We have had some great times over the past few months. After leaving Huntsman's Dad's health continued to improve. By September he was walking around the block, taking care of his own medical needs and doing his 'chores around the has as usual. We had some fun family get-to-gethers and Mom and Dad enjoyed numerous outings with Don and Bonnie and visits with David and Raelene and others. So the Summer that began on rocky ground ended on a high.
Then out of the blue, Dad was hit with what he thought to be a case of food poisoning. After several days of bowel distress, Dad went to see his internist and the PA advised him. When that didn't work he went back and tried other remedies to cure his diarrhea. In the mean time, Mom had her aching shoulder checked out by an orthopedist and found that the shoulder she broke nine years ago had never healed, I repeat, NEVER healed, and the metal plate connecting the broken parts had broken also. The doctor referred her to a specialist at the University of Utah Medical Center and surgery for a complete shoulder replacement was set for October 15. We made mom's pre-op appointment at the U. the same day as Dad's three month post-op appointment, and on Oct 6, I drove them to Salt Lake.
Dad had a CT scan, chest x-ray, blood tests and a few other inquiries into his overall being. At first report, tests showed nothing out of the ordinary . Dr. Stephensen told Dad to continue to seek help for his bowel symptoms and sent Dad to x-ray as I left to take Mom down the hill to the U Med Center for blood work. They shuttled Dad over to meet us when he was finished. Mom was worried about Dad's health and suggested she cancel her surgery until he was feeling better, but Dad insisted she go ahead with it.
We were up early on Oct 15 to take Mom to her surgery. All of us were all a bit nervous, especially Mom, knowing it would be a pretty long recovery. However, the shoulder replacement went without a hitch and left the surgeon puzzling over the fact Mom had lived with that arm, and its pain, for so many years! Mom had the usual post operative nuisances with nausea being the most annoying, but her recovery went well. Dad had a room at the U Guest House and I stayed at the hospital with Mom. Dad came over each day to be with her.
I could tell his condition was not getting better and after a couple of days, had John come and get him and take him home so he could get in to see a doctor. When he arrived home, he found a message on his phone from Huntsman's asking him to call and make an appointment with an oncologist because reports from the 6th had indicated some concerns with thickened colon, high white count and swollen lyphnodes. To make an even longer story a bit shorter.... we finally got to the oncologist on Oct 28. They told us Dad's cancer was back, terminal, and that chemo drugs could be used, but that those most promising would not work for him in the condition he was in. They ordered a colonoscopy, which was set for Tues Nov 2 in Provo.
Mom also had an appointment the 28th, her post op visit. The doctor was very pleased with her progress. So our visit did have a positive note for mom. She continues to improve daily and is doing most everything on her own, though she is still in a sling both day and night.
On Monday Nov 1, Dad received a call to report to the ER because of his high white blood count. We took him to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, and after consulting with Huntsman doctors, they gave him an IV, some antibiotics, took some blood and sent him home to prepare for his colonoscopy the next day. When Dr. Dickenson did the procedure, he was unable to proceed very far because the colon was not totally clear, but he did seeof a pollyp near the rectum and a possibke mass behind it. They admitted Dad, had him down over a gallon of "Go-Lightly" ( a misnomer) and repeated the colonoscopy on Wednesday.
Our worst fears were realized when the results came back. The cancer appeared to have matastisised to the colon. They took out the pollyp, and took a biopsy of the mass. It was recommeded that Dad stay in hospital to handle the pain from the blockage and prepare for a possible colostomy. The surgery was done Tuesday November 12, on Mom and Dad's 64th wedding anniversay. Tim, Mark, Steve and Shelly were all here. Dennis and Debbe had stayed the previous two weeks and had just left for home. The surgery went well, but the cancer remains in his pelvis. The mass of monsterous malignancy is unoperable. The colosomy will give him gastrointestinal releif and allow him to eat and drink AND to go home, which is what he and all of us want.
Today Dad is resting pretty comfortably, on an epidural pump for pain. He can walk around the floor twice daily and is beginning to take some liquid lnouishment by mouth. The doctor says he is strong and the nurses proclaim him amazing ! But then, thats nothing we didn't already know!
No comments:
Post a Comment