Sharing my father's story

Kianaj95

My name is Kiana Jones, and I am writing to share the story of my father, Mr. Sammie Jones, who passed away on November 21, 2024, due to kidney cancer. By sharing his story, I hope to advocate for families who have experienced similar situations.

My dad was 68 years old when he passed away. He would have turned 69 on January 20 this year, but unfortunately, he did not live to see his birthday. My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer on November 21, 2021. He caught it at an early stage and started radiation therapy right away. After completing his radiation therapy in 2022, he thought he was cancer-free until May 2024 when he went for his annual check-up and discovered that his prostate cancer had returned.

During the treatment planning, the doctor found a spot on his right kidney. Radiation therapy was put on hold until they determined if the spot was cancerous. My father was referred to Dr. Charles R. Pound at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Despite my suggestion to see a doctor in Memphis, TN, my father trusted his doctor's referral and chose to continue with Dr. Pound.

In July, Dr. Pound discovered a grapefruit-sized tumor on my father's right kidney and recommended removing the kidney and starting chemotherapy, but that never happened. My father's health slowly declined, and he began having digestive issues and breathing problems. By September, he was using a cane and struggling to breathe. His surgery was scheduled for October 23, 2024, but despite his pleas for an earlier date, Dr. Pound insisted on waiting.

On October 21-22, 2024, my father lost all mobility in his legs and was unable to walk. He was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, MS, and later transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. There, we learned that the cancer had spread to his left kidney, spinal cord, lungs, and ribs. The doctors wanted to try to remove the cancer from his spinal cord, but it was too risky.

They suggested starting him on radiation treatment for 10 days to see if it would help him regain mobility. They also inserted a tube to drain the fluid from his lungs to help him breathe. Unfortunately, during the procedure, they accidentally hit his spleen, causing him to bleed out. The options were to remove the tube and let him bleed out or perform emergency surgery to remove his spleen. My mother chose the surgery.

After a long wait, the surgeon reported that the surgery went well, but my father was placed in ICU due to fluid in his lungs and continued breathing difficulties. He was eventually put on a ventilator, high-dose oxygen, and dialysis as his kidneys began to fail. The doctors told us there was no chemo treatment that could help him and that he was dying.

We hoped and prayed for a miracle, but it did not happen. Dr. Pound, who was supposed to help him, was on vacation, and his colleagues were sent in his place. We later learned that during the surgery to remove his spleen, they had also hit an artery, causing blood clots and severe blood loss. If not for the nurses, we would have never known about the artery.

My father stayed in ICU until he took his final breath on November 21, 2024. Since his passing, it has been hard for my mother, siblings, and me to cope. My father was more than a patient; he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who wanted to live and fight to be with his family. Dr. Pound and the University of Mississippi Medical Center took away his chance to live.

My dad was a hard-working man who loved hunting, farming, and music. By sharing his story, I hope to spread awareness and help other families advocate for their loved ones and themselves. I pray that your foundation finds a cure for all cancers, and please know that my family and I are willing to do anything to help make that happen. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Kiana Jones

CSNSupportTeam

Hi Kiana,

Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your father! Thank you for sharing his story to help others.

You may be interested to learn the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the American Cancer Society's advocacy affiliate working to make cancer a public health priority, especially for our lawmakers. Members are notified of legislative activities happening in their community and state and at the federal level in Washington, DC. ACS CAN members determine their own level of involvement and may be invited to contact their members of Congress or state lawmakers, send in cancer-related articles that appear in local newspapers, or attend cancer-related events.

To learn more, visit the ACS CAN website at:

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) fightcancer.org

Best,

Ken
CSN Support Team

Kianaj95

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721606#Comment_1721606

Thank you so much! I'm currently diving deeper into it and exploring all the possibilities it offers.💜

CSNSupportTeam

You're welcome! I'm glad to help and welcome to the CSN Community.

Ken
CSN Support Team

Baby_Jay

Kiana, I'm so sorry for your loss. My dad died about 10 years ago due to heart problems and many other health issues, he was 68. I know it is hard. When I saw the date your father passed, I realized that was about the time that my 3.2 cm tumor was discovered on my left kidney. I'm still waiting for my Urology appointment and I am getting more and more nervous as it gets closer!

God bless you!

Kianaj95

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721613#Comment_1721613

just know that you are never alone and you got this 🙏🏽. Everything will be okay and you are in my prayers and remember that God is always in control. 🤍

Baby_Jay

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1721615#Comment_1721615

Thank you so much ❤️