Gary Shreck update

The following is part of an email that Paulette sent out Friday night.

Gary had a good evening. He is able to whisper talk to us some which is wonderful for him and us. He was taken off the ventilator last night and has breathed well on his.. He is able to cough and clean the tracheostomy himself which is good news. As an update to some I am going to repeat the report we received last night from the surgeon.

The tumor was very large but they were able to remove all of it and the margins around it. They did frozen pathology on the margins and they were clean - cancer free. They removed many lymph nodes but we will not know the pathology report on those for about a week. They were able to preserve the nerve to the tongue which they are not usually able to do but they were able to for Gary. This means he will be able to taste. Praise the Lord. Dr. Medina said there may still be the need for radiation therapy but that we will know more about that after the full pathology report on the tumor.

We still do not know about the swallowing and may not for a week or so.

Please continue to remember this family in your thoughts and prayers.