Unexpected

Yesterday was dad’s consult with the oncologist to discuss the plans for his stem cell transplant.  After the past few weeks of his treatment in the hospital, we were expecting transplant steps to start this week.  He went in around 9:30 to give blood for testing and then he waited around for his consult at about 11:30.  We were not expecting the consult to go as it did.

Since the beginning of December, his cancer turned very aggressive.  As you’ve read, his condition was volatile and very dynamic.  It took almost a week for him to be stabilized.  There was leeriness about how possible a transplant would become.  We watched as his tumors shrank and his confusion went away.  Despite those positive outcomes, the oncologists don’t believe he’s a viable candidate for transplant.  Ultimately, the cancer would return quickly after transplant and would thus render the procedure moot.

Two options were presented to dad.  The first was participating in a clinical study.  There is a 1 in 3 chance for success.  That success wouldn’t necessarily put him on track to transplant.  The treatment doesn’t work like chemotherapy does, but because it’s a trial treatment; there are a lot of things they don’t know.  The second is doing oral chemo maintenance and sending him home.  With the oral chemo, the doctor said he has 3 to 6 months left to live.

He was given the option to follow through with the surgery on his hips and thighs.  Based on the time it would take to recover from those surgeries, he has decided that it would be better to not do the surgery.  He has learned his limitations and knows what is necessary to avoid a break.  So, once he gets settled here at my house, we’ll keep him as taken care of as possible.

As you could imagine, this is hard to deal with.  Though we have been somewhat expecting this day to come, we weren’t exactly planning on it being this second.  Especially since we were told the chemo worked and he was looking to be in good shape for transplant and the possibility of remission.

The plan right now is for me to go pick him up on Thursday.  He is getting blood today for good measure.  So long as there aren’t any other intentions with the doctors at Mayo Clinic, that plan should play out.  I have a bunch of things to do today and tomorrow in preparation for a very early arrival.  I’ll be putting a lot of things into storage so we have the space for dad.  I’m expecting a social worker visit to help dad and I get the house into the condition suitable for his needs.  Those kinds of logistics are important but not dire, yet. 

He’s looking forward to being in the same house as Joel and Rachel again.  He’s looking forward to being around my little Alex.  There are relationships in Sierra Vista he is excited about rekindling.  He hasn’t lived in Sierra Vista since 2005, so there’s some weirdness to coming back.  But, overall he is looking forward to the support and community that is still alive and well for him and his family.

If you have any questions or would like to help out in anyway, please email me or donate here.  My list of thank you cards has gotten quite lengthy and I have not lost sight of the value we have in friends and family.  Please keep him and our family in your prayers as we press forward into this closing chapter of my dad’s life.  I’m certain there will be many more challenges we’ll face in the near future.  We’ll need all the support we can muster.