Sunday morning

Yesterday, the goal of the procedure dad underwent was to explore the lungs with a small camera, to identify the source of the bleeding, to cauterize the tumor thought to be producing the blood, and seal the lining of the lungs with a powder to prevent pooling. After only having dad back in surgery for a short time, the surgeon called us back for a talk. He explained that the exploratory procedure with the camera revealed that there is Stage IV cancer "everywhere" in the lungs. There are multiple tumors in the lungs, all of which are producing blood. I'll spare you the other details. So, dad will have a permanent tube coming from his lungs that will allow him to manage the fluid and prevent the lungs from filling.

He was kept in ICU overnight to be monitored and will remain there until late this afternoon. The goal now is for dad's pain be managed and for him to enjoy the time he has with his family and friends. We will know more after we see the oncologist tomorrow, who will determine if dad can come home.

You have heard us say repeatedly how inspired we have been at dad's will and attitude throughout his fight. Yesterday, the surgeon (I am calling him "the surgeon" instead of his name because I have no idea how to spell it, and can barely say it-but he was wonderful) anyway, the surgeon said that before he met dad, the longest living patient with Stage IV pancreatic cancer he had ever seen had lived 13 months. Dad was diagnosed 19 months ago in March. Truly amazing.

On a lighter note, in the spirit of the Olympics, there was an intense crossword puzzle competition in the waiting room. Girls, I'm glad to report that the only female in the running dominated!! (Sorry, Tim).

All of us, especially dad, have been truly touched by the outpouring of love demonstrated by so many. Please continue to hold up mom and dad in your prayers. Each day holds abundant challenges, but our faces are turned upwards and our hearts are linked.

Love,
Angie

Just Took Dad Back

We're currently in the waiting room on the 3rd floor of SE hospital. They just took dad back to the operating room to do a procedure where they're sending a camera into the area surrounding the lung to see where the blood's coming from. They may carterize the lung tumor if its bleeding. They really don't know what they're going to do until they get in there and get a better idea of whats going on. He'll be in the operating room for several hours. After the procedure he'll be put in a different room than what he's been in for the last couple of days. He's got an air pocket in the lung that they're concerned about as well.

He did ok last night. He was sweating a lot due to the pain medication. He's still losing quite of bit of fluid although it slowed a little. Craw stayed with him last night. Pastor, Uncle Harley, Aunt Joan, Angie, Uncle Craw, and Aunt Joe are with us.

Thanks for all the prayers and support.


We'll keep you posted.

Friday

Dad says to thank everybody for your visits, phone calls, prayers, and messages. He also says to thank everyone for how you have supported mom, Tim, and me.

We're still waiting--dad had a blood transfusion this morning-his second. He has a chest tube in the right side of his body which is continuing to drain blood. The doctors are not sure of the source of the blood. His blood pressure is low, and the doctors are not sure why it is remaining so low. His nurse, Dillard (who's great) just told us that the BP should have come up following the transfusions and following a meal. So, that's a concern. Dad is in a moderate amount of pain, but they are managing it fairly well with medications. He's very lethargic, but still talking and eating a little bit. If the blood continues to drain from the lungs tomorrow, they will try to perform an exploratory procedure to identify the source. So...that's where we are and what we know.

We've read dad your messages. He was very touched to hear from you all.

Gotta run, the pastor just brought us in a basket of chocolate!

Warmest,
Angie

Walking through the unknown

If you are reading this now, please stop and say a prayer for my dad. James, Ben, Sam, and I are leaving to go to Missouri in a few minutes. Emotionally, dad is doing well. He is up talking with Craw, Harley, Mom and Tim and is feeling pretty good. Physically, there are some serious complications and the source of these complications seems to be eluding the doctors right now. We are going hour to hour now...dad could pull right through this as he has done before. However, the situation does not appear good at the present time. Leave a message of hope and cheer here for dad if you'd like, and we will read it to him.

Angie

Procedure went well

Dad has just returned to his room from recovery following his procedure. He has a tube in his right side placed between two ribs. They drained 2 liters of fluid already and the surgeon is optimistic that he will be able to perform the second procedure to seal the lining around the lungs in the next couple of days to prevent fluid from gathering in that space. Talked to dad a few minutes ago. He is a bit out of it from the anesthesia, but is in good spirits, as usual. This procedure is supposed to be very painful, but we are hopeful the pain can be managed with meds. The next few days will be critical for monitoring the development of infection. Infection is a risk since a foreign body has been introduced and since dad's WBC remains low.

Tim, mom , Uncle Harley and Aunt Joan are with him now. The pastor spent the morning with them as well. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.

Procedure in Cape

Me and mom are currently in the waiting room at SE hospital in Cape. My Aunt Joan and Uncle Harley are with us. Dad's currently in the operating room going through the Thoracentesis procedure. Pretty much,they're entering a tube into dads lung to drain the fluid. After a few days in the hospital, hopefully all the fluid will drain, then they plan on doing the Pleurodesis procedure which will plug the whole in the lungs. The current procedure is suppose to last an hour. I'll let you know when I find something out.

On the road

Mom and dad are on their way back to Missouri. Dad was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. There was still some fluid in his right lung and fluid has started building in his left. The doctor said there is a procedure they can do to seal the perforation in the lung, so mom and dad will follow up with the oncologist Monday to discuss options. We are still waiting for the analysis of the fluid that was completed two weeks ago in Cape.

Update

Just left the hospital. Dad is definitely much better than he was this time last night. Still in pain from the procedure they completed to drain the fluid. He's in good spirits, though tired. He will get an x-ray in the morning to assess the right lung and to be sure the fluid is not returning. We are praying that the lung is clear with the exception of the fluid they could not drain today. As I was leaving, I told him that I was so sorry he was having to endure all of this. He said some people have it much worse and that, "It really ain't nothing but a thing."

Angie

Dad at Hospital in AL

Dad's currently at the DCH Regional hospital in Tuscaloosa. He's had a rough week with increased fatigue and pain. Mom took him to the hospital this morning and his lungs are full of fluid again. They're in the process of removing the fluid. Dad's wanting to come home after the procedure. They may keep him overnight. I'll let you know more when I find something out.

Update: 4:00

I just got off the phone with dad. They drained 2 1/3 liters of fluid off his right lung. They left a little of the fluid in there because they were worried about his lung collapsing. They're keeping him overnight in room 639. They will do X-Rays in the morning to see if the fluid has built back up. If it hasn't, they will let him go home. He said he was feeling better since they drained the fluid. He sounded better on the phone. He hadn't had anything to eat all day so he's about to eat something.

I'll keep you posted,
Please keep dad in your thoughts and prayers,
Thanks,

Sam's baptism - Tuscaloosa, AL

Feeling Better Today

Dad went to the hospital this morning and the doctor decided to hold off on the CT Scan for a couple of weeks. They're still waiting on the fluid analysis but are pretty confident they got all the fluid based on yesterdays X-rays. The doctor decided to go ahead and give him a treatment today. He'll wear the pump for 48 hours then someone will come to the house and take it off Friday. I spoke with dad earlier and he's feeling a lot better. He said he'd been having shortness of breath for a week or so. Next time that happens he'll know what it is. They're leaving to go spend some time with the grand kids this weekend. Sam's getting baptized.

Talk to you later,

Exactly how big is that needle going to be?

Dad had a CT Scan yesterday and went back to the hospital today to get the results. The tumor on the pancreas has grown slightly, but not a lot. The cancer has not spread to the liver. That’s the good news. Unfortunately the CT Scan showed a large fluid buildup in his right lung. The fluid covered one of the larger tumors on the lung which made it hard to tell if the tumor had grown and caused the excess flood or if the fluid was caused by pneumonia, a reaction to chemo, etc...

They’re currently in the process of preparing dad for the fluid removal. They’re going to stick a needle in the lungs to drain the fluid. Draining the lungs could cause the lung to collapse but it’s rare that it happens. Once the fluid is drained they’ll analyze the fluid to try and figure out what the cause is. Dad will have to go back tomorrow for another CT scan to try and determine how quickly the lungs are filling back up. Removing the fluid today may be a temporary fix. Other actions may need to be taken. The analysis of the fluid will take 48 hours. Mom seems to think dad may get to go home tonight. It may be a day or two before we find out more. His blood levels were good enough to take a treatment today but his doctor wanted to hold off until we find more out about the fluid. He's been taking treatments every two weeks when his blood levels cooperate although they've taken him off the Oxaliplatin due to the increased neuropathy in his legs and arms. He's still doing the 5FU chemo.

All in all, things have been going well. Holidays went well. Dad continues to proceed with daily life as normal as possible. He’s a little frail and still has a list of stuff that he deals with daily (vision, numbness, pain, etc), but he gets around pretty good. He’s still traveling and getting out. We went to the church wildlife supper this last weekend. We really enjoyed seeing old friends and spending the time with family.

On a side note, dad went up to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis a month or so ago and had a consultation with an oncologist working on several clinical trials. Dad qualified for 2 of the 12 Stage 1 clinical trials and is currently on a waiting list. No decisions have been made to whether or not he would do the trial if it came available. Theres a lot of variables to wade through.

Please continue to keep dad in your thoughts and prayers. I’ll let you know when I find something out.
Later,


Update: 1:00 PM

I just spoke with mom and she said dad made it through the procedure fine. They drained 2 liters of fluid from dad's lung. He's currently in X-Ray making sure they got it all. He'll be in recovery 2 to 4 hours. Mom said shes doing fine. Hopefully he'll be able to go home tonight.