Journey

We have seen Rory.  Dr Nick called briefly around 8pm last night.  The operation was largely complete and they were stitching up the wounds.  The operation went well (11.5 hours). Dr Nick removed all the tumor he could see.  We will not know if there are clear margins around it (so no tumor cells left behind) until we received the analysis from the lab.  We spent a tense hour sitting outside the doors to DCCM (Dept of Critical Care Medicine) at Auckland Hospital last night waiting as the doctors and nurses set things up for Rory and stabilised him.  It was overwhelming to see him at 9.30pm, heart breaking and wonderful at the same time.  He was still sedated.  He has a breathing tube in one nostril and an NG (naso-gastric) tube in the other.  He has stitches which run from the middle of his lip, down his chin, along his neck to behind his ear, finishing near his temple.  There is swelling.  He was covered up but there are many tubes and lines providing life support.  I held his hand and told him I was there.  A strong feeling of nausea overwhelmed me and I had to leave the room to sit down and put my head between my knees.  Sean came in but Colt sat outside the door and wouldn’t enter. He is not ready to see his brother like this. This morning we will return to DCCM so we are there when Rory wakes up.  We will get a full debrief from the Doctors this morning.