Last night I went to bed nervous but hopeful because my best friend Larry Dekker was recovering from surgery and had been cleared of cancer - a rare cancer of the biliary duct (http://www.mayoclinic.org/bile-duct-cancer/) that had been blocking his liver. He was sore from the exploratory surgery, but relieved and might be coming home from Mayo on Monday. He did mention they said his liver was worse off than they had thought.
He has struggled with severe jaundice, itching, pancreatitis and several boughts of large weight loss over the past few years. He also developed severe diabetes during this time.
This morning I woke up and they had moved him from 20th on the transplant list to first and they had a liver already. So right now he is going through a complete liver and duct transplant. Sharon said they both were handling it well and he went in with a lot of hope that things were finally going to improve. He now has a much better chance at a future of more fishing and enjoyment of life.
Some reading here know Larry Dekker. For those who don't, he's an avid bass tournament angler and past president of the Michigan BASS federation. Larry is like a brother and a father to me. He was my best man at my wedding (he almost made me late too...). Please think positive thoughts for him today. He has a long road ahead of him now, but at least there's a road there... Thanks.
If you know Larry and you know other people who would want to hear this news, please pass it on for me.
I sure hope he gets better. I know the feeling. I have a very close person to the family that may have to go in for a liver transplant real soon as well. she was moved from down the list to up twoards the top in a hurry here lately. Hope he gets through it ok to be able to spend more time on the water and with his family and friends.
Thank you. He was actually pretty excited about it in a way because now he may be recovered enough to fish a few tournaments this summer... You got to love the angler spirit.
Dan:
If you get to chat with him soon, send my best from I fellow angler. I too have been down that road with family members and cancer, and its really tough. I don't know him, but let him know we'll meet out on the water later this year.
Jack
Thanks - I will tell him.
I hope for the best.
If there is a place cards can be sent let everybody know.
Thanks so much everyone who has posted and/or said prayers and sent positive thoughts.
Larry's surgery went almost perfect. He was out of surgery in less than 5 hours. He woke up at 5 PM yesterday and said he had to pee (sorry for the language). Cracked everyone up.
He is recovering very fast and everything so far has gone better than expected. They say he may even be out of ICU tomorrow.
As soon as everything is stabilized and expected schedules are known, I'll post more information. Thanks again fellow anglers.
great news dan - if you would like copies of my BASS, or flw magazines for him to catch up on, they are available - just let me know.
That's a great idea - I'll check with him in a couple days. I got to talk to him for about 1 minute today - which was great! He sounded very tired and a little ragged, but he told me to get over to his house and fix his computer!!! And he said he already had a box of latex gloves he has to wear before he can handle any bass (he'll be on anti-rejection drugs for a while).
He's not coming home for 3 to 4 weeks... but I better have that computer fixed before he gets home!! ;D
Glad to hear things went well, get that computer fixed!
-Matt
Dan,
Give Larry my best, glad to hear he is doing well. I shared a boat with him once on the Saginaw River for a Federation tournament. It was too rough to go out into the bay so we stayed in the river. We all sucked but Kevin caught them and won Angler of the year. The rest is history. Tell him to get better and that we expect to see him this summer.
Pat
Dan, any new news on your friend Larry? My prayers are with him and his family. Hope he's doing well.
Thanks again everyone. I talked to Larry tonight. He sounded Great! 10x better than Sunday and he stayed on the phone for about 10 minutes. He is having his biopsy to check for rejection tomorrow. He is recovering so well and they expect an all clear.
They will actually ship him out of the hospital on Friday at this rate to a local apartment in Rochester MN for 3 more weeks before he comes home to Lansing.
His doctor said he would be fishing a lot this summer the way things are looking.
I told Larry he must be doing something right to get a new liver the first day he is on the list. AMAZING! He was in a good enough mood he even said I had time yet to fix his computer :D
He told me he asked his doctor if he should wear a brace this summer to 'keep everything that has been moved around in place' and the doctor cracked up pretty good. He actually told Larry he could sumo wrestle by summer if he wanted too with 'moving anything around more...' I just don't think Larry would look good in the diapers...;D
Glad to hear the fishing Gods have been with him. Nice to hear he's doing well.
Talked to Larry again today - he sounded great, but tired. Why? He actually walked around Wal-Mart today for a few minutes! Amazing! He's in his apartment in Minnesota now. Sharon is coming back to Lansing tomorrow.
Great News!!! He passed his first biopsy - no rejection. Very important. All other tests are within expected levels so far.
He tells me he has plenty of magazines to read, but he is thankful people are thinking of him. If you wish to send cards, please send them to Larry's home and Sharon will take care of them:
Larry Dekker
3700 Ronald St
Lansing, MI 48911
Thanks again to everyone who has cared about this.