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Post by Clipper on Aug 22, 2023 9:28:54 GMT -5
If you are a person that believes in the power of prayer or that prays regularly, prayers would be appreciated for my brother in-law Steve and our family. I have probably posted it before, but he has terminal cancer that started as a spot on one of his lungs and quickly exploded and spread to his liver, lymph nodes and brain. He ended up in the ER yesterday morning and was admitted with large number of blood clots in his lungs. They couldn't treat them with the normal clot busting drugs because of the cancerous lesions on his brain. They treated him with IV blood thinners, carefully monitored in small doses all night. Today he is going to the cath lab for what the doctor's say is a very high risk procedure during which they will go in through his groin and surgically remove the clots that they can reach, many of which are dangerously close to his heart.
They advised my sister that there is a distinct possibility that he could die during the procedure and one of the clots could break loose and go to his heart. My brother and I, along with two of his three children will be sitting with my sister while they do the procedure. He is terminal with zero chance of remission and my brother and I have said it would almost be a blessing for him to pass without pain without the grueling regimens of chemo or the horrific pain of end stage brain cancer. We would appreciate prayers to guide the hands of the doctors and if the procedure is not successful, pray for peace and strength for my sister and his kids. They will be devastated when he passes away. They have been married for 50+ years and are inseparable. You seldom see one without the other by their side.
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Post by clarencebunsen on Aug 22, 2023 9:58:43 GMT -5
I am very sorry to read of this trial for your family.
Where will this procedure be performed?
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Post by Clipper on Aug 22, 2023 10:06:04 GMT -5
They will do the procedure in the cath lab at our local medical center. They are bringing in the same specialist from the CVA heart institute in Kingsport that was called in to place my stent when my cardiologist didn't want to do it because it was so close to the aorta. He specializes in high risk cases and aortic aneurism surgery. Some of Steve's many clots are quite close to his heart.
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Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Aug 22, 2023 10:11:35 GMT -5
My prayers for all in the family will be said. This is so very sad.
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Post by Ralph on Aug 22, 2023 14:29:47 GMT -5
Prayers coming your way Clipper!
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Post by Clipper on Aug 22, 2023 16:56:19 GMT -5
steve survived the procedure and the doctor says it went well. They were able to remove a significant number of the larger clots and restore the blood flow. There are still a lot of smaller clots and they put him on a low dose blood thinner in hopes of dissolving them. My sister will have to watch for symptoms of a stroke or other symptoms that can be caused by a brain bleed of any kind. Thank you for all the prayers. His days are numbered but at least today was not the day for him to leave us.
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Post by BHU on Aug 22, 2023 19:07:50 GMT -5
steve survived the procedure and the doctor says it went well. They were able to remove a significant number of the larger clots and restore the blood flow. There are still a lot of smaller clots and they put him on a low dose blood thinner in hopes of dissolving them. My sister will have to watch for symptoms of a stroke or other symptoms that can be caused by a brain bleed of any kind. Thank you for all the prayers. His days are numbered but at least today was not the day for him to leave us. So sorry to hear this sad news. Hopefully his time left will be peacefull, free of pain & he finds comfort in knowing that he is loved by family & friends. |
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Post by Clipper on Aug 22, 2023 19:55:58 GMT -5
His procedure went better than expected. They were able to remove a good number of the larger clots and restore blood flow to those portions of his lungs. The doctor prescribed a blood thinner is low doses. Told them to watch for any changes in mobility, impaired movement of any limbs, and other stroke symptoms. The doctor was actually surprised that he was able to get the catheter to as many clots as he was able to reach.
At this point the procedure simply bought him a little time.
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Post by Clipper on Aug 23, 2023 11:13:41 GMT -5
Steve is doing well this morning. He is eating like a horse and hasn't had any appetite for weeks. They walk him to the john with a gait belt and are going to walk him up and down the hall today to see if he is steady on his feet and strong enough to walk unaided. We all thought for sure that he would not do well yesterday and might well die on the table but he did extremely well. His terminal diagnosis and them telling him he will not survive for more than a matter of months with treatment leaves him and my poor sister on a roller coaster of emotions, good days and bad days. He says that today he feels great. I imagine that he has been feeling increasingly weaker as the clots multiplied and impeded more of the flow to his heart with every day that passed. The unpredictability of the numerous tumors on his brain that can cause a stroke or a fatal aneurism leaves us all wondering "is today the day?" I can't imagine waking up every day facing impending death. We all face death at some point but to have a short time frame provided hangs a shroud of sadness over us all. He hasn't felt well enough to get out and do much of anything so they are either at a doctor's appointment of sitting at home. My sister has lost a lot of weight and looks so drawn and exhausted. Compounding their stress is the fact that their 14yr old beloved dog has developed vestibular disease, walks sideways, staggers and falls. I have been caring for him while Steve is in the hospital. Someone has to hold him up by his harness in order for him to lift a leg to pee, or hunch to move his bowels. it is pitiful to watch. www.goodrx.com/pet-health/dog/vestibular-disease-in-dogs |
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Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Aug 23, 2023 11:25:29 GMT -5
I and happy that your brother in law got through the surgery so well. I am sure our Lord had a lot to do with that. Prayers for him and the family will continue. I'll even include the little dog! I guess St Francis of Assisi can help with that also.
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