November 18, 2010

Thank you for your interest in our mother's health. We feel very fortunate to have supporters who will share their sincere prayers for her during her battle with pancreatic cancer.

As you may already know, Betty was experiencing digestive problems. Before leaving on a short trip she checked with the doctor. The doctor had just diagnoised pancreatic cancer in another patient and ran a CT scan on a hunch. After a needle biopsy and diagnosis, we were told the tumor was inoperable. We arranged an appointment with the Brown Cancer Center for a second opinion. Dr. Robert Martin specializes in cases similar to Betty's. He felt due to her good health and no spread of the cancer that she would be a candidate for an extreme procedure called the Whipple. It removes the diseased area of the pancreas, 40% of the stomach, the gall bladder, and the duodenum. The surgery is so extreme due to shared blood supplies. The recovery is extensive. He also felt she was a victim of age discrimination. The first doctor felt her age would prevent her from surviving extensive procedures.

Betty will have a laparoscopic procedure today. The surgeon will search for hidden problems that were not found in the CT scan. If the surgeon is satisfied, her Whipple surgery is scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving, November 24, 2010 at 8 in the morning.

Betty will be in ICU during her stay at Norton Hospital. Her visits will be limited to family for the first few days. We will post the Doctor's instructions concerning visitors when they are available.

Betty is sure that this opportunity is a result of the prayers that have been offered on her behalf. Please continue to keep her in your prayers and join the blog so that you will receive automatic updates. We will add information as it becomes available.

Thank you,
The Boley Family