My father fought cancer for 20 years before he couldn't fight anymore. He was even a motivational speaker at various hospitals for the one's stricken' by this ugly illness who thought life was over. He practiced law for over 50 years and practiced until the last week of his life. You must be strong and not give in cuz once you do, IT wins. God bless and I hope everything works out, as you well may know, it always does.
Wife Kathy In Hospital
- Thread starter AzRusty
- Start date
Az im never happy talking about this chit. But after hereing you say 70/80%. Well I even can sence the differance of 50/60%. Kathy is going to win PERIOD. GB you both.
Asked Dr. Turbanhead ok..... Dr. Singh...
last night if Kathy's chances might be improved by moving her to NY, LA or Houston M. D. Anderson. Lauging thinking about it..
I guess the simple traslation to that is ..
Uh, are you SURE you know WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING?
Called my Dad last night and talked to him. Dad is a retired Navy Chaplain, VA Chaplain/ Methodist minister. Dad served over half his professional life in hospitals in various parts of the country.. NY, Chicago, San Diego, and LA and served on the ethics committe when he was with the V A for fifteen years in LA .. with UCLA and USC I think.
Dr. Singh had said in response to my question. Well, yes.. you could move her but if you do .. do it in a few days.. not later.
And if you move her.. could be to Mayo, Tucson, or to City of Hope in LA.... he waffled about NY or Houston or NY. Seemed to think LA would be best place. BUT didn't back down in that he seemed to think that her care with his oncology group would be as good as LA. So .. why move?
My Dad lives in Scottsdale and Kathy's mom lives in Phoenix not too far from my office in Glendale (AZ).
Dad said.. well you know what we think of Mayo.. They were very arrogant and didn't help mom. Too little too late. Someone definitely dropped the ball with Mom's ovarian cancer. Probably went on for two years or more and when they figured it out it was just too late. Didn't stop em from trying.. and milking it for what it was worth.
Dad also reminded me that Mayo or Tucson would be teaching hospitals and that with all the students coming and going it would drive Kathy crazy. I agreed.
Dad thought said . ... yeah. you could move her to New York or LA or Tucson (where the medical school in Arizona is) but the outcome won't be any different. If it's a good medical grouup they are "UP" on the latest and then Kathy is miles away. At least now you have her seven minutes away from home. You can go see her and leave for a minute go home, take a nap, have lunch and be right back. Even in Tucson you are talking round trip two hours.. and how often are you going to see her if you try to continue to work? ( I have an associate who could conceivable just take over but it would cost me dearly).
DJV.. Dr. Singh has mentioned 80 per cent. And well........ I'm not sure but I don't think it gets better than that from where we are with this. So yeah. we are optimistic.
Last night's conversation with Dad was one of the LONGEST conversations I have had with him in about five years. Once I asked .. I got him going and well.... I guess I let him make the decision. He said.. NO WAY. You can't do any better than staying with someone that trained at City of Hope in LA. UCLA. Dad actually was in the room the other day when Dr. Singh walked in. Dad asked the usual questions about his training and experience and was more impresed than I was. I was still in shock. Dr. Singh has been doing this for between 10 and 15 years and knows what he is doing so ......
Here we are. We're staying and just trying to change gears and hunker down for the long haul.
As far as Kathy goes.. She doesn't wanna hear what I learn on the internet. Doesn't wanna talk about it at all. No details. Just do it. And I CAN TAKE IT. Whatever it is. She is MUCH stronger than I am.
She has completed the first three days of the chemo that I think are the most dificult with no problmes. Induction therapy... for seven days .. then a seven day break and a bone marrow biopsy. Then they do Consolidation therapy or a bone marrow transplant. Kathy's sister and brother-in-law visited us on Thanksgiving Day in the room. Sheila and Jeff. Jeff runs a Wholesale flower growing business in Oxnard, CA. Jef apparently owns a large number of acres just west of 101 in the Las Posas/Pleasant Valley/Sayers road area of Oxnard. He is successful and well known in his industry. Sheila is the mothe of two teenage boys and a licensed cosmetologist/hair-dresser but stay-at-home Mom. She has had a "boob job" and cosmetic surgery on he eyes to make them look more Caucasian. Both Sheila and Jeff are Japanese as is Kathy (but you know that).
Sheila said.. if you need the bone marrow transplant I'm first in line. No hesitation whatsoever. Hope Kathy doesn't need it but Sheila has given me a feeling of peace about that if we need it.
Kathy and I are doing ok. Today was kind of a bad day for me but I think part of it is just getting used to "doing it all" at home when I am used to being pretty much taken care of. Don't guess I realized how good I had it! I can cook and do laundry but.. Kathy has been doing most of it. Now I'm on my own.
And DAMN is it QUIET here!
I let Kathy's mom take our Sheltie, Logan, the other day when things were so chaotic but I am thinking about taking him back tomrorrw. He's good company and it will be better than being totally alone here.
Nurses and doctors have all been very nice.
For those of you who sometimes ask for just a day or two of total peace and quiet. Be careful what you ask for.
You could hear a pin drop and hear your own heartbeat here.
AzRusty
P.S. We ARE ok and will be fine
last night if Kathy's chances might be improved by moving her to NY, LA or Houston M. D. Anderson. Lauging thinking about it..
I guess the simple traslation to that is ..
Uh, are you SURE you know WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING?
Called my Dad last night and talked to him. Dad is a retired Navy Chaplain, VA Chaplain/ Methodist minister. Dad served over half his professional life in hospitals in various parts of the country.. NY, Chicago, San Diego, and LA and served on the ethics committe when he was with the V A for fifteen years in LA .. with UCLA and USC I think.
Dr. Singh had said in response to my question. Well, yes.. you could move her but if you do .. do it in a few days.. not later.
And if you move her.. could be to Mayo, Tucson, or to City of Hope in LA.... he waffled about NY or Houston or NY. Seemed to think LA would be best place. BUT didn't back down in that he seemed to think that her care with his oncology group would be as good as LA. So .. why move?
My Dad lives in Scottsdale and Kathy's mom lives in Phoenix not too far from my office in Glendale (AZ).
Dad said.. well you know what we think of Mayo.. They were very arrogant and didn't help mom. Too little too late. Someone definitely dropped the ball with Mom's ovarian cancer. Probably went on for two years or more and when they figured it out it was just too late. Didn't stop em from trying.. and milking it for what it was worth.
Dad also reminded me that Mayo or Tucson would be teaching hospitals and that with all the students coming and going it would drive Kathy crazy. I agreed.
Dad thought said . ... yeah. you could move her to New York or LA or Tucson (where the medical school in Arizona is) but the outcome won't be any different. If it's a good medical grouup they are "UP" on the latest and then Kathy is miles away. At least now you have her seven minutes away from home. You can go see her and leave for a minute go home, take a nap, have lunch and be right back. Even in Tucson you are talking round trip two hours.. and how often are you going to see her if you try to continue to work? ( I have an associate who could conceivable just take over but it would cost me dearly).
DJV.. Dr. Singh has mentioned 80 per cent. And well........ I'm not sure but I don't think it gets better than that from where we are with this. So yeah. we are optimistic.
Last night's conversation with Dad was one of the LONGEST conversations I have had with him in about five years. Once I asked .. I got him going and well.... I guess I let him make the decision. He said.. NO WAY. You can't do any better than staying with someone that trained at City of Hope in LA. UCLA. Dad actually was in the room the other day when Dr. Singh walked in. Dad asked the usual questions about his training and experience and was more impresed than I was. I was still in shock. Dr. Singh has been doing this for between 10 and 15 years and knows what he is doing so ......
Here we are. We're staying and just trying to change gears and hunker down for the long haul.
As far as Kathy goes.. She doesn't wanna hear what I learn on the internet. Doesn't wanna talk about it at all. No details. Just do it. And I CAN TAKE IT. Whatever it is. She is MUCH stronger than I am.
She has completed the first three days of the chemo that I think are the most dificult with no problmes. Induction therapy... for seven days .. then a seven day break and a bone marrow biopsy. Then they do Consolidation therapy or a bone marrow transplant. Kathy's sister and brother-in-law visited us on Thanksgiving Day in the room. Sheila and Jeff. Jeff runs a Wholesale flower growing business in Oxnard, CA. Jef apparently owns a large number of acres just west of 101 in the Las Posas/Pleasant Valley/Sayers road area of Oxnard. He is successful and well known in his industry. Sheila is the mothe of two teenage boys and a licensed cosmetologist/hair-dresser but stay-at-home Mom. She has had a "boob job" and cosmetic surgery on he eyes to make them look more Caucasian. Both Sheila and Jeff are Japanese as is Kathy (but you know that).
Sheila said.. if you need the bone marrow transplant I'm first in line. No hesitation whatsoever. Hope Kathy doesn't need it but Sheila has given me a feeling of peace about that if we need it.
Kathy and I are doing ok. Today was kind of a bad day for me but I think part of it is just getting used to "doing it all" at home when I am used to being pretty much taken care of. Don't guess I realized how good I had it! I can cook and do laundry but.. Kathy has been doing most of it. Now I'm on my own.
And DAMN is it QUIET here!
I let Kathy's mom take our Sheltie, Logan, the other day when things were so chaotic but I am thinking about taking him back tomrorrw. He's good company and it will be better than being totally alone here.
Nurses and doctors have all been very nice.
For those of you who sometimes ask for just a day or two of total peace and quiet. Be careful what you ask for.
You could hear a pin drop and hear your own heartbeat here.
AzRusty
P.S. We ARE ok and will be fine
let me know if you want info on MD Anderson......very very very good place.......I would be glad to do anything i could to help ya out....unbelievable doctors and accomodations and everything is just run prefectly...i worked there as a vounteer for a while and have never seen anything like it.....also if it would make it more of a workable option you are free to stay at my place....and i go into the med center every day so that would work out fine....
AzRusty:
We're all pulling for you. Sounds like you're getting all the proper advice.
Just a few thoughts from my end:
1) Speaking from experience, a dog can indeed provide great companionship.
2) If at all possible, don't let your work consume you too much. I know, easier said than done.
Best wishes, man!
We're all pulling for you. Sounds like you're getting all the proper advice.
Just a few thoughts from my end:
1) Speaking from experience, a dog can indeed provide great companionship.
2) If at all possible, don't let your work consume you too much. I know, easier said than done.
Best wishes, man!
Thaks for the offer Dr. Freeze.
We have decided to just stay put. Even though I could build a case for moving Kathy to a major cancer fighting center in another part of the country I am convinced that the care she will receive right where she is will be comparable to any that she might receive elsewhere. Besides we have her mom and my dad here.
Kathy is in the 5th day of chemo today. Yesterday she was "puny" all day but felt mutch better last evening after receiving two units of blood.
Met the third member of the oncologoy group last night, Dr. Verdi. Guy looks like a pro surfer or skateboarder with hair down to his butt.
Oh well.. .Kathy's doctor could come skating into her room with silky maroon shorts, barechested with rings through both nipples and helium balloons flying from each one and tell me that he's Tinkerbelle. That would be ok, I suppose, if he could save her life.
I actually saw a guy skating at the Westheimer Arts Festival in Houston that looked just like the guy I'm describing. The Arts Festival is a major gay festival in Houston. Why was I there? For the ART.. and to look at the freaks!
WE are hunkering down for a long fight. My routine will be to swing by the hospital on the way to work.. then come back by after work. And if necessary run up there at lunchtime if necessary ( I take a two hour lunch that can sometimes be extended to three hours). And I usually work till six but often seven o'clock. Got out of the office at 7:15 PM last night. Gotta keep the practice going or we will be really screwed.
Picked up a wireless infrared keyboard and mouse for Kathy yesterday. She was having trouble typing on her new laptop.
Thanks to the well wishers.
AzRusty
We have decided to just stay put. Even though I could build a case for moving Kathy to a major cancer fighting center in another part of the country I am convinced that the care she will receive right where she is will be comparable to any that she might receive elsewhere. Besides we have her mom and my dad here.
Kathy is in the 5th day of chemo today. Yesterday she was "puny" all day but felt mutch better last evening after receiving two units of blood.
Met the third member of the oncologoy group last night, Dr. Verdi. Guy looks like a pro surfer or skateboarder with hair down to his butt.
Oh well.. .Kathy's doctor could come skating into her room with silky maroon shorts, barechested with rings through both nipples and helium balloons flying from each one and tell me that he's Tinkerbelle. That would be ok, I suppose, if he could save her life.
I actually saw a guy skating at the Westheimer Arts Festival in Houston that looked just like the guy I'm describing. The Arts Festival is a major gay festival in Houston. Why was I there? For the ART.. and to look at the freaks!
WE are hunkering down for a long fight. My routine will be to swing by the hospital on the way to work.. then come back by after work. And if necessary run up there at lunchtime if necessary ( I take a two hour lunch that can sometimes be extended to three hours). And I usually work till six but often seven o'clock. Got out of the office at 7:15 PM last night. Gotta keep the practice going or we will be really screwed.
Picked up a wireless infrared keyboard and mouse for Kathy yesterday. She was having trouble typing on her new laptop.
Thanks to the well wishers.
AzRusty
AZ, still hanging in there. I hope all is going as well as it can at this time. Keep your head up. You both be back home together soon. Best of luck and God Bless.
