[Prior approval granted by the moderators.]
As many Dopers know, my husband has been sick for some time. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis (NASH) and you all have heard me struggle endlessly with his subsequent non-compliance. It’s been a ridiculously hard road when coupled with my mental health issues. Then in June, this oncologist discover he had Stage 3 Myeloma. The prognosis was two years if left untreated and up to seven if he responded to the right chemo combination treatment.
Well, in the interim, he’s been in the hospital close to ten times, mostly due to not doing as he needed. But since about the middle of August, the decline has been very, very rapid. Often he can’t raise himself up, walk more than a couple of steps (with aid), nor breath unhampered. At the beginning of this week, after fearing I can no longer lift him when he falls, I decide to check on a nursing home placement. And that’s when our world went pear-shaped.
Seems the chemo is destroying everything else. His kidneys are starting to fail and it’s causing an enlarged heart. He has tumors spread across his chest and, the new prognosis is that he’ll do good (!) to see the next six months. So, guys, here’s what I’m asking of you for my 51 year old sweetie…
My fellow has never been good at making friends. Once he went off work from all these medical complications, he sunk into a deep depression and has done nothing but isolate. As such, I’m sure he feels terribly alone in this. He only has one son, who lives three hours away and has a family to tend to, and no one else living except a cousin. I’d like for folks to send him cards (or letters / notes). Little words of encouragement and support, to let him know that somewhere out there, someone is thinking of him and rooting for him. It can say anything; a prayer, a joke, a printed out picture, a drawing, whatever. I’ll just be grateful for anything so that each day, he’ll have something to cling to.
But that’s not all. I’d also like you to pass this on, if you don’t mind. A friend has posted this to her Facebook and I’ve put it on my Instagram, but I’m sure there’s many more people we could reach. Locally, it’s going around to all my loved one’s church’s, and for myself, the place where I volunteer. Then it’s being shared again with their friends and so on and so on. Hell, I’d be thrilled if I have to rent a PO box to handle all the mail. Just every last bit will be a blessing. I hope to you all as well.
So, that’s it. His name is Jaceson.
I can either email or PM my address. Simply let me know. Beyond that, thank you and God bless.
Kemi~
