quote:

my friends and family are supporting me at www.robertpemberton.com and select "my blog"... my friends would think it wonderful if those on this group would chime in. I would be honored, but don't want any to feel obligated.

Direct Link: Pembo's Blog
pembo's had the op and recovering well. you can read the updates from joyce on and post your good wishes.

Hello everyone...this is Joyce, Bob's wife.
If you've been following our blog you know that Bob's surgery was successful in that he had no complications. The bad part is that his tumor was much larger than expected (which explains the pain he was having) and so they actually had to remove all of the front of his tongue. This means they attached the flap to the base of the tongue and the doc is not sure whether Bob will ever swallow or speak. That said, I am more optimistic and even the docs are amazed at how determined he is (he was off the ventilator two hours and breathing so well they left him off of it for good)....the other thing is that while the anatomy of the tongue is an amazing thing, the base of the tongue is pretty strong and my faith and my heart does not allow me to be discouraged otherwise.

Bob and I talked about this possibility...he had a more realistic grasp on this than I did. He is now aware of the current situation yet, I don't want to let him know anything until he is up and around ICU, and frankly he hasn't asked. (We use an alphabet board he points to letters to spell out words.) Right now his biggest challenge, as far as he knows, is getting out of bed tomorrow and in a chair, keeping his trach clear and getting out of ICU. One step at a time.

I wanted to keep you all in the loop, any encouragement borne of experience would be welcome...or any other encouragement either. We have a tremendous support group.

Thank you for what all of you have meant to my sweet husband, and what you will mean to him in the future once he is able to join you again on line.
Joyce

Hi to you both,

I don't have the experience that you're asking about since my cancer hasn't involved any surgery that so many of the group has had.

I'm so glad that the surgery went well with no complications. But sorry to hear that the tumor was larger than expected.

I just wanted to let you know though that I'm thinking about you both.

Best wishes, Cricket

Dear Bob and Joyce,

Thinking of you both at the moment and from Bob's posts I can tell he is a fighter!

Love Chloex

Hi Bob & Joyce, keeping you both in my thoughts at the moment. take everything one day at a time

Take care

Love Mum
xx

Hello Joyce

quote:

they actually had to remove all of the front of his tongue. This means they attached the flap to the base of the tongue and the doc is not sure whether Bob will ever swallow or speak.

I have a patient who has no tongue only a domed flap that moves slightly....and she can speak (with her own 'hot potato' accent). she can also swallow. I made her a palatal augmentation prosthesis (thick denture plate with no teeth) to lower the roof of the mouth down towards the reconstructed tongue to allow contact so as to help push food back into the throat for the second and more critical part of swallowing by the throat. So you might all be pleasantly surprised by what you can do despite losing the tongue. But he won't be able to stick his tongue out at you anymore!

Hope that is encouraging for you both. Take each day at a time and keep the fire of hope always burning.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you Dr. Joshi...as of yet we haven't told Bob the news, but I'm guessing he already had a clue going in due to his pain. He told me in advance of the surgery that if he was unable to speak any more he would be okay with that. He is a remarkable man and I hope someday you would be able to meet him.

I am encouraged by your answer, and will print this out for Bob when the time is right to share. One step at a time...tonight we passed the critical 72 hours for the vein/artery transplant, and he is doing very, very well.
Bless you for all you do,
Joyce

OK.....i'm back (sort of). still in a fog of surgery and in between the clear headed thinking phase and that of "being under".

much has transpired since my last contact.

first a word of thanks to those who provided the "good words" of encouragement to people you've not met. I'm thankful to those who took time to visit the family blog and offer good words

I will provide more info later, but wanted to be grateful to this group

for new fighters, be encouraged that you are not alone in fighting cancer, on many levels (emotionally, physically, and spiritually)....so fight!! fight!!

best wishes all -

Bob (Pembo)

Dear Joyce,
I have been off posting for some time - but had to convey something to both Bob and you. I have seen people with a lot of positive attitudes and have been through hell. There are very few though who have been through it the way Bob has. He has everything planned out and both of you are playing your parts to the cue.I am sure Bob will be up and about far earlier then what the doctors even predict. He is tough!!!
Warm regards,
Ananth

Joyce,

Read on the blog about your nursing chores today - well done! Amazing how we find ourselves doing things that not so long ago we thought weren't possible. At the very least you deserve a Girl Scout merit badge.

Wanted to leave a comment but the Word Verification portion of the screen wasn't working correctly. The field where the random numbers and letters should appear was blank, replaced by the dreaded red X for a picture or graphic that doesn't display.

Best of luck to both of you. Everything sounds upbeat.

Mimi

Oh Joyce

You made me smile as I read your blog about your aventures with Bob! You deserve a medal. There's appears to be a script for a sit-com developing! Tell Bob he is in the running for an MCF Oscar and you for best supporting!

Direct Link: Pembo's Blog
pembo's had the op and joyce's updates are

Hello All!

I thought I jot a few lines to indicate that I'm recovering nicely from my "flap" surgery of the 14th of Aug. I'm in the "secretion" stage right now and spitting/swallowing and managing my own body fluids seem to occupy most of my waking hours (and evenings too)!!

Had some setbacks with transfusions needed, some infection a bad swallow test which allows me to begin swallow therapy next week....and just the regular run of the mill surgery recouperation....

Those that have followed the blog have seen our daily issues. Joyce's point of view is pretty much spot on as far as the facts, but you know there are always two perspectives....not sure how I would anything she's written....but it's been her voice you've heard.

My intent here is to say thanks for your follow up messages and encouragements that I've read on this site. If you are new to this site please read on through other threads as I am sure there is something here that will be of benefit to you.

Getting better everyday, with a long way to go and wishing those on this site the best of wishes.

You are not alone.

Bob (Pembo)

So glad to hear from you and hear you are getting BETTER EVERY DAY!!! M

Great to have you back Bob

Love Chloex