So much has happened in the last 48 hours that it's hard to encapsulate in a short update.

In my last update, I mentioned that typically, for someone with a colon tumor, the hospital would perform a colostomy to remove the affected area, but that the doctors did not consider this to be a good option because of Jeryl's extremely weakened condition. Late on Wednesday, the doctors told Maria that, while it would be quite risky and they didn't really recommend it, they would attempt to perform the colostomy if that was their wish. Jeryl had been sleeping and talking very little on Wednesday, but after the doctors left the room, he spoke just enough to make it clear that he had heard the entire conversation and wished to proceed with this surgery. The family felt they should honor his wishes. The doctors were able schedule the procedure for Thursday, but made it clear that there was a very real possibility that Jeryl would not survive the surgery.

Thursday was a long day. Surgery was scheduled for mid-day, and many of the family were present. After hours of delay, Jeryl was finally taken to surgery close to 8:00 P.M. After a suspenseful time of waiting, we got word that Jeryl was out of surgery and doing fine. Jeryl's bowels were not nearly as backed up and enlarged as expected, so the procedure went quite smoothly. The surgeon told us that the surgery went much better than he had ever imagined possible. What an answer to prayer! It felt like God's miracle to us.

However, the fact that the bowels were not enlarged much would seem to indicate that much of the pain that Jeryl had been experiencing was being caused by his liver, which is enlarged to about three times its normal size. Doctors were hoping to relieve much of his pain with the colostomy. They feel that he will likely need to stay on heavy doses of pain medications to keep the pain under control.

To be clear, none of this does anything to address the cancer which appears to be in various of his organs. His body will likely slowly continue to decline. The goal was simply to hopefully relieve some of his pain and perhaps give him a few more moments to spend with his family. Without the colostomy, doctors guessed that he might have had a day or two left. Now they say it may be up to a few weeks.

At this point, the hospital says there is nothing more they can do. If plans hold, the family plans to take Jeryl home in the next few days, and Hospice will assist with his care there.

Continue to pray for a miracle, but, more importantly, that God's will would be done.

-John David, for the Campbell and Martin families

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