Surgery was two days ago, and we are currently sitting in the hospital waiting to see if the drainage from Kobe’s neck decreases enough for us to go home.

We’re really hoping to avoid going home with the drainage tube since we’re 3½ to 4 hours away, depending on what kind of mood Philadelphia traffic is in that day.

The good news is that surgery went well.

The doctors removed the melanoma from his head along with any questionable lymph nodes. They placed Integra over the area on his scalp to help with healing. The wound is still large, but thankfully much smaller than originally expected.

Now comes the waiting.

We’re waiting on pathology results to tell us what direction comes next. The hope is that they find dead melanoma cells, that the immunotherapy was doing its job, and that the margins are clear so no further surgery is needed.

So for now, we wait, we pray, and we hope.

We hope for good pathology results.

We hope the drainage slows down enough to head home soon.

And we hope that after two nights sleeping in a hospital recliner, I can remember what a real bed feels like.

When we came down for surgery, we were fully expecting to end up in the newer, bougie hospital building with the fancy rooms and sofa sleepers. Instead, we landed in the cozy (and definitely older without a view) building. Let’s just say the recliner and I have gotten very well acquainted over the last two days.

Thank you to everyone who has checked in, prayed, and followed along on this journey with us. It means more than you know.

More updates to come.

With coffee only today, prayers & hopes of going home soon ☕🙏

– Stacy