Jen,

I agree with what Gary is telling you. Before you embark on this unknown journey, get the loose ends tied up. For example, we found out that although we are married, because the house deed and mortgage was in my name solely, if anything happened to me, my wife would not necessarily get to stay in the house. This was a shocker and before I started treatment, we refinanced the house, updated my will, power of attorney, advanced directives, etc. I also found out that a copy of your advanced directives are supposed to be kept in the glove compartment of your car in case you are in a car wreck. With all the legal stuff done, it was just one less thing to worry about plus it gives you the opportunity to discuss some of the issues we tend to wait until it is too late to discuss.

Kudos to you for all you are thinking about right now!

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023