Nick's incision had a hard time closing up. For almost three weeks after the surgery, it was bleeding quite a bit out of one spot below his belly button and one spot at the top of the incision. It was definitely hard being so far away from our doctor because I just didnt know how to explain how much blood. Luckily, over the last week or so, it's bleeding less and less but parts of the incision still look like an open wound.

We started seeing some discolored discharge coming from the wound about four days ago. There wasn't a lot, he didn't have a fever and the incision wasn't red but, we decided to take him to a local surgeon just in case. Our appointment was yesterday and after the Doc pushed and squeezed, poked and prodded, he decided that it was looking fine and that the discharge was probably just his body trying to heal. He advised us to begin scrubbing the incision (before, we were advised not to do so) and to use some neosporin to aide in the healing. He also asked us to come back in a week so that he can double check that it is continuing to heal properly. I'm not going to lie that I am feeling much more realived that someone with some sort of expertise took a look and said it was fine. Big sigh of relief...

Nick is no where near being physically "back to normal," I think this is going to take a long time. His abdomen is still swollen from all of the messing around they did in there and it's difficult for him to bend. He gets really tired, really fast and wears out easily. He laughs now, but quietly and without gusto - lest he tear the incision back open. Though we are nowhere near "normal", and not sure if we ever will be, I couldn't be happier. Cancer is disgusting. Cancer is a thief. It can be depressing. But, it's also bittersweet.  Cancer is enlightening, for it opens your eyes. Empowering, for it shows you just how strong you can be. And, encouraging, because it shows you just how much people really care.

I am blessed.