On Friday afternoon, I had a text message from my younger sister asking if I knew that dad was in the hospital (had no idea). I asked what for and she replied "Had a heart attack and full of cancer". I almost fell out of my seat when I read it. I was at the hospital with DH at the time so I couldn't call to find anything out (he's in a different area than I am). When I got home, I called the hospital and spoke with his nurse. Dad presented in the emergency room on Thursday with what he thought was a heart attack (pain in his mid spine radiating into his neck and shoulder - cardiac-like symptoms). He was admitted to a cardiac unit because they put a telemetry unit on him to monitor heart activity (mini ECG type of machine) and it was an available bed. By the time I spoke to his nurse, any issues with his heart were completely ruled out. He didn't have a heart attack (Praise God) and doesn't need to see a cardiologist. While he was in the ER, he was assessed by a respirologist because he has a horrible smokers cough (good heavens I remember waking in the middle of the night last fall when I stayed with him while working because of his horrible coughing). They opted to do a bronchoscope on him on Friday morning. They took several samples for biopsies. Dad had cancer in his throat a couple years ago and went through radiation for it (but it never slowed the smoking any.... if anything, he smokes more afterwards) and he's had a couple skin lesions removed off his forehead as recent as last fall. Saturday I had multiple phone calls and each of them made it sound even worse than it already was. I've since learned my father is a drama queen!! He told his brother that a tumor on his liver was pushing on his heart and caused a heart attack When I spoke to him that day, he told me that he has a "slight" heart attack (when I knew otherwise) and that the cancer was in the lymph nodes in his neck. I called back to the nurse and asked her to verify that information but she wasn't able to say whether it was true or not because it's a conversation dad would have had with the respirologist before he ever made it to the floor (one can assume there was something that triggered them to do the bronchoscope). I asked (again) about his cardiac status because of what dad told my uncle and she verified again that he didn't have a heart attack so I asked if someone would go in and tell him that (I don't think they ever did). I spoke to dad a little while ago (he's home on a day pass) and asked him how he was feeling "I'm alive, if that matters to you" . He's still telling that he had a heart attack so I corrected him (if he had a heart attack on Thursday he wouldn't be out of the hospital today and he wouldn't have been able to drive - they take your license away for at least 6 weeks following a cardiac event). When I told him that I was told he didn't have a heart attack he was relieved to hear it (I can't believe they didn't tell him). The results of his biopsies are due back tomorrow.... on his 70th birthday so I expect it's going to be a difficult day for him. I say that because we're all expecting a diagnosis of cancer, we just don't know the extent of it or the staging. Dad doesn't have a lot of education and so a lot of this is going right over his head. How sad to say that he's on a self pity trip right now and milking all the attention he's getting as a result of it all. He has his siblings very upset, he asked them to make his funeral arrangement for him. I can't get to the hospital where he is until later this week but wish I could be there tomorrow especially because it is his birthday and he's not expecting to hear the best news. Dad is not saved and that right now is the biggest priority. Absolutely nothing else matters at this point. Please pray that God will use me to reach out to dad and that he will make that life changing decision before it's too late. Pray for dad to be strong when he meets with the doctor tomorrow and that we can access what ever services he's going to need as a result of what ever the news is.
Praying for your dad AND YOU! My dad died unsaved as far as I know. (We don't know what goes on in a coma, or privately in someone's head/heart if they don't talk about it.) I'll pray for his health, but even more that he will be receptive when you talk to him.
As of yesterday at 4:30, we know it's in his throat and lungs but dad isn't taking it serious. :evil: When he was given the news from the respirologist, in his mind the oncologist should have been right behind him with a plan for what to do next and said "I guess he doesn't care". What dad didn't stop to consider that he isn't the one in the region with cancer and he has to wait to be seen. He wants to sign himself out to go home. Out came my heavy hand and told him he wasn't doing that because he'll access the services needed faster as an inpatient than he will if he leaves. Dad doesn't know enough to push them to do more testing to make sure they've diagnosed all of it and seems to be content with just treating what he does know about. As of right now, my alcoholic uncle is listed as his next of kin so I'm limited in what I can do. I have to go to Moncton on Friday to get this switched around so that I can advocate on dad's behalf. It has been an emotional roller coaster ride as the shock of it all coupled with the excitement at home settles in. ~ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me ~ My absolute favorite Scripture
Update for dad It has been a heart breaking week to say the least. I knew last fall when I stayed with dad that a time was coming sooner than later when I would be faced with all of this but you don't really expect it when it does happen - the proverbial punch in the gut. Reality still isn't setting in with me yet.... just very difficult right now. The cancer is in dad's thraot and his left lung. They put him through a battery of tests yesterday (CT Scan, MRI, bone scan) to make sure it hadn't metastisized elsewhere from where it is now. He called me last night crying when he told me it wasn't curable (reality just sunk in) and that he's waiting to be seen by the oncologist (next week) and the plan is to hit him with radiation and chemo right away. When I spoke to him yesterday morning, he asked when I could go to him, he needs to speak to me in person. He wants to transfer POA to me (which I was going to ask to do anyway - he came up with it on his own), a will and something else (which he won't divulge over the phone). I'm quite sure he's going to ask me to get in touch with my brother who hasn't spoken to dad since my sister's wedding 17 years ago (and he won't) and get him to call dad. He just wants to be in touch with him again. I know I'm beating a dead horse with that because in my brothers eyes, he doesn't have a father. All I can tell dad is that my brother is aware of what is going on. Mom is going with me and we're both hitting him heavy with God's plan for Salvation. Absolutely nothing else matters at this point. I'm hoping mom is able to diffuse the brother bomb with me. Please pray that God will open dad's heart and his mind and be receptive to God's plan before we get there.
Dad is going to see the oncologist tomorrow and I admit my anxiety level (for no other appearant reason) is through the roof today. God, give me the strength.......
