MARCH 27, 2008

After seeking out all of our options, my dad has decided to go to rehab. The doctors can no longer treat his cancer or the infection if it comes back. At the present moment my dad's stats (blood results) are perfect, except he can't move from being so weak. My dad's goal in rehab is to learn to walk and perform every day tasks that we take for granted. If he achieves this we can possibly get him home and have some quality of time with him. Remember today is thursday and with cancer things change every day, hour and minute. So as of now this is our plan. Once again thank you all for your overwhelming support and love. We will keep you posted....

MARCH 25, 2008

My dad is still very weak and unable to move. He still is in terrible pain. The doctors feel that they will not be able to treat him anymore. The cancer can't be cured or treated. We have been speaking with hospice and finding out our options. We will keep you posted....

MARCH 20, 2008

Last Friday we transferred my dad to Morristown Memorial. We met with a thoracic surgeon who would possibly remove my father's lung. The surgery was too involved and the risks are too great. My father was then transferred back to St. Barnabas on Monday. I know many of you have heard my father will be on hospice. We met with the hospice people and he is not ready for this yet. Every time we think we are at the end, my father seems to come back fighting. The doctors still want to treat him. As of today, he is stablized. He is fighting like crazy. He is forcing himself to eat every meal. In addition, he is also being fed through the feeding tube 24 hours. He has been trying to sit in a chair for couple hours a day even though he is in pain. Yesterday he even took a couple steps with a great deal of assistance. He is trying to regain his strength in order to continue radiation. The doctors have switched my dad's medication for the infection. We will keep you posted.....

MARCH 13, 2008

According to the x-rays taken today it appears the infection is still there. My dad will not be going to rehab tomorrow. The doctors have told us that we just have to take it day by day and see if he gets better. We are praying for a miracle....

MARCH 12, 2008

The doctors took the chest tube out two days ago. The infection seems to be clearing. From being in a hospital bed since January 28, my dad's body has deconditioned to a point where he can barely stand. He is going to rehab on Friday. We are not sure if he will be going to Kessler (West Orange) or Ingelmor (Livingston). My dad is starting radiation again tomorrow. The doctors had stopped the radiation when he had the surgery last monday. The doctors are keeping the feeding tube in place. My dad is eating during the day and being fed through the tube at night. This is necessary for him to gain weight.

This has been an extremely trying and difficult time for us and we are so appreciative of everyone's good thoughts. We will keep you posted.....

MARCH 6, 2008

GOOD NEWS. My dad has improved 100%. It is truly amazing that a week ago the doctors told us to call hospice and today my dad is eating, talking and sitting in a chair. The power of positive thinking!!!! The doctors are amazed with my father's progress. The surgery was a success and all the medications he is on for the infection are working. The chest tube is still in and my dad is still experiencing pain. The doctors are hopeful the chest tube will come out within the next day or two. If my dad continues in this direction he will be out of the hospital soon and into a rehabilitation center (hopefully Kessler). Once he gets rehabilitated and is feeling good we can then work on treating the cancer. We will keep you posted.

MARCH 3, 2008

I have not posted a blog in a while because there has been no good news. But today we had some good news. My dad suvived major surgery called decortication. Without this surgery he would have had no chance of surviving. The doctors cleaned out the infection in his chest and put in a chest tube. The chest tube will remain in for couple days to drain. The procedure was very risky due to my dad's condition of being malnutritioned and the problems he had experienced with his heart. We are thrilled he made it through. He is in lots of pain but very happy to be alive. He is a real fighter and we are so proud of him!!! We will keep you posted.