Surgery is on for my husband

We received the word that the cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon are in agreement that Jim is fit enough to handle the surgery. They will hospitalize him on January 4th and hydrate him and get his pacemaker set for the surgery on the 5th. Just for the new people, I will give the facts of his ec. Jim is 68 years old, was diagnosed with ec on September 7th with a endoscope. We were going to stay local (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) until I started researching. Fortunately I found this site and was encouraged to go to a large cancer center for a second opinion. I am so happy we did; we are going to OHSU in Portland, Oregon and have a team of surgeons that specialize in MIE. Jim has aortic stenosis (narrowing of the large heart valve) and it has complicated his journey with ec. He went through chemo, 5fu and Cisplatin and 27 IMRT radiation treatments. He ended up in the hospital for eleven days. He is getting stronger and his Petscan showed at least a 70% decrease in the tumor and lymph nodes. Jim's tumor is in the mid thoracic section of the esophagus and has four lymph nodes involved. All have shrunk and the doctors think that the cancer may be gone and the activity is from inflammation. We hope and pray this is the case and will know when they do the surgery. We are anxious to get the surgery done and get him on the road to recovery. The surgeon has given me a folder with all of the facts and what to expect. He also gave us pictures of the actual procedure. William gave me many links to learn about the surgery so I am prepared.
Jim doesn't want to know all of the facts, he says just do what you have to do, and I will do it. The surgeon made him listen and showed him on charts what will be done. I know my husband and saw the eyes glaze over as he tuned him out. He truly does "get it" just doesn't want to see or read all of the details. Going through this really makes you have a reality check with one another and have to have all of the serious talks many people don't want to have.

We have been fortunate enough to have three of our adult children and grandchildren here over the holidays. Our five children are spread all over the US and it is difficult to see them often. I hope you all have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Linda