Prayers Needed Please

[Whimsy]

I need to ask for a few prayers.

My niece's husband has been battling cancer and it seems the cancer is winning. He started with skin cancer then it went to his brain last May. This was all after battling colon cancer about 3 years ago. They did an experimental treatment and it seemed to hold it back for a while but now the cancer has spread to his spine. Gary is in terrible pain that they have not been able to get under control. I am not sure there are any more options for him at this time. He has been going to the doctor visits by himself. He is a very quiet type of man and he is not saying much but he only mentions pain meds, nothing about any further treatment. My niece is not putting this all together. If there is nothing else to be done I know she needs prayers for her to find a way to accept what lies ahead. They could really use the power of prayers right now.

Also my lifelong best friend is having her lower spine fused on Wednesday. She has been in a lot of pain as well. She had the upper portion of her spine fused over 10 years ago. She did pretty good until a few years back when the pain started to increase. They found the lower back is now a mess and the surgery is probably going to limit her mobility even more but hopefully she will no longer be in so much pain. Please keep her in your prayers that all goes well with her surgery and she has an uneventful recovery.

I'll come back and update after Tara's surgery and hopefully Gary will find some relief from his pain very soon.

Thank you.

 

[popcorn]

Oh my. Prayers are on the way that they find a way to ease the pain for both of them.

Liz

 

[ShipMaven]

Marie - I'm so sorry to read this. Please be assured of my prayers for your niece's husband and also for your friend, Tara.

Hugs,

Mary Ann

 

[TexasSue]

So very sorry to hear this. Many prayers from here and hugs to you.
Susan

 

[JacquieP]

Prayers are on the way for both of them. Gary should not exclude his wife in his decisions, because it makes the entire process so much worse for her. Your friend Tara's mobility may become a bit more limited, or it may not. Sometimes, the fusion stops the pain sufficiently that mobility may actually be better. The important thing is that she isn't waiting so long to have the surgery that she has nerve damage. Been there, done that!

 

[NiteStar]

Prayers are certainly on the way for both. And prayers for you too!

 

[nieciez]

So sorry to read this...I will keep him in my prayers.

 

[GloBug]

I am so sorry to hear this news. Prayers will include Gary and his family and Tara and her loved ones.

 

[audrey]

prayers on the way

 

[mrsrocster]

I'm sorry to read this, it sounds like Gary is trying to protect your niece from 'all of the bad stuff' that the doctor is telling him.....admirable, but not wise....she needs to know, as hard as its going to be. I hope and pray that he finds the relief he needs from the pain and that your niece will have strength during this rough time.

Back surgery I've heard is so scary so I am also praying for your friend and for all of the doctors so they can demonstrate their skills and help her.

Take care and keep us updated as you can.

Michelle

 

[Beryl]

My prayers are on the way!

 

[Whimsy]

Thank you all so much.

I'm sure Gary thinks he is doing a good thing for his wife and family if he is not telling everything. On the other hand they may miss an opportunity to prepare and say goodbye. I don't want to judge as I am not sure what I would do if faced with the same situation. I remember my sister in law keeping alot to herself because she didn't want people to change around her. I might be tempted to do the same. I have such a good time with friends, so much laughter. I would not want them to become guarded. Let's just hope we never have to make those decisions....

 

[popcorn]

I hope he will soon share all the facts with his wife. She may have to make some decisions when he is unable to & she should know what he feels about these things. And it may ease his burden if he has someone to share his thoughts with.

Liz

 

[KathyC]

So very sad for Gary. When Mike 1st started becoming really ill but before he was actually diagnosed with cancer, I started going to his dr appointments with him. After the cancer diagnosis, I even had our daughter go to some of the visits. Cancer doesn't just affect the patient, it affects the whole family. This disease should be tackeled as a family so I wish his wife would go with him to the dr. His next dr appoint she should just say,"honey I want to go with you".

When my mother was terminal with cancer that had spread to her pancreas she was in tremendous pain. I never really understood the thing about being so cautious as not to give too many meds too soon; try to keep it to a schedule. She was terminal. She was in pain. I sincerely hope that they can give Gary some relief from his pain.

Even though your friend's mobility may be affected by the surgery, it would be worth it to eliminate the pain. Watching someone suffering in pain is so difficult. I hope the surgery goes well & that it alleviates the pain.

 

[Mgram]

Marie.......sorry to read about Gary/your niece and Tara. Sending appropriate thoughts all around.

 

[Whimsy]

Update on Tara.

She made it thru the surgery with all going as expected except some blood loss was more than they thought it would be. They will have to watch her for a possible transfusion. They did not have her pre donate this time so I am sure she will not be happy if she has to have a blood transfusion. She was still in recovery from the last update from her daughter. They were trying to manage her pain and had to get her awake before they could move her to a room so hopefully all is going smoothly.

Thank you for keeping her and Gary in your thoughts and prayers.

 

[ShipMaven]

Thank you for your update, Marie. Prayers continue.

 

[GloBug]

Thanks for letting us know. Tara will remain in my prayers, as will Gary.

 

[Whimsy]

I just wanted to give you an update on Tara.

I went to see her this afternoon. She was still pretty out of it and sleeping alot. They were getting her up for the second time and she made it from the bed to the chair with assistance. Her blood pressure got pretty low and they were concerned but she had 2 on the rise readings while I was there. Please keep the prayers coming as she still has a way to go in her recovery. She lost more blood than they expected and they are still deciding if she will need a transfusion. She expected to be home on Sunday but unless she really wakes up and starts moving around tomorrow I highly doubt it. She is still in much better shape than she was during the first surgery.

Thank you for keeping her in your prayers.

 

[GloBug]

Prayers she rebounds quickly and IS home by Sunday. Hope you are doing ok with all this stress.

How is Gary doing?