I am going into surgery on Friday, September 18th to remove a cancerous prostate with the aid of a robot! It looks something like a big R2D2 with five slender retractable preying mantis arms, and it saves one having to be gutted like a fish for the procedure. One of its slender arms (inserted into the abdomen) holds a dual lens camera that provides the surgeon with a 3D view of one's innards. He sits at a hooded console and operates the device, and can be joined with another doctor at a similar console. The robotic extension takes out the shakes of the operator and performs very precise movements, while allowing a greatly magnified view of the subject. Pretty amazing, eh?
My father suffered terminally from prostate cancer, so I'm not messing with chemo or radiation. The specialists all say, and the biopsies seem to demonstrate, that the cancer has not spread; so I am praying for a quick recovery (an overnight stay, then home) and complete removal of this thing.
For those who may face a similar problem (and since many of us Levergunners are that age bracket), you can find several websites that have streaming videos of this marvelous new surgery technique - just enter:
Da Vinci Prostatic Surgery Video
...or similar phrase pasted into Google.
Here is a quick view of the device:
Thank you in advance for your prayers - it all ultimately rests in God's hands.
Lookin' up - John
