Nobember 30 2011

Today was a better day.  but not too too much to talk about...  After a lot of conferring with each other, the doctors decided it was best to put a "tube" or "stint" in the side of dads abdomen, so the fluid that keeps building up could be drained easier and faster.  I think this was a good idea, and mom said that this made dad in better spirits.  Mom said that by the time she left the hospital they had already taken out 2 litres of fluid... and it was still going.  I talked to Mark a little later and he said they were up to 3.5L... and still going.  Mom said that dad has the "all important" appt with the Oncologist on December 8th (I think... I'll let you now if it's different).  Lets keep praying for that miracle!!!

November 29th 2011

Dad and Mom talked to the Oncologist this afternoon, and she said that there is still no need to discuss treatments until, they resolve the issue re: blood thinners.  They have taken out the catheter, so now he can go for walks and sit in a chair to strengthen up.  Liquid in abdomen has reoccurred... quickly, within 24 hours.  We are now waiting to see what the doc wants to do with this re: draining and or putting stint in.  He and my mom are anxiously waiting to go home, but know these issues need to be resolved.  So there is no "go home" date.  Waiting Waiting Waiting..... I want to give a huge THANK YOU  to Uncle Willem and Aunt Henny for coming to visit dad over these past few days.  It meant so much to him and to us.  Have a safe journey home.  I would like to say thank you as well to all those who have come to visit, who have said prayers,  and are keeping us in their thoughts.

November 27th 2011

Well, The girls and I went to visit "Gpa" today.  We got there around 4:00.  He got moved out of the ICU.  To me he seemed to be a bit distracted,  he said he felt tired.  Mom said he seemed pretty good in the morning and was happy to be in a normal room.  They had started him on an I.V. drip of Antibiotics which is on top of the blood thinners and regular I.V.  this morning.  Not quite sure what the antibiotics were for, but we're assuming that it may have something to do with the pain that he is feeling in his abdomen.  As the day went on he seemed to be getting further distracted something was on his mind.  Although he ate really well.  Then we left him to sleep for a bit and the girls and I, my mom, Aunt Henny and Uncle Willem went to have supper.  When we came back dad seemed upset/down (of course with good rights).  We made the observation to him that his belly seemed to have gotten larger again.  It actually seemed to be about the same size as it was yesterday BEFORE they drained it.  Of course he had already realized this.  So like anyone else, he is concerned why it got that way so fast, and what was going on.  Plus his concern for his breathing and if his O2 would start to lower again.  He said he could breath okay, that it wasn't like it was 2 days ago, but was still concerned with what the O2 monitor would say.  He is nervous and quite honestly I'm sure he feels scared.  So, now we hope that the doctors come and check him out tomorrow, and hopefully get this belly thing figured out.  The girls said good-bye, and I stayed to give him a bit of a massage...hands, feet, neck, head and shoulders.  I then said good-bye.  My mom, Aunt Henny and Uncle Willem then got a chance to have some alone time.  So.... lets pray... for answers, solutions to fix those answers and in the end find comfort for my dad..

November 26th 2011

This was a long day.... But it came with blessings.  Dad had such a terrible time breathing yesterday evening and this morning but... they were able to get the fluid out of his belly.  What a relief.... Especially for him.  This made it a lot easier for him to breath.  In fact, as a norm they would take out about 4L... well, they took out about 6.5L from my dad.  AMAZING right?  I mean, think of pop bottles or milk bags.  It's just unfathomable.  But it's true.  He told the doc, "I just had a set of twins".  It seems the joker in him is back as well. :D  They decided that the stint wasn't needed (yea), but instead put him on diuretics.  His mood, spirits and even his physical looks were a bit better.  But the main thing was that he felt better.  Still had a complaint about pain he was having in his abdomen, so the doc is going to look into it.  Since he was breathing better they decided that he didn't need the O2 mask anymore and he is just using the nose tubes instead.  Dad was really happy about that, plus he could now sleep better too.  When I left they lowered the amount of IV blood thinners he was getting. and were in the midst of doing some tests to find out what is causing the pain in his abdomen.  It was great to see that the whole family could be there for dad and mom over the last few days. He even had his sister Henny and Brother in-law Willem there at his side today and for the next few days. His room is just exploding with love.  They are hoping to move him out of ICU tomorrow, and into another wing.  Here's Praying :)

November 25th 2011

Well they had moved my dad out of ICU yesterday, but now, not even 24hrs later they put him right back in.  This was because he is still having a terrible time breathing.  They have him hooked up to O2, an I.V.  and Blood thinners.  They have also put in a catheter.  As some of you may know, his abdomen has increased in sized quite drastically over the last few weeks and so they discovered that he has fluid building up in it.  Not sure if it's from the tumor leaking or if it's from something else. They are planning on draining some of the fluid that he has in his abdomen tomorrow.  They may leave a stint in just in case they need to drain it on a continuous basis.  They are hoping this will relieve some pain that he feels, but also relieve pressure on his diaphragm, which will also help with his breathing.  He's very tired, and doesn't talk much.  Mom is doing well considering.  She has been staying with her sister in Kingston.  And my brothers and I go to visit when we can.

November 23rd 2011

Update.... Yesterday dad finally got to see an oncologist in Kingston. She said, that at this time it was not in the best interest of my dad to even talk about chemo. She wanted to get the stoke that he had (last Tuesday) stabilized first , and get his body out of the "stress" that he's been feeling since that stoke. He has been having a hard time breathing, so they think there may be a blood clot in or on his lungs. They also think that he is a high risk for another stroke. So...They will be doing some more tests of course, and to our surprise, they still have not received the results to the ECG. They want to give him some blood thinners, but will monitor him during this... not knowing how the blood thinners will react with his other medical conditions and medications. He will be staying in Kingston for a few days.

November 21st 2011

Update... Thursday morning dad woke up and found that he didn't have feeling in his left arm. He also couldn't pick up things. His feeling did gradually come back as the day went on. They figured it to be a T.I.G.... (they think a little piece of something traveled up his arteries and got stuck up in his brain... but then came loose again.). Dad came home on Saturday. He still can't see out of the Left of BOTH eyes but... is sometimes seeing little flashes of lights, and sometimes even pictures on the left side, although he can't make out what these pictures are. He looks and feels quite disoriented, definitely not his self. The doctor said his sight may come back but it could take a few months or more. He is still waiting for the results to the ECG. My dad and mother and my whole family thank all of your for your thoughts and prayers... keep them coming

November 17th 2011

My father is in Advanced Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. All awhile still dealing with his Vasculitis. On Tuesday afternoon, he all of the sudden couldn't see out of the left side of BOTH eyes. We found out yesterday it was some sort of stroke. This is to be considered a totally separate issue. Today he is getting a Echo Cardiogram done to see if there is any blockage that may have caused this problem. He, my mother and our family are going through hard times and the best thing and only thing that any of us can do is pray. So please... just pray!