Hospice care and beyond

The time has come after a 2 year battle to think of comfort and spirituality. My husband is brave and he fought all the way, but injecting chemo into his spinal fluid with not much of a prognosis has left us with welcoming hospice care. life is so strange and I am so sad, but I know I have helped him through this battle. After my husband was diagnosed with a Metastasis tumor in the brain in April 2009 and his primary site was small tumor on the right lung. He went through brain surgery to remove the tumor. He received 25 whole brain radiation treatments and 30 on his chest and 7 rounds of chem.

He was lucky and in remission for approximately 1 year, saw his oldest daughter get married and his youngest graduate from Catherine McAuley High School. In October 2010 he started to complain about back pain, but we thought it was old injuries acting up. Finally on Christmas Eve 2010 after 2 weeks of excruciating pain he allowed me to take him to the emergency room. He was diagnosed with a mass on his spine, in that 2 week period he loss his ability to walk without assistance, he needed a walker, he has had many falls and he had another 16 rounds of radiation.

He appeared to be responding, but he quickly loss all ability to walk or stand without major assistance. Needs a Wheel chair, walker or major assistance from family. Last Wednesday he went into surgery to get a procedure called Vertebroplasty and have a medaport for pain inserted in his chest.

Right now he sleeps all the time, loss of appetite but still eats, pain (controlled now) in legs, ankles and back. Suffering from incontinence, slight confusion, exhaustion.

We talked to his Oncologist today to see what the plan is, hospice was what we decided would be the next best step, he has cancer cells in his spinal fluid. I am sad and will miss the man I was married to for 32 years. Looking for prayers and comfort during the next few weeks, months.....Whatever God has planned for him I will be here to assist.

Jeani