Another message from Ray:
Moved onto lumpy solids, ice cream and custard today.
Got up for first shower.
Andrew (son) ove from WA.
Epidural coming out on Monday (fantastic drugs).
Probably going home on Thursday next.
Have the Anglican priest coming in to deliver communion on Sunday.
Chatty with fellow in the next bed who has had a similar op. We were planning to order an ambulance to take us out for a counter meal tonight - nursing staff thought it was a good idea but just not practical.
Feeling remarkably good. Sleeping well. Plenty of time to pray, meditate, read and journal.
On first name basis with over 30 medical staff.

A message from Ray:
Thursday 26th Feb. 2009
The nurses got me up today - walked 5 metres and back. Took some time to get on top of pain but feeling good now.
Thanks to all you beautiful, generous people who sent flowers and poetry books:
"Through the empty branches the sky remains
It is what you have
Be earth now and evensong.
Be the ground lying under that sky
Be modest now, like a thing ripened until it is red,
so that he who began it all
can feel you when he reaches for you"
Rainer Maria Rilke
I had a visit fom a surgeon who was doing his rounds with 3rd year students. Sharing some of our stories - he delivers Gideons bibles to schools and industries. He expressed his passion of becoming a chaplain in schools. We shared contact numbers and he is coming to share a conversation mid-week. He knows a number of the Bendigo chaplains. What an asset to our organisation ACCESS ministries - sorry guys, can't help myself.
I will contact you all in the weeks ahead.
Ray

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your prayers, best wishes, care and concern. I'm sure that, plus Ray's strength of body, mind and spirit, is what has pulled him through the operation today with flying colours!
Sheila (his mum) and I were waiting in the Critical Care Unit for 2 hours before we found out that he had been transferred straight to the Surgical Unit because he was doing so well. When we visited him he introduced his attending nurse - "meet Steve, my personal assistant" - yes, you can't stop that Ollerton cheekiness.
We are also relieved that Ray does not need a colostomy bag as there was a chance the colon would not reconnect cleanly.
We are so thankful to be over this first major part of the journey.
If you can keep your prayers going for when Ray starts his chemo treatment in about 4 weeks time I would be extremely grateful.
Will keep you posted.
Love Marg

Came back from pre-admission interview at Bendigo Base today. Operation scheduled for 9am on Wednesday 25th Feb. Will be 3 hours long and in hospital for 7-10 days. Recuperation will be 4-6 weeks. The interns were impressed with my level of fitness and said they wished all their patients were as healthy before having surgery. This made Marg and I feel more confident about the op. I feel in the same space I was in last April just before my big 100km walk with Oxfam - full of anticipation and uncertainty. Wouldn't mind swapping surgery for the walk though!
If you choose to leave your name with a message can you identify yourself more fully so I know who you are.
Thanks for everyones encouragement, prayers and good wishes.

Dear Family, Friends & Colleagues
Had a bolt out of the blue two weeks ago when I was diagnosed with an active tumor in my lower bowel. After a CT scan the tumor was found to have metastasised (travelled) to the liver. There are a number of small lesions (between 2 and 4mm in size). The surgeon has decided to excise the tumor at Bendigo Base Hospital next Wednesday 25th Feb. I'll be recuperating for approx. 4-5 weeks and then having chemotherapy to treat the lesions on the liver. The prognosis (a million dollar question) is good in the short to medium term. The chemotherapy will not be curative, that is, it will not heal the lesions completely, but if I respond to the chemotherapy I will go into remission and that should give me a quality of life for some years.
The last week has been a long and emotionally draining one. Our family is slowly coming to terms with what's happening and preparing ourselves for a long and uncertain journey.
We have had so much support and offers of practical help which confirms our faith in human nature.
ACCESS ministries has been extremely supportive. I will be taking sick leave during the rest of term 1, possibily with some light duties - this will depend on how I recuperate.
We have a request - we are mindful of your wish to send us your love and prayers and to know what's going on, but we don't want to be inundated with phone calls - hence we have started up this blog site for you to place your comments (if you wish) or just check in to see what the latest news is with my condition.
Marg will make every attempt to update the blog regularly. If you add your comments, I will make every effort to respond whilst recuperating.
Thanks for your support and concern.
Blessings to you all
Ray