David is heading home with hospice - liver is failing

It is so sad for me to report David, my best friend and husband, has progressive liver failure. A little background. He was dx 4/3/2008 with stage 3C colon cancer. Had a resection and went on chemo for six months. In 12/08 had a ct scan showing cancer was in liver. Surgeons in San Antonio told us he was inoperable. He went back on chemo and RFA was scheduled. On the operating table for the RFA they could not detect the cancer. So back on chemo he went. In 10!/09 the tumor was back.

We came to MD Anderson then, went through biopsies, portal vein embolization, more chemo, and on 3/24/10 he had the resection. Seventy five percent of his liver was removed and his main bile duct had to be resected as well and connected directly to his colon. Numerous bile duct leaks, then an infection, and a procedure was done to unclog the ducts but they were too narrow for the interventional radiologist to repair. David has been going down hill since the surgery in March.

Friday I drove him back to MDA for hospitalization. Our surgeon had the talk no one wants to hear. There were no more options. We were told he was not a candidate for a liver transplant due to the primary cancer. Short of a miracle it was time for palliative care. It could be here at MDA or home.

So tomorrow David will be discharged after selecting a hospice and we will return home Tuesday. My heart is broken. I can't imagine what the future holds. Family and close friends flew to Houston from as far away as Seattle to be with us. We've spent the weekend in tears and laughter and the outpouring of love and support has been amazing.

I did not write this to discourage anyone. My only regret is we didn't get to MDA sooner before all the chemo had damaged his liver and maybe his chances would have been better. The nurses, PA, and surgeon here are fabulous and caring. David's nurse cried when she found out we were going into hospice and told him he was her favorite patient ever. David is such a character that no one who meets him ever forgets him.

This board has meant so much to me and there isn't a greater group of people anywhere. Be proud of the service you do to educate and inform but most of all love and support each other. David never posted but he was so happy to know I found this board to be my support group. No one knows what we go through better than this group.

Love, hugs and healing to all.
Sadly,
Priscilla