March 1, 2005 (by Greg)

Today was the 2nd surgery to remove more margins around the original tumor. Everything went well again, but like last time, we are waiting on the results of the pathology report to find out exactly how successful the surgery went. We hope to get that back by Friday.
We left the house around 6am, got to the hospital around 6:30am and we felt like old pros at this surgery thing, knowing where to park, how to get around, basically the whole process. Alicia was led into pre-op around 7am, I met up with her again around 7:15am while, Jeff, the anesthesiologist, was there putting the IV needle in place. Around 7:30am, I was kicked out and Alicia was led into surgery.
Dr. Dietz came and found me around 8:45am and told me that everything went well. Alicia did excellent! She said that the conditions were perfect for the 2nd surgery and that she was able to get a good margin around the cavity. She also cautioned that if the pathology report does not come back negative this time around, then they are probably doing the wrong surgery. The clear implication that a mastectomy would be needed in that case. I know that Alicia really doesn't want that option, so we all are praying hard that there are good clean margins this time. Dr. Dietz also said that the odds are in her favor and this second surgery is usually all that is needed in most cases.
I got to see Alicia again around 9am and she was already awake! The anesthesia they used this time was not as drastic as the last time. She ate a couple of crackers, took some pain medicine and we were on the road back home by 9:30am. She is sleeping on the sofa once again. I think the pain meds make her sleepy.
Your prayers did wonders last time we when asked everyone to pray for negative lymph nodes and not a single cancer cell was found in any of the three lymph nodes they removed during the first surgery. We ask that you pray with us again this time that the margins are good and clean.
Thank you all for your support!Greg...