I am sure many here will remember the story of my trip to Niagara Falls for the fiftieth anniversary of my uncle Byron, my mothers oldest brother.
He is dying, now.
His kidney function dropped to near zero the weekend before last, although it has now come back to enough for him to live until his heart gives out.
My mother wants, desperately, to go see him, but cannot because the broken ribs she sustained in a fall on an icy sidewalk last February make it impossible for her to endure a car trip of six plus hours. Besides which, last Thursday she had to have catheterization of two partially blocked arteries of her own.
My brother-in-law, whose massive heart attack I also reported on a blog that used to be home, went in the week before Mom, to correct 100% and a 95% blocked arteries, and so is also in no condition to drive for a (relatively) long trip. Especially since the surgeons could not clear the 100% artery, and are discussing a bypass operation.
My aunt Pat is doing her best to care for my uncle in his final days, despite her own terrible health, but worse, she learned today that her god-daughter (and grand-daughter) were traveling to Niagara Falls to help her when she made a driving mistake and pulled out in front of a semi truck at highway speeds.
The driver did his very best to avoid them but could not.
He is hospitalized.
They are both dead.
All of this against a backdrop of my being unable to swallow, and waiting, after numerous tests, to find out if the lump in my throat is cancerous.
Yeah, it has been enough bad news.
During all of this, the news from Warrior in the Philippines has been equally bad.
ReplyDeleteFirst, two of her nieces lost everything in a massive fire about 5 weeks ago.
Then, someone tried to murder her sister abuot 3 weeks ago.
The police thought it was an accidental shooting, at first, someone who did not check the backdrop for his bullet. But they have since determined that the shot was fired about 5 meters from her kitchen window.
Oh Dances, my heart aches for you and yours. I am so, so, sorry to hear this shattering news.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my prayers and thoughts.
Please email Matt or me if there is anything at all we can do for you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. If there is anything we can do, please let us know.
ReplyDeleteWe are here for you.
I probably should not have posted this here. But I needed to tell someone.
ReplyDeleteI met my aunts god-daughter only one time, many years ago, but cannot even imagine the pain aunt Pat is having now.
I have not told my mother about the possibility of cancer - she has enough to worry about. Frankly, I am scared to death.
You have a reserved seat at the kitchen table to talk about what's on your mind.
ReplyDeleteWhen do you get the test results for your throat?
ReplyDeleteYou may, or may not, remember that I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001. It's now 2010 and here I am. Cancer doesn't always mean a death sentence (more and more these days).
Hang in there.
I do not have another appointment to see my doctor until June 10th.
ReplyDeleteBut if this keeps worsening (as it seems to do almost daily) I will try to make that much sooner.
Actually, I talked to a man who works at the store one day per week (to keep his disability benefits). I had always thought he was injusrd in an accident.
It turns out that he had a svere throat cancer a few years ago.
They did radiation until he could take no more, then chemko until he could take no more.
They then did radical surgery.
They removed half of his tongue, and all of the muscle on the right side of his throat, then grafted the muscles in his chest to his neck in order to hold his head upright.
He will be cancer free for 5 years next month.
I'm really very, very sorry to hear of all of this, DWT. Please keep us posted on your test results and please let me know if there is anything at all I can do to help.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like one hell of a disastrous run of terrible and horrific fate. I don't know what to tell you except that from what I know of you you will be a comfort to your family.
DWT - without a doubt this is an unbelievably bad run for you and your family. I'm so sorry that all I can really offer is prayer and another pair of ears, but that is what I will do.
ReplyDeleteOh Dances, I'm so very sorry to hear your news. Please, PLEASE take good care of yourself, and go back to the doctor early if you need to. You and your family will be in our hearts and prayers every day.
ReplyDeletePlease remember that Noah and I are only a phone call away, day or night.
I'm glad you let us know what is going on. I want TCKT to be the kind of home where we not only share our opinions and our humor, but also our joys and our troubles.
Thank you everyone for your kind responses.
ReplyDeleteI posted it a few minutes after I learned about the traffic accident and I am now a bit embarrassed about it.
At least for now, the whinery is closed.
DWT, I am so sorry to hear about all of this.
ReplyDeletePlease know that you are not alone!
HUGS!