Remembering Dave
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Posts posted by Remembering Dave
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Kim, how sweet of you to stick around when you don't need to. This sort of encouragement is priceless, please know that.
and yes, I can't imagine sending hate mail to someone providing a free, service to people when it is costing them hundred of dollars out of their own pockets. That's just hard to imagne.
Thank you for your kind note, and I hope that your life is continuing well without your dear husband.
God Bless,
Karen C.
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I posted an update on Dave under his "bone scan" thread.
Karen
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Whew, it's been quite a week. I sure have missed the board but I haven't had time for it anyway!
1. My dad rushed my mom to the hospital on Sunday morning she thought she was having a heart attack. Crushing chest pain, numb left arm, shortness of breath. She did not have an actual heart attack but instead her hemaglobin had dropped even lower and her heart was freaking out because it didn't have enough blood (and therefore oxygen and iron) to work properly. She was admitted to the hospital and given four pints of blood over two days. Yesterday she had an endoscopy and colonscopy which discovered the source of her blood loss: a tumor in her colon. but just one one . . . malignant tumor.
2. On Monday my dad was admitted TO A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL for a scheduled heart catherization. They found two of the three arteries to his heart blocked - one 99% and one 90%. Thankfully he had an excellent, experienced cardiologist who was able to fix them right then and there with stents. He spent the night in the hospital. My brother took him home the next day, he walked into the house, picked up his car keys and drove himself to the hospital where my mom is (he took her there instead of to "his" hospital on Sunday because it was literally 3 or 4 minutes closer).
Mom's admitting physician is a cardiologist since they thought she was having a heart attack. We love him, he is Vietnamese, my mom adores him I can tell. Once the GI doc found the colon tumor the cardiologist said he wanted to do a heart catherization on my mom immediately to make sure there was no damage to her heart before turning her over to a surgeon to get the tumor cut out. We all agreed that my mom should be moved to my dad's hospital because it is a heart specialist hospital and frankly the hospital my mom was in SUCKS. So this morning she was moved and around 10:00 she had the catherization and her heart checked out fine.
Mom is having her colon surgery tomorrow.
NOW TO DAVID: We saw the ENT doc today (in fact were sitting in the waiting room when my dad called to say my mom's heart was OK). The ENT doc said she could definitely see green stuff up his nose (she poked and prodded up there with all kinds of fun toys) and took a swab and is having it path'ed so she can prescribe the exact antiobiotic for the infection. She said that radiation to the head (Dave had PCI) can definitely damage ducts leading out of sinus cavities causing back up of fluid and bacteria infection. also said there was "striations" on the bone which could have been caused by infection eating away at it OR cancer spread, although she agreed with the oncology radiologist that it is an unusual place for it go to. So to be sure she is going to do a surgical biopsy of the bone there IN THE SAME HOSPITAL MY MOM IS IN. Soon, we are waiting to hear when they schedule it. If it is an infection of the bone he may have to stay in the hospital for a day or two and get an antibiotic IV.
I will say it was funny to go into the cath lab at the hospital and see my mother laying in the same recovery cubicle my dad was in two days before, with my dad sitting there looking like a million bucks, and the nurses all gathered around making over my parents. they said they were going to put a plague up in that cubicle dedicating it to my parents, ha! It was really nice and they are a great bunch and I enjoyed visiting my mom and talking to them. they told us all to stop back in as we're there to say hello and I plan to do that.
Hopefully my mom's tumor was caught early - it is small and she had a colonoscopy three years ago which was clean - and Dave's thing is an infection and easily resolved - and in about a week or so everyone will be on track to NORMAL AND HEALTHY.
Thanks for listening and God Bless!
Karen C.
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Geez, I don't know what to say. I tend to agree with Addie.
Ginny, you have been a wonderful inspiration to me during the last year. You are the perfect, adoring, supportive wife (I read your story and from what you say there's no doubt of all of that) and I wish there was something that could keep your precious Duke around alot longer.
You remind me of the Reagans (hope you don't mind that) in your adoration for each other, and even though Pres. Reagon hasn't been "all there" for years I know Nancy would trade anything to have one more day with that dear man.
Please keep us posted, and I will pray for you two.
God Bless,
Karen C.
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My Onc did not really say but one time in the middle of my chemo regime I had to see one of his partners and he was joking around about drinking alchohol as a source of liquids. I drank beer on several occassions during treatment with no ill effects other than getting more tired quicker. Fluid intake is a very important part of the process and I don't think alchohol.....in moderation.....is that bad. This is my opinion only, I am not a Doctor, I just play.....
David C
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Darn Scans. You have something there, I have something here. Darn scans, darn scans, darn scans!!!!!!!! Hang in there and try not to worry. Keep the positive things in your mind. Just because the scan shows something it does not mean its there. Many prayers are coming your way.
David C
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Sandy, I agree with Ginny - prayer work just as well after the scan. I'm praying that it's a mistake!
Keep us posted.
Karen C.
David and Faith
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Rachel, that's great! You know, I was looking at your profile/signature and it looks like your diagnoses and treatment was alot like Dave's. He's now almost a year out from ENDING treatment and if his bonkitis is not cancer (see his "bone scan" post under General) he has been in remission since then, so I have every confidence you will do as well!
YIPPEE!
Karen C.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ANDREAAAAA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
(ask David, you really don't want to hear me sing this for real!)
Love,
Karen C.
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She's in denial. She doesn't want to know what is wrong with her.
It might not be lung cancer, it could be empheseyma (sp?) or a combination of things, but whatever it is, it sure does sound serious.
I don't know what to tell you. Maybe just put her in the car and drive her to the emergency room one day. If it's a good hospital they won't let her go until they've run every test they think they need to do to figure out what is wrong with her.
Keep us informed and best of luck,
Karen C.
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Jane, that was a beautiful story of passing. What a gift you were given, to be there with your brother, and to see the butterfly. He was sure lucky to have a sister like you. I know you will miss him greatly but his love will live in your heart forever.
God Bless,
Karen C.
and David and Faith
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Curtis, my cousin, Cindy, died at age 38 four years ago July 18 from breast cancer. She left behind three small children. Her youngest was the only girl and was only three years old. Cindy fought the breast cancer hard for a year, I don't think there was one week during that time she wasn't doing some form of treatment, even a stem cell transplant. Anyway, her husband is not a bit like you. He never treated her with much respect, bossed her around, etc., and in general is just a very self centered SOB. Four months after her death he was dating a girl he met in a bar and seven months later they were married. The new wife is a pretty good mother to these kids, as far as I can tell (they live in another state so I just have to go by what my Aunt, Cindy's mother, observes). She is a bit of a drill sergeant but also keeps the SOB in line something that Cindy never could do so that is good. The little girl seems to be doing OK and doesn't have really any memory of her mother. But the new wife is really good at getting the kids to their various activities, helping them with homework, getting each of them through their catechism (sp?) and first communion, etc. etc.
I'm not comparing you at all to this SOB, but I do think that, if you have the right perspective and I think you do, what you are doing is a good idea. Here's another perspective of why:
I have two bosses, both 40 years old. My female boss was married with three small children, ages 1, 3 and 6 at the time three years ago this fall, when her 37 year old husband died suddenly of a heart attack. She took a month off from work to get all the affairs in order and I think to get her head back on straight. When she came back, she had a plan. She got a babysitter every Thursday night and went out. She'd go to a movie with girlfriends, to a bar, to a concert, whatever. After a few months she starting meeting and talking to guys and dating. She called this her "research" phase. Her intent is to eventually remarry, but since she had been with her husband for so long she didn't want to jump into anything, but she decided the best way to know what is right for her is to take her time and date and get to know people. She's doing great, and now, three years later, she's dating a guy she said she can see marrying, but not within the next year - but she can see herself dating him that long and it eventually working into something.
From all of this, I think that if you start meeting and dating, it's good for you to have grown up activities without Katie on occasion, and it's also a good way for you, like my boss, to get a feel for what you are looking for in a future spouse. If you wait some prescribed length of time and then say, OK, now I'm ready to go find a wife, I think it will be disappointing because you're already behind in the game.
I hope this makes sense, and sorry to ramble on for so long!
Karen C.
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Don, you're awesome, man. A devoted son getting through it calmly and with a sense of humor.
Karen C.
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Shelly, it's perfectly natural to feel this way. But I agree with Fay.
Hang in there. Your sister isn't dead. She's been diagnosed. Be strong to help her fight!
We love you,
Karen C.
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Geez, that would have shaken me up pretty bad.
Don't think you're that safe in a K-Mart. We had a tornado hit a Wal Mart here last year and tear the roof off, right in the middle of the day.
How about tele-commuting?
Karen C.
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Thanks, Bruce! We will! I'm actually laughing today and work and joking around.
Karen
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Wow, that is SO SWEET, Dean, you are one romantic!
I sure hope Dave and I are both around to celebrate our 20th. We spent out 10th with him in the emergency room being diagnosed with lung cancer!
Karen C.
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Another little update:
The radiologist took a look at the facial CT scan Dave had and said he definitely has a sinus infection, but also said there could be something going on in the bone as well but can't see it that well because of the sinus infection. Now, Dave doesn't feel at all like he has a sinus infection, so this is weird. The plan is to get him to the ENT as soon as possible - they got him an appt. for next Wed. but are trying to get him in sooner - for treatment of the sinus infection AND to needle biopsy the bonkitis.
I don't see how a sinus infection that you can't even feel can cause a raised area on your forehead. But the bonkitis is right on top of a sinus cavity.
The roller coaster ride continues. I am starting to feel a little silly worrying so much about this when most of you are going through bigger problems right now.
My Dad is having heart catherization on Monday and my Mom is so anemic she needs a blood transfusion, they think she might have a bleeding ulcer, also has nerve pains in her legs so has to see a neurgologist for that, but doesn't want to do anything until after my Dad's thing on Monday.
I think everything will be OK.
thanks for letting me vent it all out!
Karen C.
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You know, Ry, I read something not long ago that if you don't drink enough water you could be damaging your organs, but it didn't say WHY. This says WHY - thanks for passing this on. Getting enough fluids is very important!
Karen C.
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First of all, I didn't sign that last post. That was me, Karen, not Dave!
Secondly, I meant "inspiration" not aspiration!
Karen
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When my 95 year old grandmother died six years ago, my mom (her daughter) said she felt like an orphange. My mom was 66 I believe at the time. My mom's brother got my grandmother's house, I always loved visiting that house, it was in the country up on a mountain in a beautiful part of West Virginia, but after she died and we were in the house, I mean just after the funeral, the house felt empty. I thought I would love that house and all the antique furniture and fancy fenton glassware no matter what, but after Grandma was gone it just felt empty and nothing had the sentimental meaning I thought it would have.
I got her bedroom furniture from the "front room" (the guest room) and put it in my guest toom. The first time my mom came over after I set it up she sat on the bed and cried.
Anyway, I think I understand how you feel. I'm not sure about the dreams, but just reach into your heart and you will feel your dad's presence there always.
God Bless,
Karen C.
PLEASE BE PATIENT - WE ARE WORKING WITH REGISTER.COM
in GENERAL
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GEEZ, Ricky, you owe no one an apology - we owe you guys for putting together such a wonderful website with your own time and money!
You and Katie ROCK!
Karen C.