Really hard to read that. Change the date to Jan 2023 and the age to 61 I could have written that opening thread. Make everyday count.
Prayers on the way.

I thought I would update on Sandy's journey.

She had a CT Scan a couple weeks ago and the tumor on her liver has shrunk from 1.5cm to .09cm, but they couldn't get a good scan on the pancreas. Sandy has had seven chemo treatments so far and she is still having a very difficult time for the first week after chemo. Extremely tired and emotionally drained.

We will meet with oncologist on 2/20 to talk about her "progress" and he might change her chemo protocol which should help with her post chemo symptoms.

We were able to take off and head to Santa Cruz CA this last weekend. It was her first time to get away since this journey started last September. And a couple weeks ago we went to see Aaron Lewis. We had been trying to see him for years and finally pulled the trigger. Great show and of course very patriotic.

Sandy is heading to Puerto Vallarta next weekend with her two sisters for a week. It will be good for her to spend some time with them.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

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I went through what you are going through when my mother was here in Houston at MD Anderson for a diagnosis. The initial finding was Renal Cancer. The MRIs and CT Scans were not 100% conclusive enough to stage the cancer, so they decided to open her up and look. The result was the procedure was immediately stopped as they found tendrils off the main tumor that were wrapped around and into her duodenum, her arteries, and her pancreas. The diagnosis was stage 4 papillary renal carcinoma. When I asked the renal surgeon to timeline it, he responded “think weeks and months instead of months and years”.

She lasted 4 months. Fentanyl patches saved her from the worst of the pain. On the day we decided to stop giving her water and soft foods, I explained to her we were going to start the Morphine. She had asked me and my sister to do the hard work that she new my dad could not do. So the end of life stuff was left to us. When the blood oxygen level dropped below 80 we started the morphine. When I explained to her what we were doing, she had been non verbal for a few days. She nodded yes and we prayed with her, reading prayers for those nearing the end. Within 2 days of starting the morphine she passed.

You just have to do the best you can to help care for your wife. It will be tough and you’ll have to do things you never dreamed you would have to do. It will hang with you for years afterwards. Be strong for her. She will need your assurance that everything will be okay and that its okay to let go.

When my dad was in the hospital on verge of passing from bladder cancer, he was weak and had a bit delirium but was mostly coherent.

On church day, a few people came by and crowded into his room. He looked around at them and asked me, out of the blue, "Am I going to heaven?" I told him that he was. He then asked, "When am I going to die?" I was floored by the that question but answered, "You and the Good Lord will pick the best time and the both of you will let us know."

Satisfied with that, he was looking out his second story window and he could see that he wasn't at ground level and asked me the final question, "Am I on my way to heaven right now?" Stunned again, I answered, "The Good Lord, your brother, mom and dad are waiting to see you."

That brought him a sense of peace.

The next day he was his saline was decreased, his morphine kicked up a bit and within 48 hours he died with me holding his hand.

All you can do is your best, be prepared for the unexpected, never take away hope, always offer the truth to tough questions and know that it's appreciated, even if they can't say so. When they do pass, there will be tremendous relief that their suffering is over.

I love that she is heading to Puerto Vallarta with her sisters. What a very nice thing to do for everyone concerned. You get a moment, she gets her sisters for support, and goes to a warm sunny place to get away from this nightmare for a beat.
This is a wonderful idea, and I am so happy you were able to do that.

Sandy made it to Puerto Vallarta to hang with her two sisters. One of the sisters has a condo in Nuevo Vallarta so they had a very comfortable place to stay.

She skipped a chemo treatment to be able to go with approval from the oncologist. She is feeling good and in high spirits.


Sandy is in the middle, sister Marni on the left and sister Cheryl on the right


Sunset at the condo


Pool at the condo


I think this is in PV

Hapevo, sending very good thoughts Sandy's way. You're way too my friend.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
Hapevo, sending very good thoughts Sandy's way. You're way too my friend.

Thank you Bytes, very much appreciated

On behalf of all the members of SIGforum, greetings to you, Sandy. May God grant you all you wish.

I just have to put an "Amen" on that.

May you- Sandy and Peace, find each other, and all your loved ones.

She looks luminous. With her sisters, smiling and happy. Thank you for these updates.

Update 3/21/25

Sandy had her CT scan on this past Monday.

They can't get a clear scan of the tumor on the pancreas but the tumor on the liver went from .09cm in size to no tumor visible. When we started this journey the tumor on the liver was 1.5cm.

We had a meeting with her oncologist yesterday and he was very pleased with her progress with the chemo therapies and decided to stop one of three she gets every two weeks.
He pulled the Oxaliplatin and with that she will not need to take the Granix injection anymore which was for he low white blood cell count which is what the Oaxalipatin caused.

And her neuropathy should also go away.

So, we had some really good news.

I just want to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns.

This is outstanding news.

That is a great update! Will keep her in my prayers, and prayers for you as well. It is a tough job sometimes to be the rock that someone relies on.

That is wonderful news.

That is great!! Another trip for you both to Puerta Vallarta!

God Bless.

Awesome to hear such good news. Best to both of you.

Wonderful news!