Prayers Needed

[AnnaS]

I have tried to start a thread and just could not finish it. I am not even sure where to start.

The medical issues started with dh less than three years ago. That was a story in itself with heart attacks, quadruple bypass and another surgery for pericardial effusion. Before things had even begun to calm down, my bil - his 46 year old brother - his melanoma came back and was already stage 4. At this same time, my very good friend and next door neighbor (50) found out she had stage 4 colon cancer. Fast forward almost two years later and we buried my bil end of February. My friend is going through her second round of chemo.

While this is going on, last August, while we were at Hilton Head, my mom's biopsy came back and we got the horrible news that she has stage 2 breast cancer. She has been doing chemo and is ready to start her 6 1/2 weeks (of daily) radiation. A few months ago, my dad, who has copd and cirhorris (sp?) of the liver, had a chest x-ray and we found out he has lung cancer. He is not a candidate for surgery, he has other medical issues and would never go through chemo so we are leaving him alone. We have our hands full with him regardless. My mom was also recently in the hospital for a week for an infection in the breast.

Our biggest shock and we felt like we got hit by a truck was a month ago. My 46 yr. old sister who lives at home went in the ER after having pain on her side/rib that got unbearable. After a ct scan - we got the news that she has stage 4 lung cancer. It has spread to her lymph nodes, liver and bones (left rib and right hip). As many have gone through this, devastated is an understatement.

Things have been moving fast, she started her chemo last week and we just got back from Sloan Kettering yesterday. She is extremely depressed and scared as we all are. We are trying very hard not to break-down in front of her. We are just trying to separate - if that is a word that I can describe - a moment here and there where we can think and function normal. We now have three sick people in one house.

Thank you for reading and thank you for all your prayers.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Sending prayers during this most difficult time.

 

[es45]

Anna, I'm sorry that so many in your family are sick. I can only imagine that the stress of all of this is heavy to bear. Please take care of yourself too.

 

[dogodisney]

and prayers. May God Bless all of you.

 

[Rustysmom]

Sending out lots of prayers for your whole family.

 

[AnnaS]

Thank you everyone for reading. We will take all the prayers.

 

[Southerngirl71]

I am so, so sorry that you and your family are going through this. It brought tears to my eyes reading this. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. I know it is probably hard to discuss your feelings with your family but know that you have friends here who are ready if you need to vent, cry or just talk. God bless.

 

[cm8]

I have tried to start a thread and just could not finish it. I am not even sure where to start.

The medical issues started with dh less than three years ago. That was a story in itself with heart attacks, quadruple bypass and another surgery for pericardial effusion. Before things had even begun to calm down, my bil - his 46 year old brother - his melanoma came back and was already stage 4. At this same time, my very good friend and next door neighbor (50) found out she had stage 4 colon cancer. Fast forward almost two years later and we buried my bil end of February. My friend is going through her second round of chemo.

While this is going on, last August, while we were at Hilton Head, my mom's biopsy came back and we got the horrible news that she has stage 2 breast cancer. She has been doing chemo and is ready to start her 6 1/2 weeks (of daily) radiation. A few months ago, my dad, who has copd and cirhorris (sp?) of the liver, had a chest x-ray and we found out he has lung cancer. He is not a candidate for surgery, he has other medical issues and would never go through chemo so we are leaving him alone. We have our hands full with him regardless. My mom was also recently in the hospital for a week for an infection in the breast.

Our biggest shock and we felt like we got hit by a truck was a month ago. My 46 yr. old sister who lives at home went in the ER after having pain on her side/rib that got unbearable. After a ct scan - we got the news that she has stage 4 lung cancer. It has spread to her lymph nodes, liver and bones (left rib and right hip). As many have gone through this, devastated is an understatement.

Things have been moving fast, she started her chemo last week and we just got back from Sloan Kettering yesterday. She is extremely depressed and scared as we all are. We are trying very hard not to break-down in front of her. We are just trying to separate - if that is a word that I can describe - a moment here and there where we can think and function normal. We now have three sick people in one house.

Thank you for reading and thank you for all your prayers.

Wow, I thought we had it rough over here. I can only imagine what you may be going through over there. Life is hard enough with out having so much other medical issues to go through. I will be praying for your strength, faith, and most of all you. Being a care giver is hard and even harder emotionally when you are drained. Hang in there and have faith, hope, and love, all those things will get you through. May God bless and keep you and your family. You will be in my thoughts and prayers

 

[minniebeth]

Oh my goodness, AnnaS, what a heavy heart you must have with so many you love being sick. I have no words other than like others have said, continue to take care of yourself, be gentle on your needs as well and get through each day with love and peace. It's all you can do. I will pray for you and all those surrounding you who are so ill.

 

[AnnaS]

Thank you Minnie, cm8 and Lori. We will take all the prayers.

We are hanging in there and juggling all the appts. My sister is depressed. Her hair is almost gone, she has sores in her mouth and her face is full of the rash they said she would get. Looks like very bad acne. She is in some pain and tires very easily.

We are trying to go about "life" as "normal" as possible - we do try to keep her distracted and occupied. It does not help that she cannot be out in the sun either. We are there everyday for her........... I feel terrible if I don't check in on her. Who knows how long she will be with us.

Please keep her, my parents and my friend in your prayers. Thank you.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Omigosh, you sure have a had a full plate! That's an awful lot to bear.

As you know, DH's cousin is on his deathbed. We're going to visit him today and expect it to be the last time we will see him live. FWIW, he was stage 4 when diagnosed only about a month ago and went downhill very rapidly.

OTOH, our BFFs (who are coming to Florida with us in August) have a close relative who is also battling stage 4 lung and liver cancer. This man is still working and hasn't even been hospitalized. So it is possible to go on and last a while even at stage 4. He still has hope of surviving some years.

I wish your sister the best of luck and offer my prayers. I do believe she is in the best hands she can be in with Sloan Kettering.

Hang in there, Anna.

 

[escape]

Anna, I have no words of wisdom, just many . I will keep you all in my prayers. Please take care of yourself.

 

[AnnaS]

Omigosh, you sure have a had a full plate! That's an awful lot to bear.

As you know, DH's cousin is on his deathbed. We're going to visit him today and expect it to be the last time we will see him live. FWIW, he was stage 4 when diagnosed only about a month ago and went downhill very rapidly.

OTOH, our BFFs (who are coming to Florida with us in August) have a close relative who is also battling stage 4 lung and liver cancer. This man is still working and hasn't even been hospitalized. So it is possible to go on and last a while even at stage 4. He still has hope of surviving some years.

I wish your sister the best of luck and offer my prayers. I do believe she is in the best hands she can be in with Sloan Kettering.

Hang in there, Anna.

She is not at Sloan - we only went for a second opinion. He also knows the doctor that is treating her at our hospital. He told us that they are treating her with the right medicines basically. He gave her a huge/big hug and would not let her go. He told her to live her life and would check her slides/stains to see if there is anything else they come up with - which I doubt. My sister already knows everyone here since she more or less took (and my mom still goes) my mom for her treatments. Of course we are hoping for many good days with her. We hope she is that 1% that lives more than 1 year. Only God knows.

God Bless.


Thank you Susie also for your prayers.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Miracles do happen sometimes, Anna, and I really hope for one for your sister.

God bless and comfort you and your family.

 

[minniecarousel]

Anna - no words can explain the sorrowful anguish that your family is experiencing. God bless you all.

 

[minkydog]

She is not at Sloan - we only went for a second opinion. He also knows the doctor that is treating her at our hospital. He told us that they are treating her with the right medicines basically. He gave her a huge/big hug and would not let her go. He told her to live her life and would check her slides/stains to see if there is anything else they come up with - which I doubt. My sister already knows everyone here since she more or less took (and my mom still goes) my mom for her treatments. Of course we are hoping for many good days with her. We hope she is that 1% that lives more than 1 year. Only God knows.

God Bless.


Thank you Susie also for your prayers.

I think ya'll are doing remarkably well with this. It has to be so hard. My cousin was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at age 43. She already had metastasis to the brain and bones. They gave her only 6 weeks. It was so so sad. But then, she began to turn around. Then she went into and out of remission a few times. My young cousin ended up living for 4 years! Guess she showed them. Anyway, I hope and pray that your sister will have a similar course. I hope you all have time for nice long chats, reminiscing over pictures, tears of forgiveness, and the satisfaction that everything that needs to be said and done *is* said and done. Take care of yourself, too.

 

[AnnaS]

Thank you minkydog. I am happy to hear that your cousin lived 4 years. I hope my sister lives 4 years or more of course. Her doctor would not give a time (maybe when someone is really down to months/weeks?) The Doctor at Sloan also said that no one really knows and he has no idea what category she falls in. She could be the one that lives a year or 5 years. Chemo might/might not work for her. How many times have we heard someone was given months/weeks and are still here to talk about it? On the other hand, when there was nothing else Sloan could do for my brother-in-law, they told him - at that point, they gave him 3/4 months (including another doctor they went to see as a last resort). I guess it was time to get things in order. He lived almost 4 months.

We have to force ourselves often not to think about what is down the road but just take one day at a time - we fall apart when we do.

I just took her for her first follow-up ct scan today. Should find something out next Wed. (Dr. appt. and treatment). We are praying that her treatments are doing something.

Thank you all again for your prayers and continue to pray for her, my mom, my dad and my friend.

 

[minkydog]

I think that's all you can do. The future is too hard to bear, othewise. And there is too much living to do right now to waste the time on "what ifs?" I don't particularly like it when doctors give someone so-many-months/weeks to live. They don't have a crystal ball and it makes everyone frightened and uncomfortable as the calendar counts down--OMG, they said six weeks, this is week 5 I do think doctors should try to be realistic and tell people when they are in their final stages of life, whether it's cancer or Alzheimers or whatever. Everyone needs time to wrap things up. And the thing is, if they wait until that "this is it" moment there is no time left.