Post-operation

The surgeon explained that all left sinuses were filled with tumor, pushing against the eye and punctured the brain fluid.

Just in time. He prayed and thanked Jesus that he could clean it up. My nose was pulled open to be able to reach it. Also he had to fracture the eyesocket to reach the upper sinus. A small plate is put in place.

The neuro surgeon said he lives Holland and visited me explaining how he is draining the fluid from the spine to prevent brain infection.

The anestesist came to say hi, thanking me for being such a kind patient to treat. He commended the surgeon cleanup job.

The special online hystopathology mobile lab helped check what he scraped was melanoma or healthy. That way he kept on scraping and stopped when he reached healthy tissue.

Now its up to my body to stop growing new melanoma. Healthy life style is key and regular checkup.

Permanently return to Japan

I heard today that the company decided to repatriate me to Tokyo before 1 July. This is part of standard policy when staff get very ill while posted overseas, and the other side of being an expat: you can be called back anytime! Anyway, its better then the 1 April which was earlier imposed which would have disrupted my treatment and give us tremendous (unnecessary) stress. The letter I have written to management to ask for flexibility in the return date has worked. Thank you for that.

This new date gives us time to plan the move after my treatment has been completed in April. Especially for my daughter we have to find suitable schooling, and live nearby so she doesn't need to travel by overcrowded trains. Can you imagine an 11 year old girl? My wife will have to bring her and pick her up from school, so I will gladly sacrifice 2 hours per day to make that easy and short for them.

With that 'surprise' out of the way, I can and will now focus on getting well and as a family we can settle back into Tokyo lifestyle with its pro's and con's. We will be able to enjoy the autumn and I look forward visiting the many parks for my long term recovery.

I keep on looking positively at these twists and turns in life. As my mom would have said, it's no point to swim against the current, and we will be able to make the best of it. Enjoying the ride, including the ups and downs!

4 days to go to surgery

I went to Church with my daughter. I didn't feel well due to nose bleeds, coming from the upper left sinus. It makes me feel weak and not confident, and many times during the service I fell silent. Feeling the hand of my daughter made me recover and together we enjoyed singing.

My wife is still in Tokyo, wrapping up her visit to the Cancer Center. She will arrive at Changi airport at midnight.

Friday I talked to my brother, who likes to visit me after surgery. I told him that it took 2 weeks after the last surgery to recover sufficiently to receive visitors. So he will plan a visit in early March. That will be nice, depending of course how fast I will heal.

Yesterday I talked to my son. He plans to visit me in Japan during the treatment preparations but has to return before April, as he will have exams. I will discuss with my wife how to plan the preparations in the latter part of March and treatment in April. Language is really an issue as the complex terminology and unexpected questions give me lots of anxiety.

My mind is playing games with me, fear for the surgery is sometimes stronger than my will power to stay positive and healthy. I wake up in the middle of the night worrying not being able to talk to doctors in Japan .....