Dad had chemo again on Wednesday. The doctors were actually amazed at how well he was doing. His blood pressure was a bit low 102 over something. He had actually gained 6 pounds in a week and all of his blood work was really good. Aunt Charlene took him to his appt and wrote down everything the doctor told her. She said dad was better than she had seen him in quite awhile and he was very chatty. Aunt Charlene and Chuck had mom and dad over for dinner but dad didn't have much of an appetite and actually feel asleep during dinner so the evening was cut a bit short.
Friday dad felt so good he did a lot more than he should have. He drove (which he isn't supposed to do) and took back some stuff he had bought to fix his van and didn't need. He also sold some items he hadn't used for a long time which enabled him to buy a few items he and mom have wanted. Sarah, our oldest daughter, drove over from college to spend the weekend with mom and dad. I don't think she had seen dad since Emily's graduation in early June. Dad had done so much on Friday that he over exhausted himself (just like the weekend Uncle Rick and Paula visited). He hasn't eaten or drunk much of anything most of the weekend. They had a few plans of things to do with Sarah while she was there but dad couldn't do anything so mom and Sarah watched movies while dad slept. Sarah enjoyed just spending time with them.
Mom called tonight concerned about dad because he hasn't had much in the way of food and drink and is certain he is dehydrated. He also hasn't used his oxygen like he has been doing. She said that he is mumbling a bit and just wanted her to leave him alone and let him sleep. I told her we would give him the night before we made any decisions about calling the doctor. She did finally get him to come to bed and drink a bit of Gatorade.
Chemo is scheduled again for Wednesday if all of his test are good and then he will get a week off. I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
One Down
So dad had his first chemo treatment last Thursday. He said he was a little nauseated but not as bad as he thought. Once again, Chuck and Aunt Charlene have been tremendously helpful in getting dad to and from his appointments. We stopped in to see him on our way to a volleyball tournament and he looked much better than last weekend. We took him some of his favorite coffee (that we have forgotten 2 other times). Then we stopped by on our way home again. Steve hadn't seen dad in awhile and he thought he looked really good.
There are several things dad is trying to get done so mom will not have to deal with them. One is getting his van running so he can sell it. Chuck has been running dad to get parts and helping him work on it. Dad is also trying to get as much of the house unpacked and in order as possible. It's really start looking like their home again.
Talked to mom tonight and she told me that dad had a physical therapist stop by today. This was ordered from the doctor when he was in the hospital last time but they have just gotten around to seeing him. Mom wasn't sure why they came but they gave dad some exercises that dad said are "boring". I am assuming it is to perhaps build up his strength but not sure. Hopefully he will do them because they can't hurt him.
Dad has chemo on Wednesday and you can all guess who is taking him. I am sure as he gets more of these chemicals in him the sicker he will be but I pray that God will spare him from that side effect, well not having any of the side effects would be nice but I can't be greedy so I'm asking for this one.
That's the latest. I'll let you know how things go later in the week.
Thanks for your prayers.
Melody
There are several things dad is trying to get done so mom will not have to deal with them. One is getting his van running so he can sell it. Chuck has been running dad to get parts and helping him work on it. Dad is also trying to get as much of the house unpacked and in order as possible. It's really start looking like their home again.
Talked to mom tonight and she told me that dad had a physical therapist stop by today. This was ordered from the doctor when he was in the hospital last time but they have just gotten around to seeing him. Mom wasn't sure why they came but they gave dad some exercises that dad said are "boring". I am assuming it is to perhaps build up his strength but not sure. Hopefully he will do them because they can't hurt him.
Dad has chemo on Wednesday and you can all guess who is taking him. I am sure as he gets more of these chemicals in him the sicker he will be but I pray that God will spare him from that side effect, well not having any of the side effects would be nice but I can't be greedy so I'm asking for this one.
That's the latest. I'll let you know how things go later in the week.
Thanks for your prayers.
Melody
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Not the News We Wanted
Well, there is good news and some not so good news. Good news is that the cancer has not spread to dad's brain. Now for all the other news. Chemo is not working. The CAT scan showed that there has been no change in the cancer in dad's liver and spleen. It also showed that the cancer in his lungs has actually grown quite a bit despite the chemo treatments. Mom and dad were given two options:
Option 1: Stop all treatment and start utilizing Hospice and dad's life expectancy is 3 - 6 months.
Option 2: Change treatment which is 3 weeks on, 1 week off. This will make dad extremely ill and very weak. Traveling for short periods of times (like for the weekend) will not be possible. Dad's life expectancy would be maybe 1 year.
Dad has chosen option 2. When I talked to him this afternoon it was the first time I have heard him cry since he was diagnosed in January. I told him to not give up and he said he wouldn't. This is all a bit hard to hear and accept. Please keep our family in your prayers. I can't write anymore, too many tears.
Melody
Option 1: Stop all treatment and start utilizing Hospice and dad's life expectancy is 3 - 6 months.
Option 2: Change treatment which is 3 weeks on, 1 week off. This will make dad extremely ill and very weak. Traveling for short periods of times (like for the weekend) will not be possible. Dad's life expectancy would be maybe 1 year.
Dad has chosen option 2. When I talked to him this afternoon it was the first time I have heard him cry since he was diagnosed in January. I told him to not give up and he said he wouldn't. This is all a bit hard to hear and accept. Please keep our family in your prayers. I can't write anymore, too many tears.
Melody
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Good Visit
Just got back from spending the weekend with mom and dad and Uncle Rick and Paula. The 4 of them drove to the Oregon coast on Friday and had a really good time. Uncle Rick took the puppies out on the beach and let them play around for awhile. They spent some time at a casino and dad didn't want to leave, not because he was winning, but because he was getting to be "normal". They didn't get home until 10:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday have been "recoup" days. He has been very tired and in a lot of pain. When I got there Saturday around 11:00 he was up and moving around and talking but by the early evening he was sleeping and his speech was more mumbly and incoherent. He was up 3 or 4 times in the night (I know because I was sleeping on the couch), 1 time was to get more pain medication. He was pretty much asking for it all weekend long. He is letting mom monitor those medications more. She thinks he was using them too much and that lead to some of his confusion. This morning, he was worse than yesterday. He was very cold and tired and in a lot of pain. He rested all day and Uncle Rick stayed with him while mom, Paula and I went to Washington Square which is a mall close by that mom has wanted to go to for quite awhile. I had to leave around 2:00 because it had snowed about 4 inches in the mountain pass I go through to get home (it is WAY, WAY to early for snow in my opinion). I called when I got home about 4:30 and mom, Uncle Rick and Paula had done some sight seeing and were on the way back home to get dad to go to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory. Hopefully that means he was doing a bit better that he could go out for dinner. I think that if dad is feeling up do it, they are going to an airplane museum tomorrow.
Paula just recently retired from social services work in Michigan and she believes that there are some services that could be beneficial (and no cost) to mom and dad. She is going to looking into a bit and work with me to see what we can get for mom and dad in terms of additional help. It has been very good for dad to spend time with one of his brothers. It would be nice if we could get him out to Michigan to see the rest of his family. It has been many, many years since he has seen them.
The only medical thing going this week is an appt on Oct 7th to meet with the doctor to get the result of all of the CAT scans. Aunt Charlene is going to go with him to be mom's ears and ask questions if need be. As always, I really appreciate all that Aunt Charlene and Chuck have done for mom and dad. Mom also told me her sister Cathy has offered to do grocery shopping for mom and dad every couple of weeks. I hope mom will let her do that. I know it is hard for both mom and dad to allow others to help but they need to let them.
When I hear something on Wednesday, I will pass it on. Keep the prayers and good thoughts acomin'. With gratitude....
Melody
Paula just recently retired from social services work in Michigan and she believes that there are some services that could be beneficial (and no cost) to mom and dad. She is going to looking into a bit and work with me to see what we can get for mom and dad in terms of additional help. It has been very good for dad to spend time with one of his brothers. It would be nice if we could get him out to Michigan to see the rest of his family. It has been many, many years since he has seen them.
The only medical thing going this week is an appt on Oct 7th to meet with the doctor to get the result of all of the CAT scans. Aunt Charlene is going to go with him to be mom's ears and ask questions if need be. As always, I really appreciate all that Aunt Charlene and Chuck have done for mom and dad. Mom also told me her sister Cathy has offered to do grocery shopping for mom and dad every couple of weeks. I hope mom will let her do that. I know it is hard for both mom and dad to allow others to help but they need to let them.
When I hear something on Wednesday, I will pass it on. Keep the prayers and good thoughts acomin'. With gratitude....
Melody
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Testing
I know it has been awhile since the last update. Dad was released from the hospital on Tuesday of last week. His regularly scheduled chemo would have happened on Wednesday but due to some concerns of his memory and speech and balance, the doctors decided to forgo the chemo and scheduled him for CAT Scans of his internal organs as well as his brain. The purpose of the internal organ CAT Scan is to determine if the current chemo treatment plan is making any difference or do they need a different treatment plan. The purpose of the brain CAT Scan is that he is having problems with speech and memory that has the doctors concerned enough to look to see if the cancer has spread to his brain. I have noticed in my conversations with him that his speech is slower and he often times seems confused or not even hearing what is said. Even tonight on the phone I was asking him if he would have treatment before he gets the test results. After repeating myself 4 times, he told me I was confusing him but that it didn't take much these days to do that. Mom and I have both noticed that he has reverted to singing the song "I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck." It's as if at times it is the only thing he can remember to say. He has an appt on October 7th to review the test results and consider further treatment.
Uncle Rick is coming tomorrow. I think this will be good for dad. I plan on driving up to Portland on Saturday so that I can see Uncle Rick too. Dad has been trying to get the house ready for them but seems to understand that he has limits now and those are exaggerated due to his illness.
Please continue to lift up prayers for him and mom. The last couple weeks have been very tough for both of them. I think they are both emotionally weary and physically tired. I will try to post the next update much quicker. I apologize for the lapse in time. Working 2 jobs, our oldest daughter moving back home, middle daughter starting college and youngest daughter in high school volleyball having games 2 nights a week, my time is stretched thin, hence this post at 12:30 am. Thanks for caring about my dad.
Uncle Rick is coming tomorrow. I think this will be good for dad. I plan on driving up to Portland on Saturday so that I can see Uncle Rick too. Dad has been trying to get the house ready for them but seems to understand that he has limits now and those are exaggerated due to his illness.
Please continue to lift up prayers for him and mom. The last couple weeks have been very tough for both of them. I think they are both emotionally weary and physically tired. I will try to post the next update much quicker. I apologize for the lapse in time. Working 2 jobs, our oldest daughter moving back home, middle daughter starting college and youngest daughter in high school volleyball having games 2 nights a week, my time is stretched thin, hence this post at 12:30 am. Thanks for caring about my dad.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Hospital Update
Dad will be in the hospital one more night. Mom and Aunt Charlene went to visit for a few hours. The nurses had just got done walking with him and he crawled into bed and fell asleep. Mom and Charlene stayed for about 3 hours and dad never woke up, even when mom tried to say goodbye. The doctor asked mom if she thought dad should go home or stay and she felt one more night of good rest for both of them would be the best. That didn't make dad to happy. The doctor is trying to get in contact with the urologist to discuss the urinary tract infections. Apparently each one has been caused by a different bacteria but the end result is the same, a hospital stay. Mom said a social worker also visited with her and suggested that they look into the Life Alert program. It isn't covered by Medicare or Social Security so it would be an added expense that they really can't afford right now. I know that it could give mom piece of mind while she is at work so we will see what it will take to make that happen.
That's the latest. Thanks for the words of encouragement for all of us.
Melody
That's the latest. Thanks for the words of encouragement for all of us.
Melody
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Bad Week
This last week has been very tough. I will start with the urgent and then recap. Mom called me this morning (Sunday) at 12:45, yes 12:45 (which means something is not right), and she had called an ambulance to take dad to the hospital. She called Aunt Charlene and Chuck to come take her to the hospital. Dad had fallen trying to get up in the middle of the night and he couldn't get back up. Mom couldn't help him up either so he crawled to the bathroom. He was very weak and so mom called for help.
Mom called me every couple of hours with the final phone call at about 6:30 am that they were going to admit him to the hospital. He still has an infection (I believe the same one he has had every time he lands in the hospital.) and they were giving him fluids. He couldn't walk on his own at first but after some rest and fluids they did finally get him to walk a few times.
RECAP: So, last weekend was moving day. Dad worked very hard trying to get things ready. Due to a volleyball tournament that Kaity had, we were not able to be there like we had originally planned. The tournament went from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm (we won the championship game). Many people showed up to help move and clean the old apartment but it still took a toll on mom and dad. Emily and I headed to Portland from the tournament while Steve and Kaity went back home because Kaity had to work Sunday. Emily and I got there about 8:00 pm and worked until about 1:00 am trying to put things away and rearranging furniture to make the house more livable. Cable guy showed up an hour early than dad said he would so we were all in our pjs. I'm sure he went home to his family and said "You would not believe this house I was at today...." Anyway, dad was so exhausted he slept all day. He had planned on getting the computers hooked up and going but he couldn't even get off the couch. Emily and I had to leave at 12:30pm so she could be at work by 5:00pm. We tried to have them as settled as possible. The rest of the week was about the same. He got some things done but over did it.
Friday, September 18th was their 45th Anniversary but dad was too weak to really do anything. They made plans to go to Red Lobster on Sunday instead. By Saturday mom said he was not doing well. He kept thinking it was Sunday. While at Costco he thought they were somewhere else and he kept almost running into people with his cart. One lady had to jump out of his way or he would have run her over. When they went to bed, we was very cold and so mom had him all wrapped. That lead up to the ambulance ride to the hospital today. He is still there (at the hospital not in the ambulance).
When mom talked to him late this morning he wanted to know if she was coming to see him and then he just mumbled for minutes. After several attempts to talk to him, mom finally told him that she needed to rest and would call him later and hung up. Mom has spent all day in bed today just trying to recoup from the move as well. She has taken vicadin and it hasn't even touched the pain in her legs. She didn't get up to see dad but told him she would be there tomorrow. She is hoping to get off a bit early from work to do that. We don't know if he will be there for another night or if they will send him home. When mom talked to him later this evening he wasn't mumbling but was still a bit confused about the day. Mom is going to talk to the doctors about this infection that has been lingering for months. Obviously what they are doing isn't working. Every time he has been in the hospital he has an urinary tract infection. They need to change that course of treatment.
Sorry for the length of this update. If you are still with me at this point, you are a good friend or a relative, LOL!!! I will try and update tomorrow but this is another crazy week for my family. Please pray for mom and dad. There are so many needs: healing, physical, mental, emotional, financial.... The list seems endless and at times overwhelming to all of us.
Melody
PS. GOOD NEWS!! My uncle Rick, one of dad's brother's, is coming to see dad on October 1st from Michigan. That will be really good for my dad's spirit.
Mom called me every couple of hours with the final phone call at about 6:30 am that they were going to admit him to the hospital. He still has an infection (I believe the same one he has had every time he lands in the hospital.) and they were giving him fluids. He couldn't walk on his own at first but after some rest and fluids they did finally get him to walk a few times.
RECAP: So, last weekend was moving day. Dad worked very hard trying to get things ready. Due to a volleyball tournament that Kaity had, we were not able to be there like we had originally planned. The tournament went from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm (we won the championship game). Many people showed up to help move and clean the old apartment but it still took a toll on mom and dad. Emily and I headed to Portland from the tournament while Steve and Kaity went back home because Kaity had to work Sunday. Emily and I got there about 8:00 pm and worked until about 1:00 am trying to put things away and rearranging furniture to make the house more livable. Cable guy showed up an hour early than dad said he would so we were all in our pjs. I'm sure he went home to his family and said "You would not believe this house I was at today...." Anyway, dad was so exhausted he slept all day. He had planned on getting the computers hooked up and going but he couldn't even get off the couch. Emily and I had to leave at 12:30pm so she could be at work by 5:00pm. We tried to have them as settled as possible. The rest of the week was about the same. He got some things done but over did it.
Friday, September 18th was their 45th Anniversary but dad was too weak to really do anything. They made plans to go to Red Lobster on Sunday instead. By Saturday mom said he was not doing well. He kept thinking it was Sunday. While at Costco he thought they were somewhere else and he kept almost running into people with his cart. One lady had to jump out of his way or he would have run her over. When they went to bed, we was very cold and so mom had him all wrapped. That lead up to the ambulance ride to the hospital today. He is still there (at the hospital not in the ambulance).
When mom talked to him late this morning he wanted to know if she was coming to see him and then he just mumbled for minutes. After several attempts to talk to him, mom finally told him that she needed to rest and would call him later and hung up. Mom has spent all day in bed today just trying to recoup from the move as well. She has taken vicadin and it hasn't even touched the pain in her legs. She didn't get up to see dad but told him she would be there tomorrow. She is hoping to get off a bit early from work to do that. We don't know if he will be there for another night or if they will send him home. When mom talked to him later this evening he wasn't mumbling but was still a bit confused about the day. Mom is going to talk to the doctors about this infection that has been lingering for months. Obviously what they are doing isn't working. Every time he has been in the hospital he has an urinary tract infection. They need to change that course of treatment.
Sorry for the length of this update. If you are still with me at this point, you are a good friend or a relative, LOL!!! I will try and update tomorrow but this is another crazy week for my family. Please pray for mom and dad. There are so many needs: healing, physical, mental, emotional, financial.... The list seems endless and at times overwhelming to all of us.
Melody
PS. GOOD NEWS!! My uncle Rick, one of dad's brother's, is coming to see dad on October 1st from Michigan. That will be really good for my dad's spirit.
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