In a basic overview...the clot was discovered Sunday afternoon, he started receiving shots to dissolve it that evening. He will continue with these shots for 2 more days, but because of the size of the clot, it will take around 6 months for it to completely dissolve. He will be able to start moving around a little tomorrow.
While I was there, the infectious disease doc came and she said she really didn't think he every really had much of the pneumonia, she thinks the high temps and blood pressure readings were due to the clot and a yeast infection (could be in his bladder or lungs, but it's being treated). So that was encouraging because pneumonia can be so hard to tame. Dad's temperature finally started going down and as of last night and this morning it was normal. His blood pressure also started going back to normal numbers. However, his platelettes (spell?) are dropping again and his oncologist really isn't sure why. She thinks that if he can start getting more nutrition, that will help, so that's the big push right now. His throat is the sorest it has been and is swollen so it's very hard to get even liquids down but mom is on him like a hawk to drink and eat :) The oncologist said that this will be his worst week for pain but that it will get better from here. The doctor wants him to be a success story for her, but she is not sure when he will get out of the hospital because of the drop in pl's. In Mom's words, the doc said "I wish I could tell you if he will get out of here"...saying that to mom is like giving her a death sentence, so we will just pray over that one DILIGENTLY!! So that is what we need prayer for most of all now...platel's to rise and clot to dissolve quickly and no other new bad developments!!!
The best news of the week...today was his LAST RADIATION!! And I was able to ride in the ambulance with him to document the event!!! I wish you could all see the change in his demeanor from Sunday to today. He is visibly (again...spell??) more relaxed, his color is better, his sense of humor is back, finishing that radiation was a huge motivator for him. At the cancer center, when a patient finishes their treatment, they get to ring a bell 3 times. The plaque reads "Ring this bell, three times well, It's toll to clearly say...my treatment's done, the course is run and I am on my way".
(side note...he sent the "mask" home to J to play with...when I picked J up from school today he found it in the backseat and thought it was so cool...perhaps next year's Halloween face??)
When we arrived back at the hospital, mom and some of the nurses and student nurses were waiting to cheer for him, he was a bit embarrassed but I think he secretly enjoyed it!
Now...as the doctor has said, if we can go a day without anything else popping up (because as I've said before, apparently cancer just wasn't enough for him!), maybe he'll get to go home soon. Mom is still very nervous and scared and it shows. So please lift her up as well, she needs peace this week!! And I think once he's home, he'll feel even better.
Oh...and about Bob...when the ambulance crew came to take Dad to radiation yesterday, I heard one of them say "Don't forget Bob". I let it go at first, then found out last night that Bob is the name Dad gave his "barfbag". He has carried a plastic bag with him to radiation since Day one in case he needed it on the way home...apparently, he decided it needed a name and Bob was born. So today, before I left, he wanted a photo taken of himself with "Bob"! :) gotta love him :~) Mom & I think there could be a business venture there....????
(another side note...on the mask he wore that J now has...on some tape across the front it says "James Hayes...G&B". I had just told J about "Bob" which he thought was hilarious. I heard him giggling after a few minutes and asked what it was about. He said..."look what Grandad put on his mask..G &B...for Grandad and Bob! Ofcourse, that wasn't it, but how funny he thought that!)thank you all for continuing to pray and I will continue to update as I learn things.
3 comments:
Holy Cow, that is a huge clot! Hopefully he will continue to feel better as it dissolves. As for why his platelets are low, it sounds like they were all in that one leg.
I am praying for him and your mom and the rest of ya'll.
Praying, praying, praying!
WE have your dad on the prayer list at our church as well. I remember when my husband..well ex now got to ring the bell. He was dx with Hodgkins lymphoma right after his 21st bday..we did (or he did I watched) 6 mos of chemo and 60 days straight of radiation minus Sundays.. that was the roughest on him really. Anyway Stay strong.. God is awesome! hugs Kelly
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