Posted: 10/1/2007 9:23:30 AM EDT
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My brother has been fighting cancer for five years and isn't in good shape today. He was put in the hospital Sat night with low blood pressure and a high fever. His Dr. had him put on a ventilator this morning until they can figure out what's wrong. He believes strongly in the power of prayer and knows that it's the prayers of family and friends that have allowed him to fight this long. When he was first diagnosed, he told told that he had a less than 10% chance of surviving for one year. That was five years ago and he's still fighting. If you don't mind please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Adam PS. Since it started he has always ended his e-mail updates to family and friends with a stupid joke, so here's one for him. 
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Thank you for your thoughts and prayers everyone. It means a lot to me and my family. To give an update, we still don’t know what’s wrong with him. The bad news is that the Drs are still don’t know for sure what’s going on. We are waiting on the most recent round of blood cultures to grow, the most recent set of chest x-rays to be examined, and for the Dr to do a bronchoscope (sp?) to why he can’t breathe on his own. The good news is that while low, his blood pressure has stabilized and it doesn’t to be pneumonia (which he has been prone to getting since removing ¾ of his left lung to get to a tumor 3 years ago) or ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome, which almost killed him last fall and had him on a ventilator for 3 months, 2 of which he was in a medically induced coma). We are waiting patiently for more test results, but his Dr says that he is stabilized for now. I’ll post more when I find out. Thanks again, Adam |
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I just received anther update from Memphis. My brother is stabile. His breathing difficulties are being caused by an accumulation of blood in his lungs, possibly a side effect of new chemo. He's involved in FDA trials of a new chemo drug that hasn't been tried in adults with his type of cancer yet. His Dr says that the condition is easier to treat than the ARDS that he fought last year. They are going to give him blood, additional platlets and broad spectrum antibiotics. They are going to keep him sedated for a few more days, until they can start trying to take him off the ventilator. They say they he's is still very sick and weak, but stabile. He will hopefully be out of the hospital in a week or so if all goes well. Thanks again, Adam |
prayer changes alot of things. my father was told he had less than 6 months to live from his cancer too. that was in 1990. I will pray for him, and for you and the rest of his family. my father said alot of times that he thought it was harder on us than it was on him. |
| Adam, I am sorry to hear about the passing of your brother. Like Book said, he is in a better place where his cancer can never follow. Times are going to be tough. Believe me, I know. My father passed away almost 3 months ago, and not a day goes by that my heart doesn't hurt. When I eat with my mom, or sit in his chair, or drive by certain places I can't help but tear up. Being around family eases the pain, but only time will ever make it go away. Remember the good times, and don't be afraid to get emotional. My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. |