Surgery Week August 20 to 26

It has a been a busy week!!

Joshua had a pre-op on Monday August 20 for blood tests to make sure his counts were up. They were...Praise God!! We stayed at Craig and Nyla's and played in the hot tub one last time. Joshua's last time to play in the water.

Tuesday was surgery. Surgery lasted 3.5 hours. Everything very went well. The doctors took out his right kidney and remaining tumor, one adrenal gland, a small chunk of liver and part of the vena cava (sp). The tumor had progressed down the blood vessel to the vena cava and into the adrenal gland of the right kidney.

Joshua experienced some pain. It took about 8 hours to get his pain medicine adjusted for his body. We had him up the next morning for a wagon ride. A short walk to the bed and he was pooped out. We took many more rides through the day. Most of his pain seemed to come in the middle of the night. Deana and I got little sleep this week. We took some naps in the day.

He was not allowed to eat for 5 days due to this type of surgery. Not having food and liquids in the system gave the body repairs time to heal without being pushed upon by a full stomach, etc. He was hungry.

For pain Joshua had an epidural in his back. Friday night he tried to have a bowel movement and while sitting of the toilet he wiggled it out of his back and had no pain relief through the night. It was a long night. The doctors found this out on Saturday morning when they were taking out the epidural. IT WAS A LONG NIGHT...the doctors felt bad about Joshua having to go through so much pain that night. He was given some pain medicin intraveniously and was back to himself in about 15 minutes.

He was allowed to eat Saturday as well. He had a piece of toast and juice. We had to slow him down. He tried to go to the bathroom again. He could not. This was the last thing he had to do before leaving the hospital. I went down to see the Silas and Isaac at Craig and Nyla's. I had been there about an hour when the phone rang. Joshua told me he went to the bathroom....Praise the Lord!!!!

I took Silas and Isaac back up with me on Sunday to visit Joshua. We were expecting a stay until Tuesday. The doctors came in said he was doing so good he could go home today. God's loving kindness is everlasting!!! We drove to Crain and Nyla's and had dinner at their house. Joshua wanted to go for Fourwheeler ride...tough kid!!!!!!!!!!

Praise - Everything is going very well...he seems to have no sore muscles as of 8/26.

This week - We have a chemotherapy clinic Monday, tomorrwo, at 3:00 (8/27)
We will start radiation on his lungs and right side on Wednesday
at 1:00 (8/29)

Prayer Request - There are many side effects with the radiation. Lung tissue damage,
sterility, stuck together bowels, hormone damage, growth stunted.
Please pray for all of those for Joshua...that he would have a
healthy recovery and not experience any long term effects with his
lungs or other organs near the radiation.

Prayer Request - Joshua does not seem to get a break in all of this. He needs to gain
weight (he had 5 day fast this week), he will get tired easily, he
will get weak. That GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED IN JOSHUA'S BODY!!

Trivia Note - Joshua's surgery day was exactly 7 weeks from the diagnoses and on the
21 of August...that's 3x7...look at all of the HOLY NUMBERS!!!!

Joshua David Johnston - Joshua took Jericho on the the seventh time around the city
and entered the promised land. David was a shepherd boy who
slayed a giant to lead Israel.

Not by might, not by power, but BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!