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Aug 2005
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Howard & Yvonne have assumed the Senior Pastor Mantle for Delta Christian Center.
Pastor's Curtis & Belita Taylor have moved to Nevada to be closer to their family and to be warm during the winter.
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Sept 2005
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Tuesday/ 08-23
Howard got a Cat Scan in Seattle due to Y's insistence (mostly to keep me from whining
about my tummy).
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Thursday/08-25
On my way from Fairbanks to work 2 weeks of nights, the Doctor called me and said I had a 3.3 cm mass on my left kidney and I need to see an Urologist right away.
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Y made an appointment in Seattle with the same group of doctors she has been using, the Swedish Medical Center. I saw Dr. Mullin on Wednesday/08-31. He arranged same day CT's with an IV dye injection; this included all my organs and a chest CT.
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Thursday/09-01
The Harvard Med school graduate Board Certified Urologist said I am all clear except for the left kidney. It has classic symptoms of kidney cancer and if he removes the entire kidney I should have no other problems. The medical statistics are 90 % of no more
problems with cancer by removing the kidney. If, they remove the mass there is a 75% probability of no more cancer.
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FYI- This type of cancer has no rhyme or reason why it shows up, Etiology is unknown. However, Benzene is listed as a cause.
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Mass removal only:
The mass (they won't know exactly what is until they perform a biopsy) has entered the vein and urinary tract systems in the kidney. This can cause surgery complications from bleeding and urine contamination in the abdomen cavity. Plus, they can't be as sure that
the margins are as clean if they remove just the mass.
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Total kidney removal;
So, kidney removal seems to be the right choice and this will happen on 09/13 at 12:45 PM Seattle time. A small incision (4-5 inches) by my belly button will be made...
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I asked him to do a tummy tuck while he was in there…
But, he seems to think he wouldn't be able to do that.
(Worth a try…)
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IF, the kidney is removed the only side effects is a propensity to hypertension and diabetes. (Besides having to put up with me showing my friends my scar…)
Both of these are basically lifestyle issues and I have not had any problems with either.
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I will be in the operating room for 2-5 hours and will be in the hospital for 2-5 days.
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Our missionary son-in-law and daughter are coming from Hawaii to help out with Howie, Howie is playing football and needs some cheerleaders!) getting our house ready for winter and for rental and to man Yvonne's & her sister Susie's Motel. Ed and Lis(Echo-Hawk, D4) Kawe will stay in Alaska for Grandma Katie's 90th birthday celebration in Anchorage on 10-14-05 and will go to the Alaska Federation of Natives in Fairbanks to network for their ministry.
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Yvonne has saved my life:
My friend Tom Hogan told me that Yvonne has once again saved my life…
By listening to her I get a very early strike at this invader to my body.
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The pain and discomfort I have been having for the last 4 weeks is due to the umbilical cord hernia. (Which they will fix at the same time).
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Bottom Line:
The Hernia CAT scan caught the kidney anomaly at a very early stage! This surgery is very doable and has a medical long-term probability of a total cancer free life.
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Lessons learned:
Always listen to your wife.
Live life as it were a gift…
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9/11: We ministered at George and Lisa Otis's church. The Cornerstone-Community Church in Mount Lake Terrace welcomed us as family. http://www.cornerstone-community.org/
An Elder Intercessor made a connection with the Ohana Project. He has prayer walked & attended AA meetings in the area many times. He has a compassionate street ministty.
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9/13
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Surgery at 12:30 Seattle time.
http://www.swedish.org/
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