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Learning to Fly - Just the facts
Learning to Fly
• Monday, February 23, 2009 - Just the facts
On February 4, my father had an angiogram. My father had had tests in Small City that confirmed his need for the procedure.
He and Mother decided to have the procedure performed in Big City, and had Daddy's records forwarded there. In the pre-op consult with the cardiologist, they found out that Daddy has a spot on his lung, and has some kidney damage.
He had the procedure on the 4th, and found that he did have some blockage that could be treated with medication. However, the lung thing was a concern. On February 6, he had a biopsy. The result was non-small cell squamous carcinoma.
On February 7, Daddy had an MRI and a CT scan; on February 8 he had a PET scan. Monday, February 16, my parents and my sister met with the pulmonologist. He told my family that Daddy has pulmonary fibrosis. He also said there is a second malignant tumor in the lung; the first tumor has grown significantly; and there is a tumor in the brain. He suggested no chemotherapy but recommended getting immediate treatment (radiation) for the brain tumor.
I flew out the morning of February 19 and was able to be with my family during my father's oncology appointment. He had, as he put it, a difference of opinion with the pulmonologist.
He started off by telling us that there is no tumor in Daddy's brain; it is a scar on the dura and not of a concern. Whew! What a relief! Then he went on to tell us that there are indeed two malignant tumors in Daddy's lungs, and one lymph node in the area where the disease has metastasized. He also refuted the cardiologist and said that the medication would not help Daddy's heart.
He told us that it is probable that either radiation or chemotherapy will kill Daddy, and that it would most definitely make him suffer horribly. Still, he recommended chemotherapy, and not just because - again in his words - that is what his business is.
His final recommendation to my father was basically to just go home and die.
We had a lunch appointment with Daddy's life-long friend Jim; he was waiting to hear. While we were at lunch, someone who is familiar with Daddy's case called my sister and recommended another therapy which, if Daddy is a candidate, will destroy the cancer at a cellular level. It is a very accurate radation treatment.
We investigated the treatment that night, and the next day made an appointment. They will find out on Wednesday if Daddy is a candidate for this treatment. If he is, the cancer will likely be gone by the middle of next week.
The oncologist felt that Daddy's prognosis with the cancer is 3 to 6 months. If the cancer is destroyed, the oncologist - WHO IS NOT GOD - feels that the pulmonary fibrosis will kill him within a hear.
Right now Daddy feels good, and he looks good. The cough is awful, but it is not debilitating. We are just waiting on Wednesday, and praying.
Ramblings on my Christian walk and my career as a wife and a home-discipling mother...
We are Set Free Academy, claiming Isaiah 42:6-8 as our Scripture.
Our Eclectic Home Education Recipe
*Before Five in a Row
*Mystery of History Volume 1
*Apologia Elementary Science
*Math U See
*ARTistic Pursuits
*Queen Language Lessons
*Cantering the Country geography
*PowerGlide Spanish
all mixed up with a little Charlotte Mason and frosted with carschooling and outside lessons.
ON THE NIGHTSTAND
I'm currently removing the dangerous tower of books from my nightstand before I end up like Flat Stanley. Check back for book recommendations later.
