It was around this time that Vince started a Web site to share his experiences with his friends and to have a Guestbook for site visitors. This site is still active and it has been a source of inspiration for many. (http://gusterzone.pair.com/vincircles/)

On 4 October, Vince had major surgery to remove the primary tumor. After the surgery the surgeon reported some good news finally - he had removed the entire tumor over 15 cm. in diameter. But as we had come to expect, there was also bad news-the cancer had indeed spread to the liver. The surgeon was not able to remove all of the metasticised cancer. Seeing Vince in intensive care after the operation was heartwrenching for me with all of those tubes sticking into his unconscious body; he had been such a physically fit and vibrant young man just weeks earlier.

Vince couldn't wait to get out of the hospital. He especially didn't like people coming to see him who would cry. His incision was more than 50 stitches- running from his navel to under his right arm pit. The surgeon told me it is the most painful incision a person can get because it cuts across so many muscle groups. Vince managed to find something positive in the scar. Vince said the scar would be a "Chick Magnet". He would say it was from a shark attack-and it certainly was one-of-a-kind! "You can't get this at the local tattoo store," he said.

Vince recovered from surgery quickly. In two weeks, he was driving. I took him back to his University one day so he could spend some time with his friends; Vince wanted to assure them he would be just fine. He also drove to Pittsburgh with some friends, and then drove back himself. This is a five hour drive each way. Allowing him to do this created a lot of anxiety for my wife and me ; We just felt it was the right thing to do. He returned to report a very nice time with special friends at the University of Pittsburgh.

The edema in his legs was severe- so severe that the cancer specialist said he had never seen a case so bad.. When I would squeeze his legs below his knees, it felt like I was squeezing a wet sponge. Open sores developed on both feet to act as outlets for the lymphatic fluid from his body. When he would sit in one place for a period of time, the lymphatic fluid would form a pool on the floor. We were taught how to wrap his legs to reduce the swelling. We wrapped them every day from his toes to the middle of his thigh. Of course, Vince took special care to insure his friends didn't know about the wraps. I knew the wraps hurt him and made walking uncomfortable; but Vince never complained.