Update on Caballero38 AKA- Luis Rodriguez

Caballero38

Hi all,

I haven't posted in a while, but I thought I should give you an update on my status.  

Recap- I was diagnosed sometime in April of last year with Esophageal Cancer stage 3 n1 I beleive, I had surgery in October (esophagectomy).  They told me I was cancer free and I was recovering well.  Durring my recovery, I broke a rib with a sneeze.  We didn't think much about it, but in late December with a simple cough, I broke my neck.  My neck was hurting for a few weeks already due to the cancer Mets to the bones.

Well, after an emergency fussion surgery to the beck and recovering mode again; I broke another bone in my back.  I'm sorry William, I'm not sure the name of the bone, I know it's in the back connected to the hip and hurts to stand and hold myself up.

After chemo and radiation therapy, we stopped chemo and I am now on "Home Hospice"

So here I am, I'm feeling fine, but just feel like I'm just waiting to die.  I have to be careful not to break anything else, but you can imagine how I feel... Right?  I don't have a lot of answers for my situation, but I thought I would reach out for a sholder here with the CS family.

Thanks for listening and sorry for any typo's, I'm typing from an iPod which is easier for now... :-D

Sent from my iPod

Betty in Vegas

A huge hug from Vegas
I have been thinking about you sooooo very much. You know, we are all waiting to die, that is something that I have learned in this journey. Most of us just don't know it. Even if I have my husband 30 more years and we are aged--I will feel it is not enough time. I got to thinking, when am I willing to give him up gracefully...never. Never.

What is most important is that you are feeling great right NOW. And you seem to be! That brings a smile to my face. And today you have today. And that is all we are ever promised. Look at Mark on the ACOR list...beat cancer, only to run off the road and die in a car accident too young. We have today, and only today.

I am glad you are coming here, and updating us. We miss hearing from you. I wish I could wave a magic want and (a) bring us all closer together physically so we could hug in person and (b) remove the cancer from each person. But I cannot. I can tell you though, Luis, that there is more to life than that which we see. There is a future and a hope. There is a God who holds you and who died for you and loves you. And I am praying he will make himself visible to you in ways I can only imagine. I pray that you and He are walking this journey together. I know He has been there to catch me the many times I have fallen on this terrifying walk...

I don't have answers either, but I do have love, and I can give that to you...

(sending a huge virtual hug)
Betty

Tina Blondek

Betty in Vegas said:

A huge hug from Vegas
I have been thinking about you sooooo very much. You know, we are all waiting to die, that is something that I have learned in this journey. Most of us just don't know it. Even if I have my husband 30 more years and we are aged--I will feel it is not enough time. I got to thinking, when am I willing to give him up gracefully...never. Never.

What is most important is that you are feeling great right NOW. And you seem to be! That brings a smile to my face. And today you have today. And that is all we are ever promised. Look at Mark on the ACOR list...beat cancer, only to run off the road and die in a car accident too young. We have today, and only today.

I am glad you are coming here, and updating us. We miss hearing from you. I wish I could wave a magic want and (a) bring us all closer together physically so we could hug in person and (b) remove the cancer from each person. But I cannot. I can tell you though, Luis, that there is more to life than that which we see. There is a future and a hope. There is a God who holds you and who died for you and loves you. And I am praying he will make himself visible to you in ways I can only imagine. I pray that you and He are walking this journey together. I know He has been there to catch me the many times I have fallen on this terrifying walk...

I don't have answers either, but I do have love, and I can give that to you...

(sending a huge virtual hug)
Betty

Hi Luis!
I am so glad you
Hi Luis!
I am so glad you have posted. I, too, have been thinking about you! Betty is so right, you, and all of us have to live for today. Do the best you can with all that you have left. Try not to dwell on the "dying". Concentrate on your "living". Hospice is wonderful. They are very helpful, and knowledgeable. They will teach you how to except dying. How to prepare for it. I would also like to send you a huge hug. I will continue to pray for you. Put all of your worries in God's hands. Please keep in touch.
Tina

Unknown

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Donna70

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Luis, glad to hear from you!!
Have been wondering what is going on with you. Sorry that it is not the news we would all like to hear that you are treatable. Betty has it right we are waiting to die, some of us have more of an idea of how close it can be. Hope the Hospice is treating you right. Do you have much family where you are? I hope so and each day is a gift but I sure wish it did not turn out this way for you. When I think of you and Al going thru the surgery only to find it in the bones, it makes me wonder if the drs could not check bones really good before the patient endures the surgery and in your case 2, before they operate. You are a brave man and have put up with so much, my prayers have been ongoing for you and all of us here and I will keep it up. Thanks so much for reaching out and telling us what is going on. Prayers always,
Donna70

mumphy

Donna70 said:

Luis, glad to hear from you!!
Have been wondering what is going on with you. Sorry that it is not the news we would all like to hear that you are treatable. Betty has it right we are waiting to die, some of us have more of an idea of how close it can be. Hope the Hospice is treating you right. Do you have much family where you are? I hope so and each day is a gift but I sure wish it did not turn out this way for you. When I think of you and Al going thru the surgery only to find it in the bones, it makes me wonder if the drs could not check bones really good before the patient endures the surgery and in your case 2, before they operate. You are a brave man and have put up with so much, my prayers have been ongoing for you and all of us here and I will keep it up. Thanks so much for reaching out and telling us what is going on. Prayers always,
Donna70

Hi Luis
I am so sorry to here about what has been going on with you!!! Thank your for letting us know.

I am at a loss for words. I know exactly what you going through. This is very difficult for me to post it is hitting me to close to home.

Please try to keep your spirits up and give us an up date when you can.

My prayers are with you.

God Bless,
Kath

MOE58

SORRY TO HEAR
Luis,

i am so sorry for what you are going through, since you and Jeff was diagnosed at the same time and if I remember right had the surgery around the same time. I have to agree with Betty on everything she said just know we are here, and also remember GOD is the one that knows when its time, I know HOSPICE is great and you do what you can we miss you

Take care with lots and lots of hugs

Lori

MOE58

SORRY TO HEAR
Luis,

i am so sorry for what you are going through, since you and Jeff was diagnosed at the same time and if I remember right had the surgery around the same time. I have to agree with Betty on everything she said just know we are here, and also remember GOD is the one that knows when its time, I know HOSPICE is great and you do what you can we miss you

Take care with lots and lots of hugs

Lori

MOE58

SORRY TO HEAR
Luis,

i am so sorry for what you are going through, since you and Jeff was diagnosed at the same time and if I remember right had the surgery around the same time. I have to agree with Betty on everything she said just know we are here, and also remember GOD is the one that knows when its time, I know HOSPICE is great and you do what you can we miss you

Take care with lots and lots of hugs

Lori

MAE66

Luis it is good to hear from
Luis it is good to hear from you even though it is not what I had hoped to hear. We all want to be on the outside of the bell curve but....

I don't know if you followed my posts about Paul or not but here is the very short version.
After completing chemo and radiation he went into liver failure. He couldn't tolerate any more chemo. We found ourselves in hospice by defult, it was not a choice. Since he was not able to get treatment, we may as well take advantage of the hospice care which is much better than just having home health.

One of the first things the nurses told us was to forget what the doctors had told us, hospice patients don't follow the rules. At one point Paul was told maybe a couple of days, he lived 3 weeks. I was told to expect pain, there really was'nt any. The liver failure resulted in a euphoria and he was a joy to be around.. There was a woman at the hospice facility with ovarian cancer, she was there 14 months. There are poeople who improve and leave hospice care, two patients left while we were there. The nurses were right, no one knows what comes next, or even what to expect (and we usually expect the worse).

As long as you feel fine, enjoy it. You may suprise youself and find you have more "good" time than you think. One of the nice aspects of hospice was that there were no more emergencies, and this simple thing really helped us enjoy out time.

If you are up to it, please keep us posted.

Take care,

Susan

unclaw2002

So sorry to hear your news.
So sorry to hear your news. Glad to hear you are feeling well. Hopefully, you will be able to continue to feel well for many years to come. Sometimes we are able to amaze the doctors and live beyond any medical estimate. Please post when you can . . . we will be a shoulder when you don't want to talk to your family because you don't want to worry them and will look forward to hearing about your good days.

Lots of hugs and prayers for you and your family.

Cindy

unclaw2002

So sorry to hear your news.
So sorry to hear your news. Glad to hear you are feeling well. Hopefully, you will be able to continue to feel well for many years to come. Sometimes we are able to amaze the doctors and live beyond any medical estimate. Please post when you can . . . we will be a shoulder when you don't want to talk to your family because you don't want to worry them and will look forward to hearing about your good days.

Lots of hugs and prayers for you and your family.

Cindy

oriontj

Luis, I'm so sorry that this
Luis, I'm so sorry that this is happening to you...All I can say is I will pray for you and trust our Lord to carry you and be with you this difficult time...

orion

Yovana30

oriontj said:

Luis, I'm so sorry that this
Luis, I'm so sorry that this is happening to you...All I can say is I will pray for you and trust our Lord to carry you and be with you this difficult time...

orion

Hi Luis
CSN have not forget you.

My daugther and I have included you in our daily prayers.

Always hope and Faith,

Only God knows.

God Bless you,

Yovana

Caballero38

Thank you all for your encouraging words
Thank you all for your posts.  It warms my heart that u rememberl
me and have me in your prayers.  I told you all I felt I was just waiting.  May not be exactly what I ment to say.  I "feel" that they have me just waiting,  but no, I'm still living my life.  In fact I just got back from a mini vacation.  I stayed at a local Casino Resort for a couple of nights and I had a lot of fun.  I suprised my family because I look and feel great.  And I do feel great, I am eating too much by mouth now, I'm not using the feeding tube (-;

my only complaint today is my next is still tired. It is still too heavy to hold without a brace.  It's not that bad, I just have to where the brace.

Again, thanks for listening to me.

I haven't posted earlier because it does choke me up everytime I read the post. It warms my heart thank you thank you.  

I will keep you posted, I am not expecting any changes that's why I'm invinting some people.  Anyways now I feel I'm not making any sence.!!  Good night!!!

Trish_from_Pittsburgh

Caballero38 said:

Thank you all for your encouraging words
Thank you all for your posts.  It warms my heart that u rememberl
me and have me in your prayers.  I told you all I felt I was just waiting.  May not be exactly what I ment to say.  I "feel" that they have me just waiting,  but no, I'm still living my life.  In fact I just got back from a mini vacation.  I stayed at a local Casino Resort for a couple of nights and I had a lot of fun.  I suprised my family because I look and feel great.  And I do feel great, I am eating too much by mouth now, I'm not using the feeding tube (-;

my only complaint today is my next is still tired. It is still too heavy to hold without a brace.  It's not that bad, I just have to where the brace.

Again, thanks for listening to me.

I haven't posted earlier because it does choke me up everytime I read the post. It warms my heart thank you thank you.  

I will keep you posted, I am not expecting any changes that's why I'm invinting some people.  Anyways now I feel I'm not making any sence.!!  Good night!!!

Luis, You are so inspiring!
Luis,

I am so glad to hear from you. You are so full of spirit and life, SUCH AN INSPIRATION!

My thoughts and prayers have been with you....Hang in there, honey.

Please keep in touch. We all care very much.

Hugs and prayers,
Trish