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Saturday, August 15, 2015

Sadly, the Big C strikes again

Our family has another encounter with the Big C... yes cancer.

My father has been ill for a while, and is suffering stomach problems even more severely as of late. He was thinking his appendix burst.... Thursday night he was in such pain, two of my brothers finally convinced him to contact 911 and get an ambulance ride.  (we all live 70-120 miles away)

After a long ambulance ride first to one local hospital, they did an MRI and sent him on via ambulance to a larger hospital in Green Bay.  We knew it wasn't good.

Our youngest brother took off in the middle of the night to drive down from Michigan to be there and find out what was what. He had to drive first to one hospital and then to the other one to track down where the ambulance drivers took our Dad.  He was up all night dealing with our Dad once he found him.  He is our hero! Our Dad can be rather "cantankerous" and our brothers handle him better than us sisters.

By 6 am I headed out to drive up to Green Bay and see what was next.  By noon the oldest brother made it after his night job, and was there in time to meet with the docs. Our sister who runs their own business was standing by on the phone waiting for all updates and giving moral support.  We tried to reach out to the last brother, but, oh well. It is what it is. 

After more tests, CT scans, scoping and conferring with docs, it has been determined that cancer has invaded his bladder, both kidneys, and one of his lungs.  He had a very nice doc who spelled it all out in plain language and didn't hold anything back. He could tell that Dad was a "give it to me straight" kind of guy, and could see that us siblings were allowing Dad to make his own choices and come to terms with the diagnosis.  We were back and forth on the phone with our sister, thank God for cell phones and texts and instant contact devices.

The nephew that lives closest also came by to lend support and bring some sunshine with his fiance and two little boys.  Sometimes you need a good smile at times like this.  Thank you Matt & Amanda, and Colin and little Matt.


Decisions were made today and he was given all the options of treatment. He is able to make his own choices and all of the siblings in contact agree with his choice.

He has chosen to go home and live out his time there.  

Hospice will be contacted and arrangements made to get him some help at home. He wants to be home with his cat, his coffee maker, his garage, in his log cabin in the woods.  He built it himself 30 years ago with the help of us kids. That is where he wants to be.


In between all of this, I left the one hospital to run over to the other hospital on the other side of town to help with our newest granddaughter Whitney. She had lab work done and I helped with her big brother Jameson while they were in with the doc.  Her blood platelets have not increased and she is being watched carefully and goes back again on Monday for more tests.  Then I ran back to the first hospital for dad.  And back again this morning. Our oldest brother took over now and gave us a break.  We came home and took a three hour nap this afternoon.

This is gonna be a tough time for our whole family.

Please keep our family in your prayers and thoughts??








26 comments:

  1. You and yours will be in my thoughts as you go through this tough time.

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear all this. Prayers for the whole family. Hugs to you.

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  3. Aww, Karen, you and your family are in our thoughts. Big hugs to you and Stevio. XOXO

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  4. Sending prayers your way. So sorry to hear the sad news.

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  5. You are going through a very tough time. It is really important that you take care of yourself so that you will able to help the ones in need. I hate to hear about your father.

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  6. We'll be keeping your entire family in our prayers.

    It's about time.

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  7. Sending stregth to you all. This is so sad to hear about your dad, and wishing baby Whitney a healthy turn around

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  8. So sorry to hear this sad news. I will keep your family in my prayers. I pray for strength and mercy for all.

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  9. (((Karen, your dad & family))) I am so sorry you have had this sad news. I hope your dad can be kept out of pain and the time he has left is full of laughter and happy memories. Sue

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  10. I am so sorry. Thinking of you and yours and sending positive thoughts, prayers, and strength for all of the members of your family. Big hugs to you.

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  11. Karen, I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I will be keeping you all close in thought, heart and prayer as you travel this path together.

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  12. I hate, hate that "C" word!! So sorry to hear about your Dad!

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  13. I am so sorry to hear this Karen. Your family will be in our prayers.

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  14. Thank goodness for Hospice. We all understand what the outcome will be, but I hope they can give him some peace and pain relief. He may be cantankerous, but I hope all of the family will be able to spend some time with him. My thoughts are with you.

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  15. So sorry that you have had a double whammy this summer. Healing thoughts and prayers coming your way.

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  16. Karen, I'm so sorry! Hopefully your dad will be able to enjoy his house in the woods and any pain will be taken care of. Your whole family will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers.

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  17. Prayers of peace and comfort....for making good memories...for being strong and supportive and being able to share your weak moments with each other...God bless you all....and special prayers for that sweet baby....

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  18. I'm sorry you have all this going on in your lives. I do support your Dad's decision, though. I'm firmly in favor of hospice and palliative care for those who choose it. I hope those decisions make the rest of your Dad's life as comfortable as he can be and you can rest easy knowing that.

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  19. Wow! You and your family have been through a lot in just a few days, and will undoubtedly face a lot more challenges along the way. I admire your Dad for knowing what he wants to do, and for his family (and doctor) being so supportive. I'm always thinking of you, and include you and your family in my prayers.

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  20. So sorry to hear about this latest challenge. Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.

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  21. So sorry to hear about your dad. Will keep you & your family in my thoughts.

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  22. I'm a long time reader, rarely posting, but you have welcomed us all into your "family" by sharing all of the ups and downs. You can count on prayers and thoughts for your entire family. Hard news to share, but glad you can feel comfortable doing so. Diane

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  23. I've been out of Wifi touch for a while traveling and just now getting caught up. So sorry to hear that life has been beating on you for a while now. Hope your granddaughter is quickly past the rough stage. And pray you and you and your family are able to get through the upcoming times with your Dad. Hugs.

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