Just recieved the worst news any family could be told...

[draft]

In a nutshell (as I'm not up to much writing right now), my Grandpa on my mothers side has had cancer twice before, and removed both times with surgery.

So it was a few weeks ago he had his basic checkup, and found cancer once again. To the family, it meant another surgery. He had been re-fueled with blood almost twice a week since he was loosing so much. We were hoping for a surgery soon instead of the one scheduled for the first week of August. On Saturday, we were told they were going to rush the surgery to Monday, today, promptly at 7:30AM. He's residing at UCLA hospital with one of the best surgeons in the field in CA. About 2 hours into the surgery, his girlfriend (divorced, and now lives with a women we consider just as much our family) got a phone call, and came back into the room just balling.... Surgeon informed her that the cancer was so spead out and the tumor being humongous, stitched his stomach back up, and awaited for him to wake up. There was nothing he could do.

While waiting, we had a chance to talk to the surgeon... described what was going on and some other stuff. Also told, he probably only has a few months left to enjoy this wonderful place we call Earth. I don't know how much this just hit hard down inside, being told one of your family members in a given amount of time won't be there for you anymore.

Highlight of the day was putting my new gauges in, but I've been holding back my personal related problems lately, and I just thought I'd mention this as I'll be spending my next few months with the grandfather more than ever, not really focusing on the truck.. at all.

My grandfather has always been a strong person, and is going to fight this as much as he can, Kimo of course, and is willing to try some new stuff.

All I can ask is for your prayers right now, from my father being on the edge of Colon Cancer right now, my grandmother having breathing problems (on a tank) and now my grandfather, I just don't know if I can take it anymore.

Hopefully I'll see you guys soon, take care. Thanks in advance for everything, it truly means alot.

[rfuree11]

i'm really sorry to hear that....you will be in my prayers

[NOTAJP]

Originally Posted by rfuree11

i'm really sorry to hear that....you will be in my prayers

My prayers too! We are all here for you. Keep in touch.

[XplorerKid]

I Feel for you man, i went through this same thing not to long ago, My grandfather passed out on New Years Eve, no one knew till my Uncle coulndt get ahold of him and went out to his hosue to gidn him laying on the ground, he lost all of his strength and alot of other stuff, i cant really describe, we than found out he had cancer, all was going well did treatment it got rid of some, he was doing REALLY good, than another test was done shown that it just exploded all over, The treatment than turned into, pretty much jsut to make him feel better, there was no way out, but he would be dying, the treament would just Give him a little extra time and all, I think he was suppose to have like 6 monts, not long after the news, he got real bad..... I rushed down to my autns house, where he had been stayin after he got outta the hospital, and a mid way recovery place. than there, Well i spent the night woke up aroudn 6 am to my mom telling me to call my brother and tell him to get there ASAP, my mom walks to go check on him and comes back to tell me i need to go see him if i want to see him, Which i didnt, I kick myself to this day for not doing it, but im not a good person to handle death. He died that morning, quite a few months earlier than he was suppose to. So i say spend all the time you Can. I tried to go down twice a week, and visit him.... After he got real sick....

Its a Rough thing man, And i hope your Grandfather spends these last few months Pain free.... And i hope you and Your family make it through this tough time.

[Mbrooks420]

I'm sorry to hear you have to go through all this. It's never easy, and can really take a lot out of you. Saying goodbye to someone is likely the most difficult thing that you ever will have to do. Stay strong, and use whatever time you have left.

[aldive]

My God be with you and your loved ones, my friend.

[DeRocha]

My prayers are with you and your family. I've been down that road several times. Its a tough situation, but now is the time to make every moment count. Don't make the mistake of holding back saying stuff until the end, because the person is usually on potent drugs making them groggy and sleepy. Right off the bat I would be visiting whenever I could and always leave by telling him you love him...

[glfredrick]

I think that a lot of us are either in that camp or going to be there soon. As our parents age, we will have to deal with the largest population base in history both living longer, and dying harder than most any age group in history.

Prayers are with you...

[BBQ_HotDogs]

I also have cancer. Mine is bladder cancer though, but none the less, still cancer. I will keep you in my prayers and this is never an easy thing to deal with. Cancer is a very scary and dangerous disease. It does not discriminate between anyone, young or old. It's just a terrible terrible thing that can pop up from nowhere and do so much damage if not treated early.

[snocross1985]

Sorry to hear your news. We lost my grandmother years ago to colon cancer. We recently got word that my great-grandmother has limited days. She is 93 and just is approaching her end. She has been the only grandmother I have ever had close growing up and have many fond memories of when I was little. Now she is at the point where she can't remember who is who and it is hard as hell to see her like that. She has been calling for her mother to come and take her away. She also told me and my mother that she can see her brother sitting in the chair next to her. He died many years ago, and I beleive that when she is ready, she will join them and the pain will be over. My prayers are with you and your family. I wish you the best and while it gets hard sometimes, you just have to keep on keeping on and looking forward.

[MyExpWork]

I just lost my grandfather to cancer in October. He too was at UCLA. Chemo did not work. He spent his last month alive at UCLA.

I feel for you. He was also, the strongest man I knew and told be just days before he died "I am going to fight this, I have not given up and I will get better."

It was tough. Hang in there.

Brian

[spindlecone]

Ron, do not downplay bladder cancer, hopefully your cured of it. glfredrick said it best I think. as we age we shall all face family and friends demise, my wife and I have no parents left, they died in there 80s, thats cool, my wife and I are goin on 60, no parents, no grandparents, aunts or uncles, what we have know are children in there 30s, grandchildren and a whole slew of new little friends.
My Wife and I have worked in the medical prof all our lives as care givers, we have both cared for 100s of patients that have died, granted haveing aperson close to you die is a horrible experiance.
But if one can realize that death is a natural progression of the way life is meant to be and believe as has been said on many venues.
Yor not leaving home, your going home, it all sort of comes together

[SoBeLover]

My prayers are with you and your family also.

[DuaneD]

May peace and the Lord be with you.

[glfredrick]

Good comments spindlecone...

There are lots of people to be lifted up in prayer on this board...

And, like you, my profession places me with people that are dying. It is a regular, albeit difficult, part of life. Our greif is usually for ourselves and our losses. Our loved ones are at rest - sometimes finally - after long days of suffering.

Best we can do is be there for them and for us... Family definately helps when all bets are off - and it is usually the only thing left.

By the way - something to think about for everyone reading this thread...

I have yet to meet the man or woman that is on death's door that has said, "I sure am sorry for spending all that time with my family." Instead, what I usually hear is a very remorseful, "If I had it all over to do again, I would place my family above my work, my pastimes, everything... THEY are what really counts!"

[SHISVX]

wow, that is a really hard thing to go through. that really sucks, actually. i am really sorry to hear about the bad news. i just lost my grandfather a few weeks ago, he suffered a major heart attack during physical therapy, after he had broken his left hip.

your family is in my prayers

Kelli

[snocross1985]

Originally Posted by glfredrick

I have yet to meet the man or woman that is on death's door that has said, "I sure am sorry for spending all that time with my family." Instead, what I usually hear is a very remorseful, "If I had it all over to do again, I would place my family above my work, my pastimes, everything... THEY are what really counts!"

Amen