14th Update: Memorial Regional Hospital

November 6, 2018

Dear Family and Friends,

If you want to see my dad, now is the time to do it, as soon as possible. The doctors are really scaring us this time around. They’re estimating only 6 months to 2 weeks left to live.

Originally last year, the oncologists we consulted at MSK, MD Anderson, UM, and Memorial had all estimated 3-5 years. However, in the beginning of September, a lot began to go wrong and snowball. The Keytruda and Oxaliplatin harmed his lungs with scaring fibrosis. He’s had to be on oxygen since then and has had a harder time breathing. Because of the hard time breathing and the past 2 months of waiting to be healthy enough to restart chemotherapy, the esophageal tumor is growing and making it harder to eat as well. He’s gotten very weak from the combination of not enough food nor exercise.

He was readmitted Friday for shortness of breath with a slight fever. Today they upped him to high flow oxygen 6L and gave him Risperdal to counteract the restless from the other pain medications and the anxiety that came with his doctor estimating 6 months to 2 weeks depending on if he improves or declines. He said to come home he has to come off the high flow oxygen. He's not eating well because he's having a hard time breathing. They don't want to do nutrition through IV because of the high chance of fungal infection and they don't want to do a feeding tube unless it's the last resort later on. The catscan showed a new nodule in his lung, but they're not sure what it is. The fibrosis hasn't improved. The cancer is still just limited his esophagus, lymph nodes, and a new spot in his bones. It hasn't spread.

We’re preparing for the worst while hoping for the best. If he can leave the hospital, he has an appointment with his radiation oncologist on Thursday to hit a few points that are hurting him on his back and for an acupuncture treatment. Hopefully, that will take care of the pain.

While he probably won’t answer as he’s weak from lack of food, sleep, and pain, he still appreciates the calls and texts. What is better is to come in person. Don’t wait. No regrets. They were wrong about him dying several times before, as I suspect they are now, but you never know. Please come to visit in person if you are able to asap.

Thank You!

Love,

John, Isa, and Tatianna