My dad's the ultimate hero.
He's a man's man with a sensitive heart.
He's humble with the brain of a genius.
He works tirelessly to make everyone's life better.
He's a spiritual giant that teaches me about Christ by example.
He taught me about love by his always adoring love for my mom.
He taught me about life by living it to the fullest.
By Stefanie
Sunday, July 11, 2010
By Stefanie
He smiled as he told us the prognosis:
50% chance and 18 months.
I cried. He smiled.
He bore his testimony in Christ and told us of the peace he felt.
I cried. He smiled.
He starts a painful and lengthy process of healing now.
I cried. He smiled.
He spoke of dancing with Mom in five years.
I smiled.Saturday, July 10, 2010
Prognosis
During surgery they took a biopsy and said they would not have results for a week. Yesterday, July 9, Mom and Dad went to the Doctor to learn more.
They gathered the family together that night to tell us the prognosis.
Dad asked me to tell it straight. This cancer is terminal. There is no known cure for his cancer, but there are many therapies that will help.
Dad has anywhere from 3 months to 2 years, and with these new therapies it could be as long as 5 years.
The peace that my Dad feels right now is so amazing. He bore his testimony of Christ and how he heals us all. He spoke of the truthfulness of the Gospel and how we are an eternal family, never to be separated. He spoke of his life--it has been well lived. He spoke of his love for our Mother and for us children and how that has been the greatest joy in his life.
Then he insisted we have an ice-cream party. And we always do what Dad tells us to do.
They gathered the family together that night to tell us the prognosis.
Dad asked me to tell it straight. This cancer is terminal. There is no known cure for his cancer, but there are many therapies that will help.
Dad has anywhere from 3 months to 2 years, and with these new therapies it could be as long as 5 years.
The peace that my Dad feels right now is so amazing. He bore his testimony of Christ and how he heals us all. He spoke of the truthfulness of the Gospel and how we are an eternal family, never to be separated. He spoke of his life--it has been well lived. He spoke of his love for our Mother and for us children and how that has been the greatest joy in his life.
Then he insisted we have an ice-cream party. And we always do what Dad tells us to do.
Surgery
Surgery was scheduled for Thursday, July 1st.
Dr. Reichman said he never gets a phone call from a Family Practitioner for this type of brain tumor, he only gets phone calls from the emergency room when the patient is already fighting for his life. This was an amazing miracle as far as early detection because it gave Dad some time to visit with all of his children, family and friends. It also gave time to give him steroids to help shrink his tumor before surgery.
Family, friends, and ward members all joined together in a Fast before his surgery. We believe miracles came from this outpouring of faith and love, and we thank everyone.
Surgery day came and Dad had his head shaved. (He looks quite dashing bald.) The procedure went very well and Dad was taken to the ICU to recover. Within hours we was awake, talking, and making jokes.
They took him off the morphine drip as he said his pain was minimal. The nurse said Dad was the toughest man he knew. But we already knew that.
Within a day, Dad was walking around with a walker, so they moved him out of the ICU to a normal room.
The next day, Saturday, he surprised us all when the Doctor sent him home.
Two days out of surgery and Dad could recover at home. We were all so happy. Miracle number 277 and counting....
Dr. Reichman said he never gets a phone call from a Family Practitioner for this type of brain tumor, he only gets phone calls from the emergency room when the patient is already fighting for his life. This was an amazing miracle as far as early detection because it gave Dad some time to visit with all of his children, family and friends. It also gave time to give him steroids to help shrink his tumor before surgery.
Family, friends, and ward members all joined together in a Fast before his surgery. We believe miracles came from this outpouring of faith and love, and we thank everyone.
Surgery day came and Dad had his head shaved. (He looks quite dashing bald.) The procedure went very well and Dad was taken to the ICU to recover. Within hours we was awake, talking, and making jokes.
They took him off the morphine drip as he said his pain was minimal. The nurse said Dad was the toughest man he knew. But we already knew that.
Within a day, Dad was walking around with a walker, so they moved him out of the ICU to a normal room.
The next day, Saturday, he surprised us all when the Doctor sent him home.
Two days out of surgery and Dad could recover at home. We were all so happy. Miracle number 277 and counting....
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
We'll Start At the Beginning
Which is a very good place to start.
June 21, 2010. On Dad's birthday he woke up in the night with a terrible headache. He had a virus for a while, so we figured it had just moved in as an infection. But the dizziness and disorientation was troubling so he went to the doctor who ordered an antibiotic and an MRI.
June 28, 2010. Dad went in for the scheduled MRI, as the antibiotic had no effect on his symptoms. The news that came next startled us all.
Dad had a large tumor in his brain. The shape of an egg, but bigger.
That afternoon he was in the doctors office, an hour later the films were brought to Doctor Reichman, and an hour after that, he was brought into the emergency room to prepare for surgery.
Quite the day.
June 21, 2010. On Dad's birthday he woke up in the night with a terrible headache. He had a virus for a while, so we figured it had just moved in as an infection. But the dizziness and disorientation was troubling so he went to the doctor who ordered an antibiotic and an MRI.
June 28, 2010. Dad went in for the scheduled MRI, as the antibiotic had no effect on his symptoms. The news that came next startled us all.
Dad had a large tumor in his brain. The shape of an egg, but bigger.
That afternoon he was in the doctors office, an hour later the films were brought to Doctor Reichman, and an hour after that, he was brought into the emergency room to prepare for surgery.
Quite the day.
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