Marc, get well soon--you and Arlene have our thoughts and prayers.

Just checking to see if there is an update.

Denise??

Echoing Suzanne - any news?

I just saw this thread.
Can good thoughts to dear friends be retro-active?
Of course, they can!

Andi & I are there with you both in spirit along with everyone else here on LCT.

Doug

Arlene, we don't know how we missed this thread-but please accept our best wishes for Marc's health/ Our prayers are with you both.

blessings,
Don and Diana

Sending good wishes from me and Brad!

Yeah I was just checking in as well to see if there was any update.
Hoping and praying for the very best outcome. Knowing its a long and stressful day for those involved - so let us know when you can Arlene, we are there with you!

Echoing Suzanne as well, Arlene, you post when and if you are ready. This is just to let you know that we are like the "friendly neighbors next door", ready to offer a helpful hand in any way that we can, even if it is daily jokes for Marc as he recovers from surgery, though I'm not very good in that department! And his sense of humor is so dry and keen. But as they say, "Laughter is the best medicine"! We want Marc to get ready to swing with the monkeys and roar with the lions in April when we are in Africa! And I for one, after all these years from cc forward, want to meet both of you!

Olivia, I think Arlene gave Denise her cell phone number so as soon as Denise hears any news, I am sure she will post it asap. I am thinking we probably won't hear from Arlene today.

I placed a call to Arlene a little while ago. I had to leave a message on her cell phone. I left our phone number so she could call me when she is able to do so.

When I hear something, I will be sure to post it.

There is no hospital on earth with a waiting room large enough to accommodate all of us at LCT!!! We continue to send those good positive thoughts to you !

Thanks, Denise, for the latest. There are even some non-posters/lurkers asking off the boards if we've heard anything. Yes, this is one big waiting room!

Agree with all above, well said Bonnie, this is the largest "waiting room" on earth right now.

The day of surgery is really long and stressful for those involved, so I'm sure that Arlene will call Denise when she is able - knowing there are a lot of us waiting to hear, but then again, she has to deal with the family first. I'm sure she knows we are all there, so lets just keep sending our prayers, our thoughts and best wishes and hopefully we will hear something from her or Denise soon, and it will be good news.

The day of surgery is really long and stressful for those involved,

OH soooo right JoAnn PLUS everyone is sooo tired - I was the patient BUT remember the stories my family told me about how stressful and tiring the day was for all of them - Joanna

Yeah, me too Joanna, I just slept thru it all!! Woke up a couple of times, pretended I was coherent and promptly fell back to sleep!!!
It IS WORSE for those waiting that is for sure!

Oh! I see Arlene is logged in.

Maybe an update is instore!

Hi everyone,

Denise I am sorry I did not call you, I had Marc's cell and couldn't figure out how to check the voicemail (Should have had a lesson yesterday)

Marc is doing well. He is in the ICU and will be there for a day or two. They were able to remove the entire tumor and only had to "scrape" it off the kidney, rather than remove part or all of it. That is the good news. The not so good news is that they had to open him up completely to do it. We were hoping they could do it laproscopicly (sp) but they couldn't do it that way and save the kidney. Dr. C thought it best to make the large incision and not have to take the kidney and of course I agreed. It is a huge incision though. Basicly it is horizontal from his havel clear around to the middle of his back. The healing will take much longer this way, but it is still for the best I think. I don't know if a lot of you know, but his neck is pretty much fixed with very little movement due to arthritis. Consequently the anethesiologist had a really difficult time intubating him. As a result his neck, nose and shoulders are very very sore, and between all of that and the large incision, Dr. C opted for ICU for a couple of days so they can take extra care with him. (Of course I agreed imediatly.... I know he deserves nothing but the best!!)

In any case he was in pain and will be very sore in a lot of places for a while, but he will be fine. The Dr. didn't mention anything about cancer when we talked (and I was so releved I forgot to ask!) so I think we have sucessfully doged that one.

All in all an extremely long day. You all are right about the waiting. I feel like I was just sitting and holding my breath for hours. I am so releived that today is over annd I can breathe again. No doubt this has been the longest day of my life.

Thank you all so much for praying for him (us) (and the Drs too!) and for sending your thoughts and positive energy our way today. I KNOW IT HELPED.

I've got a few more calls to make and then I am going to FALL into bed. I'll report more when I can. I am going to print this thread and take it to him tomorrow. I know it will mean a lot to him. I waited until I knew he was off the computer to post last night, because I know he doesn't like to be the center of attention. At the same time I really wanted you all to think of us and pray for us... we needed it today.

Again, THANK YOU ALL so much for caring. :lct:

Love you both Arlene - long day but sunshine following - Joanna

Prayers and good thoughts will still be coming from all of us.

Wish Marc a speedy recovery from us. On our next cruise, I will buy him a big bottle of scotch to celebrate the good news. Hugs to you, Arlene.

Arlene, Please, no need to apologize. Calling me back should be the last thing to think about. Thanks so much for checking in with us and sharing the very positive news. It has been a long day and the worst is over for you both.

Our love and best wishes to Marc for a very speedy recovery. Take care and get some very well deserved and needed rest! Please continue to let us know how Marc and you are doing. :hug:

Denise & Alan

Arlene, this is the news I have been hoping for all day! I know you must be exhausted and I appreciate you updating us! I am sending you a big hug and my speedy get well wishes to Marc!
xoxo

Arlene, you and Marc are in our hearts and prayers.

How wonderful that he is in such good hands. I trust he'll heal well and quickly.

Give him our love and wishes for a speedy recover. Looking forward to spending time with you both on ROAR.

So good to hear from you tonight, Arlene...and with such encouraging news!! We continue to keep you both in our hearts.

Arlene - just get some rest, that way you will be able to be the strong side of this as needed.

Marc wish you the best in your recovery.

Thanks for updating us and keeping us all in the loop. We are there, and as I said before, there is a strong force with you - trust in your faith, and his Doctor's, and believe in all the prayers, thoughts and love coming your way - as MarnaLou said, our hearts are with you.
Please continue to keep us updated as you feel able to do so. But know that we are all thinking and praying for you and Marc.

I am one person who does believe in the power of positive thinking (be it prayer or whatever form it takes). I know this was a terribly difficult day, but it's OVER and now you can move forward, knowing that it's behind you and the tumor is gone and it ended up being a (mostly) best case scenario!

I know that if I were in Marc's place, reading a thread like this would warm my heart beyond description. The people on LCT are just some of the most wonderful human beings on this planet!

What a relief! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

So glad to hear from you, Arlene, and hope you get a good rest. Although we've never met, I consider Marc a friend (LOVE his sense of humor) and wish him the very best for a speedy recovery. I know how much you've been looking forward to ROAR.

My thoughts and prayers with you both and hope you're able to keep us posted on his recovery. Take care,

Arlene, thank you for taking the time to update us on Marc's status. Wishing him a speedy recovery along with everyone else.

Oh, I am so relieved to hear the news.

I'm glad Ostrich riding had already been ruled out, so it wouldn't be a disappointment if Marc's doctor vetoed it.

Arlene, what a long, stressful day for you. Rest well, my friend.

Thank you for the update and the good news. Thoughts and prayers going out to Marc for a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself, too, Arlene, this is stressful time. Keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there!

Arlene,

Don & I have been sending major prayers your way & hope that you & Marc are resting now after his serious operation. Thank you for taking the time to let all of us know how he is doing. You are very special to LCT!
Marc is so inspiring to all of us - please know that we care VERY much & wish him all the best for a speedy recovery! Take care, Michele

Gil and I have been checking all day to see if there was any updates. I'm glad to see that it was a best case scenerio. My thoughts and prayers are with Marc for a speedy recovery.

Oh and don't forget to also cheer him up with the 2007 Radisson schedule! ;)

Thankyou for posting this uplifting news. Our thoughts are with you and Marc as we travel the next few weeks. We are sending more of our positive thoughts your way for a speedy recovery

Doris

So happy to hear the good news. Thank you, Arlene for reporting. We continue to have the both of you in our prayers. We hope that Marc will have a very speedy recovery.
Please keep us posted on his progress, when you have the time! Thanks!

Betty

Arlene - do print out and take in this thread to Marc - it will cheer him up. My daughter did the same thing for me the day after my surgery and it was such a good feeling knowing how many people were sending love and thoughts, so I know it will mean a lot to Marc. And having ROAR to look forward to, will be the best therapy.

Will continue to send prayers and thoughts to you both.

So glad to hear that they didn't have to take out his kidney, that was really good news.

Arlene - Thank you for reporting on MArc's condition. I was so glad to read that it pretty much turned out to be the best case scenario, and that Marc is now on the way to a recovery.
:hug: This time has been quite stressful for you. I'd recommend closing your eyes & imagining you're on your verranda sailing on a clear blue sea, a gentle breeze and the quiet of the ocean to accompany you as you have your breakfast.

MARC - I'm hoping for a speedy & hopefully pain-free recovery for you. We're all with you!

I was getting ready to print this for him and was re-reading it. Is LCT (and its members) not the best? We are so fortunate to have such friends!

A few toughts...

Kathy, I laughed when you mentioned the scotch. When they got him up to ICU he was saying his mouth was so dry. The nurse said she would go check the chart to see if the Dr would allow him to have ice chips. He told her to check and see if if said he could have a scotch!

Arlene... taking him the 2007 world cruise brochure! I laughed so hard when I read that! You know him so well!!

Gil, thinking of sitting on the varanda.... Why oh Why didn't i think of that yesterday?

Bonnie.... you touched me so mush when you said there was not a big enough waiting room in the world yesterday. I lost it when I read that!

THank you EVERYONE for all yoaur thoughts YOU ALL ARE THE BEST!!

Arlene, tell Marc that I am surprised that he hasn't wified the ICU yet! I can just picture him recuperating with a laptop in his room :)