Continual Daily Battle

Dad and Mom met with COH doctors on Thursday, after having a platelet transfusion. The doctors said that chemo for Tuesday is canceled due to low levels. He will have another transfusion on Sunday. Doctors would like another PET SCAN done before the next chemo, so they can see what is happening with the mass. If nothing is happening, then this chemo is pointless to continue. We will then think through some different possibilities. COH has another chemo lined up if this is the case. PET SCAN's are booked up until the 14th, which is what they have him scheduled for now. But he is also on the list in case someone cancels. The doctors will check his levels on Thursday.

The nurse has been to their home three days in a row teaching my mom how to connect dad's food bags to his hick man catheter. Tonight was her last lesson and she has now successfully learned how to do it alone. I'm so proud of her, for all that she does. She has to clean and take care of dad's hick man daily and now will be daily hooking him up for feeding. He will have it every night on a 10 hour drip. They will not have him doing it during the day, or else his brain will start telling his stomach to completely stop eating orally. We don't want him to become completely reliant on the food bags, just assist with the nutrition.

My mom has been on the phone so much asking questions and even trying to figure out how to do an operation or procedure on his intestine. He's so uncomfortable trying to keep food in 24/7. Still searching out more answers. Please pray that this can get figured out or that this feeling will just completely go away.

Last night, dad woke up in the middle of the night after fighting so hard all day to keep his food in; he had fought long enough and lost it around 1 am. After vomiting, he had that excruciating pain in his abdomen. Mom got him on the dilaudid (I think I've been saying and spelling it wrong) right away. Needless to say, it was a rough night. He spent some time with his mom today, while mom got a little time with her mom and ran some errands. They amaze me.... though fighting this horrific and hard battle, mom and dad are so worried about getting things bought and together for a Christmas package to send here to Sri Lanka for my family. I told them not to worry about it, but they insisted as they are so excited for some of the things they wanted to send my kids. Too sweet and selfless, I'd say.

Dad also had a visit from his Captain, Bart today. It's always nice to see him. He's always full of encouragement and love.

Please pray for dad this week to soak up the nutrition and to get strength back. Pray that the pain will not come back, the food will stay in, that gagging feeling will stay away, the platelet levels will come up, a PET SCAN will become available, and they can get rested and ready for what lies ahead with the next PET SCAN results.

Thanks for your consistent love, prayers and support.