Thank you!

dadwasrick894
dadwasrick894 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi...
I'm not a regular poster here, but I just wanted to pop on and thank the community on here for the support!
My dad used to come on here and look up information on his treatments and loved that there were others in his same situation.
His username was Rick894 (I believe), I'm sure none of you remember him since it's probably been at least 2 years since he posted.
He talked about this all the time and thought the Colonpalooza was such a great idea and desperately wanted to attend an event! He was determined to get well enough to go to one!
Unfortunately, that didn't happen as he was a busy man and a year ago today, passed away after fighting this disease tooth and nail for almost 5 years.
He was always looking at trying new treatments and was lucky enough to be part of a clinical trial!
He had a team of doctors that just weren't willing to give up and neither was he!
The men and women on here gave him more support than you can ever know, even if he didn't pop on to say it.

I thought you all deserve to know what a wonderful community this is!

Thank you!

Comments

  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #2
    Thank you so much for the note. I recall a Rick from a couple of years ago. It is always so worrisome when one of our "family" drops out of sight. We always hope that it's because hey have good news and have moved on with their healthy lives, but we also know that sometimes it is because they have fought their fight and moved on in another way. Your dad was a real fighter. Thanks for letting us all know, and I can assure you we will raise a glass to him at ColonPalooza-6 so that he can be there with us.

    Be well.

    - SpongeBob
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    Thank you for letting us know. I was probably just a 'newbie' when your dad was on...

    I send my best wishes to you all.

    Hugs, kathi

    (At CP6, if there's a Coyote Ugly Saloon...I'll dance on the bar for him...)
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #4
    For me CSN has been so supportive and a place where I thought I could find straight answers to questions about colon cancer. I also think it helps others, when I have lived through some experience that I can share with someone else. Information bad or good helps us deal with this beast.
    I'm sorry that your dad didn't make it, but I can tell that his caregivers were very helpful to him. I'm so glad that you contacted us, and don't forget that you will need a colonoscopy around 35 years old. Just keep checking every five years after that and avoid this disease. Your dad must be very proud of you.
    Jo Ann
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #5
    I'm sorry for you and your family that your Dad lost his battle. I will certainly raise my glass at CP6 for him. Thanks for the post.
  • dadwasrick894
    dadwasrick894 Member Posts: 2
    #6
    jerseysue said:

    I'm sorry for you and your family that your Dad lost his battle. I will certainly raise my glass at CP6 for him. Thanks for the post.

    Thank again - you really are a wonderful group!
    Spongebob - it was a glance at your name that reminded me as I remember dad talking about you one day... good things, not to worry! ;)
    I didn't pay any attention to this site until dad was on his last rounds of treatment last year and we were all looking for any information on the treatments he was getting.
    (don't worry, I'm not a crazy person lurking into others lives for no reason!)
    It was nice to see that so many have beaten this and so encouraging!
    We just knew that thru all of dad's treatment, that he was helping anyone who would be unfortunate enough to be in his shoes one day... all the weird side effects the he had were documented so one day a doctor could tell someone else that they had seen that effect before! That was encouraging!
    Yes, both my sister and I have had CEA markers done (both are 0) and will be going for colonoscopies in the next year. (she is 33 and I am 32) Since he was diagnosed at 52, we don't want to mess around! We will go every 5 years until we are 40 and then every one or 2, depending on how things are.
    I am happy (and tearful) to see the support still and that some of you remember him! He really was a wonderful man and I know would be honoured to have a glass "raised" for him in his honour.
    I don't know if any of you are in Seattle, but that's where he was at the Cancer Care Alliance and his oncologist was amazing! I think he would have adopted him if he could! His team fought for him to walk my sister down the aisle 2 months before he passed and he did it proudly with a smile (and a walking epidural and a morphene pump!)
    Keep fighting all of you! My dad never gave up!
    He was a true fighter and surpassed his life expectancy twice! (stats mean nothing to us now!)
    He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with mets to the liver and lungs, he went thru radiation, chemo, radiofrequency ablation, clinical trials and never gave up! He was even declared cancer free for a while! He still fought hard for 4.5 years and they told him he only had 2 (little did they know!)
    His oncologist read the report after he passed and said "man, that guy just didn't give up!"
    I am proud to have called him my dad and I thank you all for being a part of his life.

    (and if I am ever diagnosed, I know you will accept me as a part of the "family")
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #7
    It's so kind of you to remember "us" at this time and it sounds like your Dad was a true fighter and I'm sorry I never had the honor of 'knowing' him, and although I know how hard it must be to have him out of sight, I'm sure he's watching over you right now and smiling. God Bless and hugs.

    Diane
  • rmap59
    rmap59 Member Posts: 266
    #8
    Hey,
    I am sorry to hear about your Dad, he sounds like he was much loved. His memories will be your greatest gift. I am relatively new to this forum. It is one of the best supports I have. Thank you CSN. Prayers to you, Robin
  • lv2scrap
    lv2scrap Member Posts: 44
    #9
    My heart goes out to you. I am in your shoes now. My father is a fighter and pray that he beats this thing. I freak out just thinking about it. It is sooo hard.
    ~lv2scrap
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #10
    thanks for remembering us. This board was a lifesaver to me also. I realized i was not alone in my cancer fight. It was great to meet those who had been there.

    My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

    Maureen
  • goldfinch
    goldfinch Member Posts: 735
    #11
    Thank you for sharing the news with us. I raise a glass to him and you!
    Mary

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