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Post-Surgery Update on ApX Bassist Keith Haynie
Fri., Feb. 25. 2022 4:41pm EST
This is J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX yet again.
As most of you know, ApologetiX bassist Keith Haynie was scheduled to have surgery this past Monday to take care of a painful problem in his abdomen that caused him to be hospitalized in December.
SURGERY SYNOPSIS
His wife, Krista, says the surgery went well and as planned. The surgeons removed about eight inches of his small intestine, which they sent to the pathology department for further examination. They also removed his appendix as a precautionary measure.
"They were able to do everything laparoscopically," she says, "but one incision is about four inches long, where they removed the intestine and everything, so there were no drains, minimal incisions, and no drainage."
Afterward, the doctor told Krista it looked like Keith had had a tumor of some sort but that they'd gotten it all, although they wouldn't have all the details and diagnosis until they received the lab results.
The official pathology report finally came back on Thursday, and Keith was able to return home that afternoon, after the doctor explained everything to him and Krista.
I had a conference call with both of them on Friday in the late morning and early afternoon. They filled me in on the details, which they gave me permission to share with you:
DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS
Keith had a GIST tumor (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), which had ruptured, and that was the source of his abdominal pain in December. It was caused by gene mutation and was in his lymph nodes.
Apparently, about 4000-6000 Americans a year get GIST tumors. Krista says you can learn more about them from the Mayo Clinic, the American Cancer Society, or this article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrointestinal_stromal_tumor
For his treatment, Keith will have to do oral chemo — a pill to take every day for the next five years. Although it's great that he won't have to do things intravenously and can receive treatment at home, it's still chemo, so there are still side effects.
Furthermore, Krista explains, "Just because they were able to remove Keith's tumor, that doesn't mean it's going to stay gone. Depending on the mutation, the treatment they decide upon may work for a while and stop working later, or tumors could grow in other places.
"Keith will start having regular CTs or MRIs to monitor for that. Depending on how things develop, they may have to change the medicine."
PRAYERS APPRECIATED
As you might expect, all of this news and the uncertainty involved has been a bit unsettling for Keith and his family, although he is facing it with his ever-present sense of humor and faith in the Lord.
Please join us in praying for him, Krista, their kids, and their grandchildren.
"If Keith wouldn't have had those symptoms back in December," Krista says, "we might not even know about this. The doctor said she suspects that he probably had those symptoms when the tumor ruptured and spilled into his lymph system.
"We know we are in the Lord's hands, and this isn't a surprise to Him. We know He will be with us. He should be glorified."
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