Then he said the words we'd both expected and dreaded. With all his experience, Dr. Kim is convinced Dad is battling an aggressive glioblastoma. He didn't recommend any type of surgery due to dad's age and condition. He said it was very likely if they tried, Dad would not wake from the anesthesia. Even the biopsy carried some of the same risk and he didn't want to put him through it. His own father is a couple of years younger than dad and he would recommend the same for him if he were in this condition. He estimated dad's life expectancy to be 3-6 months.
However, he arranged for Dad to be seen right away by Dr. Rammohan, a cancer radiologist. There is a course of treatment that lasts 5 days which might buy dad a couple months more time. The treatment can be given in West Plains, in conjunction with the Barnes doctor's recommendations. His nurse Michelle will contact OMC tomorrow and track down the correct department and physician to administer the treatment.
Dr. Rammohan did even more with dad, giving him a few neurological tests and seeing how well he was able to move his legs. In addition to discussing the week of radiation, he recommended hospice as a way Dad can remain at home and mom can get some of the help she needs. There is, however, a catch. In order to go on hospice Dad needs to give up seeking treatment for his underlying disease. He can still be treated for his other issues--high blood pressure for example--but nothing more to address the glioblastoma. Please pray that the radiation treatment can be scheduled as quickly as possible and Dad transferred to hospice care because Mom is at the end of her tether.
If we pay out of pocket for a home health nurse, it's $36 an hour. For 24/7 care, that's over $6000 a week. Even just 4 hours a day to help with dressing and bathing is over $1000. Brian and I have been trying to help, but Dad will only allow us to do so much and we can't be there 24/7. However, we will begin doing morning and evening dressing and undressing in addition to the meals and PT we've been helping with.
When we returned to the hotel, we told Ron & Doris the doctor's recommendations, and all went to a late dinner with them. Dad picked up the check.
We got the folks tucked in around 9:30PM
This was a difficult day. Dad was so hopeful Dr. Kim could cut the bastard out. (My words, not his) But his first impulse on hearing their news was to praise God and share his faith with both the doctors.
Please God, grant that I can face my own end with such an attitude.
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