Kisu Jernström is still recovering in the hospital.
Kisu Jernström photographed just before surgery. Kisu Jernström’s home album
Singer, songwriter, entrepreneur Kisu Jernström, 71, has survived the unique sarcoma surgery that was performed on him a week ago on Thursday.
Such an operation has never been carried out in Finland before. The surgeon who operated had brought his lessons from the United States.
– I can speak, although I start to cough easily, Kisu, contacted by Iltalehti, says about the hospital.
– The operation is over, but the events are still quite unclear to me. I was in intensive care for five days, and at first I was kept under anesthesia, Kisu says.
He has already been transferred from the intensive care unit to the ward.
– The surgery was big and long, I haven’t even asked how many hours it took. I really don’t know anything else about the surgery, other than that it went as planned. As much of the tumor as could be seen was removed.
– No doctor will ever say for sure that everything was removed, Kisu says.
Tiredness took me to the doctor
The kitten was diagnosed with sarcoma of the esophagus and stomach port in January.
It was found when the man went to the doctor because of severe fatigue. The hemoglobin value was 66, so Kisu had to go straight from the doctor to the hospital.
There was a bleeding wound in the abdomen, which required additional blood.
A whole month passed in the hospital, because on top of everything there was blood poisoning, which required an antibiotic drip.
The tumor had been planned to be operated on since the beginning of the year, but blood poisoning messed up the plans. The kitten first received radiation therapy for a month and a half.
“Properly troubled”
Before last week’s surgery, the doctors could only promise that they would do their best. There was no information in advance how the sarcoma would behave in that particular part of the body and how much other tissue would have to be removed.
– This was the biggest surgery that can be done on a person. My stomach is really churning, Kisu says now.
He has yet to see what the cut belly looks like under the wraps. Kisu can’t get solid food either.
– The food goes directly to the stomach. There are a lot of pipes and hoses, at one point there were probably twenty of them.
– But today I was able to drink the first two glasses of water. It was nice to be able to moisten my mouth, even though I have been able to brush my teeth, Kisu is happy.
The pains are still severe and of course they are medicated.
Towards a pig party
The kitten can already sit and move around a bit.
– Little by little, we’ll go here, depending on the condition, the man states.
At least another week will pass in the hospital. Tiina-wife has been to see Kisu, otherwise time passes by resting. The nights want to be interrupted because of the cough.
– I have sent a message to my friends. I have received a lot of contacts and chats, Kisu thanks.
He is still aiming for his pole and even the stage for the Degerby pig party in July, which he has been organizing for almost twenty years. Over the years, they have grown from a small village celebration to a proper festival. This summer, the main performer is Smokie.
– At the moment, I’m a bit armless and legless, but most of the arrangements for the pig party have already been made. Tiina manages the boutique and she has received helpers, Kisu sums up, referring to the village shop she runs in Inkoo.
Kisu runs a village shop in Inkoo with his wife Tiina. In connection with that, a pig party is also organized. Photo from 2014. Kari Pekonen
Two years ago, Kisu went through pharyngeal cancer with tough treatments – and survived.
Esophageal and gastric port sarcoma is not related to a previous cancer.
– I want to warmly thank the doctors and nurses, their work has been absolutely invaluable, Kisu continues.