On August 22nd, 2005 my father was admitted to the Veteran’s hospital for severe stomach pain, vomiting, and yellowish skin. They ran test after test and of course determined he had jaundice. Of course just about anyone could have diagnosed that as he could be seen walking down the hall “glowing” without any lights on. The hard part was trying to figure out “why” he had jaundice. Jaundice can develop in those who are heavy drinkers. My dad is not a drinker. I have only seen him have 2 drinks in my entire life. Once he had a rum & coke at a wedding reception and the other time he had drank a beer during a Holiday gathering. Needless to say the jaundice had not come from drinking. So what then? They then thought maybe he had developed one of the hepatitis’ from eating under cooked seafood while on their vacation to the outer banks. Ah Ha! That must be it. It was perfect. The time frame, the seafood, the possible restaurant it could’ve came from.
Nope, it wasn’t that. So now we are on the path of the pancreas or blockage of the common bile duct leading to the pancreas.
During the course of this diagnosis and a couple of stints later, it was determined dad needed to be transferred to another hospital 3 hours away that focused on this type of illness or should I say the short-term remedy to this type of illness. The whipple procedure. The whipple procedure is where part of the pancreas is removed. But why is the pancreas and common bile duct being naughty? CANCER! That dreaded word.
Sometimes the internet and all it’s information can be a bad thing, because now after my research of this kind of cancer I have learned that the prognosis is not so peachy.
With that said, dad was admitted to have the whipple procedure 3 days before Christmas. It was a little disheartening knowing that our “normal” Christmas was going to be interrupted to say the least, but it was reassuring knowing that dad might have a chance to be relieved of his agonizing pain. I mean what was more important? Dad suffering through our little family traditions or having a chance to be relieved of his suffering.
Now a little bit of good news. But first some worrisome tidbits about the surgery. Dad was 3 hours away having his surgery so I was only being updated via email and cell phone calls from my stepmother, whenever she could. The surgery was only supposed to be 8 hours (I think), but it lasted way longer. They ended up taking another 3 or so hours.
When he came out of surgery the doctors had informed my step-mother that they had to remove more of his pancreas than first thought. Good news they didn’t have to remove any of his stomach, which they though they may. More good news usually with this type of surgery the length of hospital stay is 12-16 days. Dad was released in 6.
Fast forward a little. Now it’s time to consider chemo treatments. Which he accepts. Currently we are on the 5th week of the 7 week treatments of chemo. The first week was rough on him. Now they have his nausea meds where they should be and he’s doing better with that. His pain before the surgery had disappeared and the only pain he had after surgery was directly related to the surgery itself. Today he had said he was having some of that old pain, the pre-surgery pain. I’m just hoping and praying that it’s not metastasized or coming back. That would not be good especially if it has done so during the middle of his chemo treatments.
I’m going to end the fact based part of this journey with this.
God knows his last day. I know what I’ve read on the web about the prognosis. But God is the author of life, he knows every hair on our heads. Dad will go home when God calls him. My only prayer is that regardless of when that day may come, whether it’s today or 10 years from now, that dad will not suffer the rest of his days with nausea, fatigue and pain.
He’s never been sick in his life. He’s always been an active guy.
Just so you can “see” who he is. This is a picture taken during his birthday party 2 years ago. He had been given a piñata full of goodies and he’s holding his stash.
