Dad Update

Dad has had his first 6 weeks of chemo and his first two week break. It hasn't been much of a break. He has been so shaky, weak, a little out of it as his mind is not as sharp as normal. He has been very nauseated and can't even drink water anymore without getting sick. Wednesday he was supposed to start his 2nd 6 weeks of chemo. Mom decided to take the day off and go with him. When they got to the Dr.'s they took his vitals and discovered that his oxygen was extremely low. They immediately put him on oxygen. They also discovered that his white blood count was high which indicated that he had an infection of some sort so they prescribed an antibiotic and sent him to have some x-rays of his lungs.

After they arranged with the home medical company to have a portable oxygen unit for him he was able to go home which was great news. He had been a little out of it and very nauseated for the 2 weeks between chemo.

Wednesday night he slept for the first time in days and woke up Thursday feeling encouraged. The home nurse came to check on him and discovered that his oxygen levels were getting worse instead of better. The Dr. was notified and he told him that he needed to go to LDS hospital. They were concerned because after looking at his lungs they didn't think that they looked bad enough for how low his oxygen levels are.

So Mom broke the news to Dad that he had to go back to the hospital and after a blessing for Dad and Mom from Andrew and Mitch they headed into LDS Hospital. They did tests last night and today including an EKG, CAT Scans, Barium swallow, Ultrasounds, MRI's and more x-rays. They were encouraged to see that his white blood cell count was already significantly lower which means the antibiotics were doing their job. They did notice some elevated liver enzymes and are going to take a closer look at his liver tomorrow when they do another CAT scan.

They found a blood clot but the Dr.'s seemed to think it was just the old one from after the surgery and not a new one. The nurse told Mom that they were really concerned about Dad's heart today as it was at 180 when they would ideally would like it below 100. They had a cardiac specialist looking after him today.

Mom finally called a little while ago with the days concluding notes. The blood clot they found is the same one as the one in November but it is huge again which is what is causing his 1) elevated heart rate, 2) breathing difficulties and 3) pnemonia. I had no idea that the clot never went all the way away the first time but apparently it just got really small but after he got home and off the really powerful blood thinner (Heparin) and onto the normal blood thinner (Cumadin) it started building back up! So it is back and risking his life again. They talked about going in to remove it but it would require opening up his chest (similar to open heart surgery) and he couldn't do that and going in through a vein is too risky. So they are rapidly getting him back on the Heparin and hoping that will once again help dissolve the clot.

Mom and I talked today a lot while I was at the hospital and we decided that Dad is really sick. Brilliant, I know. We have never been through this cancer, chemo, blood clot, thing before and we seem to be constantly reminded that it is a horrible thing that leaves the person feeling miserable and weak and tired and just plain sick. It isn't like a cold where you feel better by getting up and going on with life. It is as different for each person as the person is.
It is again another reminder of how grateful I am that I have siblings (both by birth and by marriage). I mentioned to Mom today that I am so glad that I am not an only child because when life happens I have people who I can turn too. Who love Mom and Dad as I do. Who understand how I feel. When the crisis's come they are who I want to talk to, to lean on and I love them for all their strengths.