Update: Skipper

Hello Everyone:

I'm sorry I haven't posted here for awhile. I've been mostly on the head & neck and caregiver boards lately.

My sister(bc)is still fighting. She was given 2 days to live about 3 months ago. Now though I think the end is near. She hasn't eaten in about 2 weeks and she's pretty incoherent. I don't think she recognizes her family most times and doesn't seem to grasp what is said to her. I am hoping she finds peace soon. She has suffered way too much. Her hospice benefits ran out for this benefit period so the family has been very stressed & exhausted taking care of her. A home health aide comes in once each day but the family is responsible for bathing and all other basic things. If she is still with us Jan 1st her hospice care will kick in again. The total family income is too much to get free hospice care - although the family just doesn't have the money. It's $135 per day. I was very surprised that hospice took away her air mattress and the pads around her hospital bed so she wouldn't get hurt if she fell out of bed again. Why couldn't they just leave them? The family had to scramble and find replacements from friends and church. Hospice was the family lifeline and they were devasted when they were told that hospice care would end until the new benefit period kicks in. That was so cruel. How could they abandon a family that is so exhausted both emotionally and physically (my sister doesn't sleep at night even with drugs and the family still has to work the next day - everyone takes turns but no one gets a good night's sleep or even some night's sleep some days).

My husband (head & neck cancer) has mets to both lungs now with emphysema complicating things. Surgery is no longer an option. Tomorrow we find out if he has mets to anywhere in his abdominal cavity. I hate the waiting. He will start Erbitux treatment tomorrow as well. Hopefully it will extend his life many more months. He's doing okay now and not in much pain. He is able to enjoy watching football and can still work at our home based business. He's lost a lot of weight and it's sad to see a man who was once so physically fit become so frail.

Thank you all for past prayers and support. You are all in my thoughts every day even if I'm not posting. I pray for you every night. Stay strong and keep fighting.

Skipper