Thanks for all your prayers

Hey guys, this is Amy blogging as April is here in town helping us. So I am closer to my computer. A lot has happend since Wednesday. Late Wednesday afternoon the thoraxiac (lung) surgeon came in and said that all the doctors discussed it and surgury was the best option to repair his lung. Sugery being, removing the top portion of his lope that has the leak. However the doctor said that it would be very rough surgery and that Daddy would be in a lot of pain afterward and would probably have to be in ICU for a long time. He stays so weak with being malnourised, having the mold infection, and of course the cancer. But, the surgeon told him the decision was his to make. If he wanted the surgery she would do it. Daddy said he would think about it overnight. Then two minutes after she left his physician came in. She was very blunt and told us that they had done all they could do for Daddy. If he opted for the surgery it would not improve his qualtiy of life or remove any of the cancer. And that if he wated to spend qualtiy time with his family she would send him home with Hospice. She thinks he has about two months. So obviousily Wednesday night was very rough. Ralph Cobb was there and we all gathered round Daddy and said a prayer. Thursday morning both doctors came back and wanted to know what Daddy's decision was. But, of course he had not made up his mind. Well around lunch or so the palletive doctor came in or Home Health doctor and asked Daddy what was his main goal in this point in his life? And of course he said to spend time with his family then he said you need to go home and spend what time you have left with your family. He did say no doctor can tell you how long you have to live, that was in God's hand. But if he had to guess he said weeks to months. We did however get a consult with the neurosurgeon for Daddy's back. As we were hoping that the turmor that is on his 9th vertebrae could be removed and take some pressure off of his spinal cord allowing less weakness in his legs. Because as of now he cannot stand by his self at all. But the neurosurgeon did not much good news either. He described a very painfull sugery full of pins and rods and much recovery time. His big problem was that he could not operate on Daddy with a tube in his chest, so the lung surgery would have to come first. And then after the back surgery there was no guarntee that it would make any difference at all. So at this point Daddy will be coming home with Hospice but the replacement of his chest tube will not be still Sunday. Mama said they started putting in his pic line for the IV about an hour ago. They told her to come back in an hour, so hopefully it is over by now. Kim and April were at home waiting for Hospice to come but as of yet, still not hospice. So who knows when they will show up, but we have calls in the VA office and the Smithfield office trying to figure out what is going on.

Everybody in the neighborhood got together and put up a ramp for Daddy so when he got home we could get him in and out of the house easier. We hope he will be able to get some fresh air and see his cows everyday. There really is much going on with him we don't want him to be in pain. But we told him from the begining that what ever decision he made we would stick by. He just has so much working against him. the mold he will never get rid of. As the pocket cavity around the tumor or wherever it is stays damp and moist, the perfect conditions for mold. So without removing hte tumor and the pocket cavity the mold will not go away. He is making himslef eat, as he is not hungry. But if he does not have food in his stomach the pain medication makes him do funny things. Talk about crazy things, feed himslef pretend food, open doors, silly stuff like that. But if you question him he will tell you he is day dreaming and just to ingnore him. He is eating really good but I guess the cancer is just taking all his nutruents away.

Well, I am still at work and very busy. so I am sure there are several spelling mistakes in this blog but you all have the rundown for now. Oh, and Braelyn's finger was fractured but 20 minutes into the drive home he took off the bandage, as they did not put it on tight enough. So it will have to heal on its on. Daddy should be home Monday. thanks again for all your prayers!