Update on David and Hospice

pf78248
pf78248 Member Posts: 209
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Thanks to all of you so much for your kind words, prayers and support you have given us since I announced we were going home from M D Anderson and beginning hospice care. That is over and we have selected an agency although I am not quite sure I am thrilled with them. David isn't ready to throw in the towel yet and neither am I. So we have a decision to make. All care is now palliative and there are certain liver function tests that hospice won't approve. I guess they don't want to know if he is getting better. So we will have the tests and pay ourselves if we have to. A small sacrifice, really.

But overall, David is doing very well. He has little pain and does get tired, but he is better than he has been in three months. He walks just fine and his appetite has greatly improved. His surgeon and his nurse at MDA both told us a story of a patient whose liver was worse than David's and went home on hospice. That was five years ago and the patient is cancer free and doing fine. The body is amazing and so is the liver. We just need David to be a second Miracle Man. So I am boldly and without hesitation asking God for a miracle.

We have had almost three weeks of wonderful family time. And friends and family will be visiting almost the entire month of July. It has reenergized both of us. Friends and family are offering help and doing so much for us. I am so grateful for all our friends who are with us both here and on this board. We can't thank you enough. So many are struggling now and we have wonderful new members whose journey is just beginning. Please don't give up hope. That cure could be just around the corner! Love to all!

Hugs and Healing,
Priscilla

Comments

  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Dear Priscilla,
    I am so

    Dear Priscilla,

    I am so happy for both of you that David is feeling so well. It sounds like you are surrounded by love and thoughtfulness. I think the story about that other man is wonderful; it was great that the surgeon told you about him. We all need to hear stories like that. Think of the stories you + David could tell years from now! Take good care!
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    I am so happy that David is doing better...
    I was just wondering about him today as a matter of fact. :)

    Glad to hear his appetite is back and that he has minimal pain. I loved the story of the other man who is now NED. Gives us hope for such miracles and I'd be like you in asking God for his help.

    Love and many Hugs,

    Holly
  • ktlcs
    ktlcs Member Posts: 358
    HollyID said:

    I am so happy that David is doing better...
    I was just wondering about him today as a matter of fact. :)

    Glad to hear his appetite is back and that he has minimal pain. I loved the story of the other man who is now NED. Gives us hope for such miracles and I'd be like you in asking God for his help.

    Love and many Hugs,

    Holly

    Glad to hear David is dong well
    We are both glad to hear that David is doing so well. And the story of the patient who is still alive and well after 5 years was very encouraging. You never know what the body can do especially when the spirit is strong

    Hank and I wish a miracle for both of you!


    K
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    Amen!
    Priscilla,

    I am glad to hear David is feeling so well and has an appetite! Having such a positive and upbeat outlook on it is the best way to be and, yes, I support you and will agree with you in prayer for a miracle for David.
    I know we've had so many people who haven't made it here on the board lately- it's time for a miracle!

    You take care,
    Lisa
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    Hospice....


    Please be aware and wary, of the anti-depressants used in hospice care.

    Their job is a difficult one; their job is to prepare a human being
    for meeting their death. It's not a pleasant job for most people.

    The medications are designed to make things look safe to the patient,
    where death becomes as welcomed as seeing another sunrise.

    It is not a situation I would ever want to be put into, unless my
    death was truly immanent, and my pain, psychological or biological,
    was unbearable.

    Most of the medication's potency is cumulative; they work better
    and better as time passes.

    Hospice is not there to simply provide pain killers, any physician
    can do that, and any physician can provide anti-depressants,
    if so desired.

    Hospice is there -only- to prepare one for their death, using
    medications to make that happen as painlessly as possible.

    The medications are designed to make one complacent to immanent death.

    Please, please, please, keep that in mind.

    There are many, many other options and alternatives for fighting
    cancer; you won't find those ways via hospice.

    You won't find life looking for death.

    I'm sorry to be so blunt, but hospice is a one-way street; it is
    the very last choice one ever gets to make, and often, there is
    no turning back once started......


    May all the good wishes in the world be with you both.


    John
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    I'm
    I'm glad he is doing better,and yes it is time for another miracle.Just don't give up,I will be praying for both of you.
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    Priscilla
    Priscilla,
    It is good that David is feeling better. I am so glad to hear that. Your friends and family sound like true blessings.

    I am holding you in my prayers.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • newperson
    newperson Member Posts: 76
    So glad for you
    Priscilla,
    It's such a great news. I'm so glad for you and David. Hope he gets more better. - Lucy
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    Priscilla:
    Our best to you and David. Now that David is home and feeling better, eating well, and enjoying time with family and friends, well, that is all good. You just never know with this disease and things just may turn around. George still has lots of mets to the liver (and lungs) but he is feeling well, doing well on chemo light, his appetite is a little too good so we just don't wait for the other ball to fall anymore, just take it week by week.

    Take care - Tina
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    geotina said:

    Priscilla:
    Our best to you and David. Now that David is home and feeling better, eating well, and enjoying time with family and friends, well, that is all good. You just never know with this disease and things just may turn around. George still has lots of mets to the liver (and lungs) but he is feeling well, doing well on chemo light, his appetite is a little too good so we just don't wait for the other ball to fall anymore, just take it week by week.

    Take care - Tina

    Wonderful!
    That is great to hear! You may want to push anything that builds the immune system!
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Good news
    Hi, Priscilla.

    This is really good news to hear! I'm praying David will be a miracle man, and that he will continue to feel very well for years to come. Thank you for an uplifting update.

    *hugs*
    Gail