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Prayers for my Dad, please!!! UPDATE 3/6


sheryl
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This time last year (beginning fall 2013 to April 2014) my Dad started not feeling well.  This 3 month or so period of time found him ending up in the hospital with an infection and battling hospital delirium. 

 

He should be in assisted living, but my sister has worked through various agencies and the V.A. to secure "help" come to my Dad's home.  A nurse comes 3 times a week or so.  A housecleaner (what is this called?) comes 2 or so times a week.  She also makes meals, drive my Dad on errands, etc.  It's a GREAT set up.  It has kept him in his home.

Well, my sister calls me today b/c the nurses say he's not eating and doesn't look good, again.  My brother drove the hour to get him and make the return 1 hour trip to Columbus, Ohio to admit my Dad in to the hospital. 

 

I called him today and he said he's not eating right. He doesn't get hungry as often which has resulted in weight loss. 

 

**********

 

Please pray for him (Robert) that the doctors would be knowledgeable and experienced.  For them to practice discernment and make wise decisions for testing that would be in the best interest for my Dad.  I hope that his eating is due to the weather (psychological) and not physical.  If physical, I pray it's treatable.  It very well could be psychological as he lives in central Ohio by himself.  My Mother passed away 25 years ago and he's been alone ever since.  He turns 90 this November!  He gets cooped up in his house for several months on end, doesn't eat, bathe, etc. right.  He's a WW II vet and needs a walker - he gets little physical activity, fresh air and sun b/c he can't walk well or far and he really no longer drives.

 

Prayers would be appreciated.   Thanks so much!!!

 

 

UPDATE 3/6/15  - see below!

 

UPDATE 2/27/15 - see below! 

 

 

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Thanks everyone for the prayers and responses!

 

Today, Tuesday, I spoke with my sister and my Dad was admitted Monday at the hospital.  He does have an UTI and we're still awaiting lab results.  But, he is also dehydrated. 

 

It seems he may get out by Friday.  

 

This is wonderful news!  However, I'm still concerned about his living arrangements (which have worked up until last year/now).  Central Ohio gets cold for him and while he's in his own home (duplex), and knows a few people, he's still by himself most of the time.  I'm going to call this afternoon to see if he'll agree to come south and live in an assisted living facility (local to us) for the coldest winter months - what's left of it.    It's a trade off.  Stay in central Ohio with cold weather, become house bound and little socialization OR come south to the assisted living facility (if he agrees to this) and dh will stop by for lunch 1 -2 x/wk.  My sister can visit a few times a week as well as dd and I.  Dh works across the street from the facility (about a 5 minute walk).  My sister would be about 2 miles/5-7 minutes away and we are 5 miles/12 min. away.  Those times reflect congested traffic in a business/residential district.

 

So much to consider.  What would y'all do?

 

I do so appreciate your prayers.   

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We went through a similar situation with my MIL.  She lived a lone and her world just shrunk as she got older.  She started to forget to eat and drink which led to other issues.  She wasn't happy at all about going to assisted living. She swore she was going to live in her house until she died which she probably would have if she didn't keep calling my poor SIL who lived an hour away to come and get her every time she didn't feel good.  Within a week or two of being in assisted living she discovered she absolutely loved it and never looked back.  With her getting three good meals a day plus having her medication monitored her health has improved dramatically as has her out look on life. She is very happy and involved in everything.  Please encourage your Dad to make the move. :grouphug:  I know it is hard to know what is best especially when you are pushing a loved one to do something they don't want to do even though you know it is in their best interests.

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My sister called telling me the doctors found growths on my Dad's liver from an ultrasound he had yesterday or earlier today. 

 

He will now have an mri of that area "soon".   If there are areas of concern he'll have a biopsy. 

 

Oh dear!  I'm praying for my Dad and am trying not be think the worst.  God has intervened in the past.  My Dad almost didn't make it for other reasons, over the years, at least once or twice.  God intervened - Glory to Him!   He has more work to do in/through my Dad! 

 

 

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Prayers are still needed!!!   It was confirmed that my Dad has 1 of 2 liver cancers. 

 

He turns 90 and is a cardiac patient.  Therefore, he is not a candidate for a "transplant". 

 

Today, Wed, they will perform a biopsy to determine which cancer it is.  They know it did not spread to the nodes and is contained.  They say it did not spread to the liver.  Those 2 points are encouraging.  However, he has a larger one and 2 smaller ones.  Of course the concern is more for the larger one.  He will be in a vulnerable position for about 2 days - checking frequently his blood to make sure he is clotting or not the right amount AND to make sure he does not develop an infection.

 

He was supposed to have had a chest x-ray to make sure it did not spread to his lungs.  And, an mri to see how close the tumor is to a blood vessel. 

 

We are praying, of course, for God's grace and mercy here.   We are praying that the blood vessel is not too close and it did not spread to the lungs.  And, that his cancer will respond to treatment. 

 

God has literally given my Dad renewed life more than once.  He's come close with his cardiac issues.  God gets the glory and that was my prayer for him yesterday, Tuesday, that he give God the praise, honor and glory.   He can use this as part of his testimony to share with others and be a source of encouragement. 

 

He actually looks good and sounds good.  He's alert.  But, he's more frail now.  He's lost a lot of weight.  

 

Thanks to many of you who have prayed.  I told my Dad some on here were praying for him and he appreciates it.  So do I.  :) 

 

 

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My Dad went in Wed to have an mri performed and upon starting the imaging process they noticed a coil around his bile duct.     :mellow:   So, they stopped the test until they determine this new finding.  Still awaiting results from his lung picture.   After these are completed then they'll perform the biopsy.  

 

Oh dear!   My Dad has lost quite a bit of weight and he needs to regain is stamina. 
 

We planned a trip for next weekend before he was admitted.   My concern is the roads on our mountain drive through Va and W Va.  Jan. - March is the time for precip and especially in the higher elevations along rt. 77.
 

All of us remain hopeful.  My Dad looks and sounds good - very important! 

 

Thanks be to God that this was discovered now and not later.  

 

Thanks to all of you praying!   So very appreciated!

 

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My Dad did have his mri and it is confirmed he has liver cancer.  However, it seems they will not perform the biopsy....they don't need to.  I'm confused by this b/c all along my sister said they biopsy would reveal which 1 of 2 cancers it is and then they could decide on which treatment would be best.   

 

He will be released around Monday or so and go straight to rehab.   The doctors said they want him in rehab to strengthen him before his treatment plan starts.  My sister said his treatment plan is a one-time procedure.  An ablation to the area.   Prayerfully this will cut blood flow to the tumor and shrink it. 

 

This is not a cure but a treatment which will extend his life.   We know that God is the author of all including time and can grant him even more time.  

 

He turns 90 this November. 

 

Praising God for encouraging news!   And, thanks to you, the faithful prayer warriors.    :grouphug:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Update 2/27

 

DH, DD and I drove to Ohio last weekend to visit Dad.  We arrived Friday evening.  Earlier that day he was released from the hospital and admitted to rehab.  He's lost 50 lbs or more over the last 1-2 years, I guess.   He's weak from this disease which has reduced his food intake.

 

However, we met the rehab dr. and he made some changes to his meds.  He took Dad off of iron and a couple of vitamins as they can cause nausea.  What a good call.  Over the course of the time we were there he became less nauseous and has been eating more!   He needs to eat to gain strength.  To build up strength he needs physical therapy.  He also needs his strength to endure the procedure/surgery he will have for his cancer.  It's a cycle. 

 

This coming Tuesday he will meet with the cancer specialist to go over everything and find out when his surgery is scheduled.  He needs to quickly build up his stamina for surgery before it spreads. It has not spread and we are thankful. 

 

God has been so merciful raising up good health care facilities, staff, etc.  And, I remain optimistic.  For those of you who may be remembering my Dad in prayer, thank you so very much.   

 

Most of all thank you Heavenly Father! 

 


 

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Update 3/6

 

This past Tuesday, March 3 my dr. went to his appt. with the dr. who is the liver specialist at the hospital.  He's was transferred from the hospital to rehab where he has been, so this was a follow up appt. back to see the hospital dr. specialist.

 

They have decided "not" to go through with the procedure right now.  The hospital dr. said that his liver is functioning well right now.   He will have another appt. with the hospital dr. in 3-4 weeks for them to review his case again.  How are they going to assess his state at that time?  ct scan, blood work?  He would need several ct scans a year along with blood work to keep it constantly monitored, but how many ct scans can a person have in a year?

 

?????

 

Even though his liver is "functioning normally" right now, why not go ahead with the procedure (ablation - stopping the blood flow which feeds the tumor).  My sister mentioned something about the drs. not wanting to "cut" the blood flow b/c they don't want it to spread.  I understand that, but I didn't think cutting was involved.  I thought it was maybe a "clamp down" to stop the blood flow.

 

The drs. said he's not strong enough.  He hates being in rehab and I can understand that.  He's been very difficult with the staff complaining about food, dirty room, etc.  Oy!

 

To me it just seems that this wait and see approach may be too lengthy and backfire - it may start spreading in b/t visits, rechecks, etc.   

 

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Update 3/6

 

 He would need several ct scans a year along with blood work to keep it constantly monitored, but how many ct scans can a person have in a year?

 

 

No clue as to how many would be the limit, but I can say with the 30 days of radiation I went through they did one daily prior to getting the radiation - and that was on the brain - so one would hope they aren't super dangerous.

 

Or you can blame all my typos (and more) on them I suppose.

 

I hope things go well with your dad.  He's still in my prayers.  Thanks for the update.   :grouphug:

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