Y'all may remember this thread https://www.carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/my-wifes-mother-just-passed.42058/ from a couple of months ago...as if that weren't enough...
My dad is 82. He has colon cancer: diagnosed 5 years ago, 1 ft of large intestine removed and joined. He is a cardiac rehab fanatic (has congestive heart failure, afib, bad arthritis and gout), which helped him through that. Didn't take chemo or radiation because it wasn't going to help his odds much, and he would not have been able to continue the beneficial exercising. I've been going down 3 long weekends/month the past 1.5 years to help with his care (he's in Saluda SC; I live in Cary NC).
The past 4-5 months I've been wresting with his oncologist. I've noticed cancer markers up and unfavorable CT scans. Oncologist was not terribly blunt with me, and it took some time to decode some of their terminology. He cancer has metastasized to his lungs and liver (most common sites for colorectal cancer to go). They can't treat it (he says it will just make things worse, and I don't really doubt that, but it's also crap to hear). But they weren't really following things closely (he has both Medicare AND BCBS, so plenty of insurance). His last hepatic panel was getting worse, and he had pretty bad jaundice; I said, shouldn't we be doing something to reduce stress on his liver??? They finally ordered a liver ultrasound. The next morning, he fell, and had to go to the ER. After about 7-8 hours there, they admitted him, and everyone was giving us hell about not getting the jaundice treated. I said, well, you might ask his oncologist, because we HAVE been trying to get some for over a month, and he was just here yesterday morning, DOWN THE HALL, for a liver ultrasound! Why did y'all even let him leave??? WTF???
He was in the hospital a week. Hypotension (he has historically had hypertension - this is why he fell). Bile duct was blocked, probably a tumor. They inserted a stent, and bilirubin numbers are falling from the peak of 19 (normal ~1). He's been home since the 8th, but is mostly bedridden. Incontinence is a real problem. His attitude is spectacular. Every time he had a different nurse or doctor, he would say, "With y'all's and the Lord's help, we're going to make it! Got to fight it! I'm not giving up!" One doc was really pushing DNR, while two nurses were changing him...ticked me off, talking about him like he was a side of meat there. I told him how we had a great handle on his cardio and pulmonary health, and had been tracking and adjusting things the past 10 years. He went and looked some things up in the computer there, and then he shut up and left. He might have picked up on some body language from me also
Anyway, I humbly ask for prayers for him, that he be able to get around a little better in the time he has left (however long that is), and that we his caregivers are able to sustain the efforts we make to help him stay at home with dignity and enjoyment of his family and friends. Hope this wasn't too wordy - typing it is part of my therapy
My dad is 82. He has colon cancer: diagnosed 5 years ago, 1 ft of large intestine removed and joined. He is a cardiac rehab fanatic (has congestive heart failure, afib, bad arthritis and gout), which helped him through that. Didn't take chemo or radiation because it wasn't going to help his odds much, and he would not have been able to continue the beneficial exercising. I've been going down 3 long weekends/month the past 1.5 years to help with his care (he's in Saluda SC; I live in Cary NC).
The past 4-5 months I've been wresting with his oncologist. I've noticed cancer markers up and unfavorable CT scans. Oncologist was not terribly blunt with me, and it took some time to decode some of their terminology. He cancer has metastasized to his lungs and liver (most common sites for colorectal cancer to go). They can't treat it (he says it will just make things worse, and I don't really doubt that, but it's also crap to hear). But they weren't really following things closely (he has both Medicare AND BCBS, so plenty of insurance). His last hepatic panel was getting worse, and he had pretty bad jaundice; I said, shouldn't we be doing something to reduce stress on his liver??? They finally ordered a liver ultrasound. The next morning, he fell, and had to go to the ER. After about 7-8 hours there, they admitted him, and everyone was giving us hell about not getting the jaundice treated. I said, well, you might ask his oncologist, because we HAVE been trying to get some for over a month, and he was just here yesterday morning, DOWN THE HALL, for a liver ultrasound! Why did y'all even let him leave??? WTF???
He was in the hospital a week. Hypotension (he has historically had hypertension - this is why he fell). Bile duct was blocked, probably a tumor. They inserted a stent, and bilirubin numbers are falling from the peak of 19 (normal ~1). He's been home since the 8th, but is mostly bedridden. Incontinence is a real problem. His attitude is spectacular. Every time he had a different nurse or doctor, he would say, "With y'all's and the Lord's help, we're going to make it! Got to fight it! I'm not giving up!" One doc was really pushing DNR, while two nurses were changing him...ticked me off, talking about him like he was a side of meat there. I told him how we had a great handle on his cardio and pulmonary health, and had been tracking and adjusting things the past 10 years. He went and looked some things up in the computer there, and then he shut up and left. He might have picked up on some body language from me also
Anyway, I humbly ask for prayers for him, that he be able to get around a little better in the time he has left (however long that is), and that we his caregivers are able to sustain the efforts we make to help him stay at home with dignity and enjoyment of his family and friends. Hope this wasn't too wordy - typing it is part of my therapy