Cancer is a disease that can bring so much pain, anxiety, stress, grief, uncertainty and fear. What cancer cannot steal is HOPE.

As we continue to walk this journey, I thought it would be better to have a place where I can update everyone without fearing I left someone out.

Today, Gwen had a second resection of the tumor in her kidney. They were unable to use the current nephrostomy site because it did not allow them access to the tumor as they had hoped. They performed another nephrostomy, in a higher location, and successfully retracted most (prayerfully all) of the remaining tumor.
They removed the stint that was left in her ureter and performed a chemo bladder wash to kill any floating tumor pieces washed down into the bladder from the kidney resection. That treatment was extremely uncomfortable but she pushed through with the strength she always seems to muster.

She is finally sleeping a bit after getting more anti-nausea medication. Her kidney seems to be slowly regaining function as it's draining urine... which is amazing!

She will still return home with a neph tube. She will need to keep this tube in for the next 2-4 weeks until she is able to heal from todays surgery. They will then cap the tube to see if she can function without the use it. If she can, they will be able to remove the neph tube! (Something she would LOVE to see happen soon as wearing her bladder on her leg has not been her favorite new hobby.)

Next Steps: There are many treatments that need to be performed... weekly chemo treatments within the kidney, another cystoscopy in the bladder, weekly chemo treatments within the bladder, additional  regular kidney and bladder scopes and another bladder surgery. Knowing all this can be overwhelming so instead of focusing on all of it, we are focusing only on the next step. Even our next step is unpredictable and leaves us in a constant state of flexibility and surrender.

Please keep Gwen in your prayers as she recovers from todays surgery and as she faces many additional treatments ahead. Please pray for physical and emotional strength, for continued healing, wisdom for doctors and us as we decide next step options and for us not to miss the quiet whisperings and amazing detail God wants us to not miss as we ride these waves. Thank you! 

Notes of encouragement seem to be something Gwen turns to (re-reads) during dark days. If you want to encourage her with a note, please send them to 3714 157th St, Urbandale Iowa 50323