Alan is sleepy yet unwilling to give up his cup of water.