You'll be pleased to know that I got out of hospital at 2pm or so today, and am recovering well. They did a hemihepatectomy, removing the right (larger) half of my liver - Couinaud segments 5, 6, 7 and 8. This was a success; my liver function is now normal and, over the next couple of months, the remaining half will grow in size and capacity up to 90-95% of the original. The scar across my stomach is slightly less than a foot long, and there's a 4 inch vertical section up the centre as well. The Wikipedia article calls it a Caine or "Mercedes Benz" incision, which isn't far from the truth. I might take a photo when I get a chance.
So I'm back in the position of having no known cancer in my body. Of course, I've been here several times before :-) Thank you to all those of you who were praying for me. God is sovereign (in all adjectival senses).
I opened my Bible during recovery and it fell open at the following section (not that I recommend that as a general method of deciding what parts to read):
But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."
-- Isaiah 43:1-3 (ESV)
Also, if one's own Wikipedia entry acquires a "notability" tag (although this was rather quickly dismissed last time), is it permitted to perform the necessary expansion oneself? I thought that was rather frowned upon. If it is something that's not done, then if anyone else wants to have a go, please feel free :-)
That's wonderful! It is always encouraging to hear about your trust in God in the face of these sorts of trials.
Posted by: Justin at December 31, 2007 6:17 PMI'll be continuing to pray for your recovery... glad you're out of the hospital at least in time for the new year. A real bummer to have to have been there over Christmas, though.
Hang in there!
Yaay! Fantastic end to the year!
Posted by: Ewan Spence at December 31, 2007 6:26 PMGerv, It's wonderful to hear you're recovering well! Our whole church family has been praying for you! Praise the Lord!
Posted by: RussW at December 31, 2007 6:34 PMHey Gerv, glad to learn that you're out of the hospital. I hope 2008 will be a good year for you and your family. Take care,
--Tristan
Got a hemi, eh? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyrcP5utXt4
Hope you're doing well, if not carbon-neutral. :-)
Posted by: Justin Dolske at December 31, 2007 8:12 PMGod bless, man, I'm glad to hear you're out and doing well. Been thinking of you daily, hope it did some good! :)
Posted by: Grey Hodge at December 31, 2007 9:08 PMThat's fantastic news! Praying that you stay cancer free. Best wishes for 2008!
Posted by: Huw Leslie at January 1, 2008 1:37 AMThe "rules" for that sort of thing are @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:COI
Posted by: Lurker at January 1, 2008 4:21 AMI sent the email before I saw this. Great that you are back, and I wish this new year that you remain cancer free for the rest of your life.
Posted by: jayant at January 2, 2008 12:39 AMGet well soon, Gerv! God bless you!
Posted by: Dave at January 3, 2008 6:03 AMIn Wikipedia terms, I would consider you to be in that marginal zone of potentially notable subjects -- not as notable as Asa Dotzler or Damian Conway, but more notable than Kevin McCluskey or Rocco Caputo. Breadth of coverage is Wikipedia's great strength, and I favor keeping articles on marginally notable subjects (as long as they aren't vanity articles written by the subject or the subject's friends), but it's best if you don't interfere. Frankly, commenting on the matter in your blog makes you seem less notable if anything, as if you are asking your friends to defend your entry. Leave it alone. Let people who don't know you personally or read your blog regularly sort it out. Assuming you are notable, other people will find the secondary sources that verify your notability.
Posted by: Jonadab the Unsightly One at January 3, 2008 1:09 PMJonadab: fair enough. Sorry if even commenting was a faux pas. Although some people do seem to have been working on it, which is cool.
Posted by: Gerv at January 3, 2008 1:52 PMI checkout your blog from time to time, and am glad to hear that you are out of the hospital again, though saddened that you had to go in in the first place.
We're praying for you. I admire the strength in your faith.
Posted by: Paul at January 5, 2008 6:00 AMGerv, This is an answer to prayer! Thank you for living out your faith with such boldness and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. As a brother in Christ, it is humbling and inspiring to read your blog. I will continue to be in prayer for you.
Posted by: Bill at January 5, 2008 4:38 PM