11/12/2025
This is really hard. An update from my son Noah in his own words about the exploratory surgery yesterday:
“CANCER UPDATE After Surgery Today–November 10th: I’m officially and unfortunately stage 4 now.
“Today I went into OHSU Hospital downtown at the waterfront and had a two hour exploratory laparoscopy with a biopsy.
“The procedure went well no complications. My pain level is well managed, and my spirits are high.
“There’s usually a foggy, dissociated feeling after I receive difficult news, but I seem to be adapting over time becoming more calm, faith centered, and practical in my thinking while still nurturing my emotions and being honest about my thoughts and feelings.
“The good news from today’s surgery:
“The cancer did not spread all over my organs in the abdominal cavity major things like my lungs, kidneys, liver, and spleen look clear. That’s very positive.
“My cancer originated in the appendix, and it tends to spread like moss before it forms tumors. The doctor used the word “plaque.” They did find this cancer on my peritoneum, as they suspected from my CT scan, and they did see it in my abdomen. They believe they could remove all of it from my peritoneum and abdominal cavity as it currently stands.
“Where things got more complicated is that it’s also spread to my bladder, pelvis, urethra, and re**um.
“I don’t yet fully understand to what extent, I heard this secondhand while recovering from surgery. The doctor spoke to my father, and he relayed the information to me. I’ll know more in two weeks when I have my follow up visit and can review the chart notes.
“What I do know is that because it’s spread to those lower-body areas, surgery to remove it all would most certainly lead to permanent issues with my bladder and my ability to produce bowel movements. That would mean a urine bag and a colostomy bag for the rest of my life. So right now, that surgery is too dangerous to pursue.
“What lies ahead is chemotherapy, and my job now is to figure out the best form of it possible how to maximize its effectiveness and keep fighting smart.
“I’ll have more information soon.
In the meantime, I just want to say thank you. I appreciate every prayer, every message, every ounce of kindness.
“Please pray for my wife, my family, and my friends too sometimes I think this hurts their hearts even more than mine. I still feel love. I haven’t lost hope. I still feel close to God.
“Yes, I’m disappointed in some ways but I’m also grateful that it seems like I’ll still have more time here with everyone on Earth.
“Please pray for my mama too. I can’t imagine what this feels like for her with me being her firstborn son.
“If you’d like to support my GoFundMe we’d be so grateful. ( https://gofund.me/0b723ba6c ) My ability to work is becoming very difficult, and we’ll be under a lot of financial pressure that your help truly relieves. It means the world, especially during these tough times when everyone has their own battles.
“Love you guys.
“PS. God protects my heart in the quiet of the night. I’m nervous but not overly afraid. I’m not alone. Jessie Thomas protects me too.”
