A couple of years ago my father was worried because he started peeing blood. It turns out that he had a cancerous mass on his right kidney. It was an easy procedure – the surgeon just removed the kidney laposcopically. Dad’s fine.
Last November my then-GF’s father went through something similar. But his kidney couldn’t be removed laposcopically. They had to open him up to take it out. It took him a long time to heal, but he got through it. The last time I saw him, maybe in April, he looked great.
I just got an e-mail from my ex. Her father is back in the hospital. The cancer is now in his small intestine. He hasn’t eaten in a week, and he hasn’t had a bowel movement in a month. He’s getting a partial gastric bypass on Friday, hopefully that will allow him to eat, but I don’t think there’s anything they can do about the cancer. He’s in severe pain, but all he talks about is how his wife will fare when he’s gone.
The poor guy. He’s already been through too much. Please send healing energy his way.
Update: He’s finally back at home, with Hospice care. The cancer spread from his small intestine to all through his chest in what must have been just a week or so. Except for a little broth now and then, he hasn’t eaten in over a month. Even the broth goes down his throat and straight out a stomach tube. He is getting zero nutrition.
Ironic for a guy that spent his entire life in the food industry.
I pray for a quick and merciful end to his suffering. My heart aches for all of you, and I send my best wishes for you to get through this horrible time. (sounds like a greeting card, I know. Be strong!)
I think that the toughest thing is that this guy has always been fiercely independent, proud, and hard working. Now he’s completely dependent and helpless. I can’t imagine how ashamed of himself he must feel right now.
On the other hand, when he was in the hospital all the nurses flirted with him constantly. Even with all sorts of tubes coming out of him, he’s still a charmer.