Thank you all. I have just returned from Houston. My sister, who is down there, called Thursday and said the doctor said he might not make it through the night, or he might have a week, so my family packed up and went. His main doctor said he looked great, but my sister kept taking him to the pain clinic until finally a receptionist, seeing him holding his head and the pain he was in, said, "I'm getting him a doctor now." It seems his main doctor had not "had time" to look at David's cat scans from last month. Everything looked okay inside so the doc wasn't worried about it. The pain doctor that saw him pulled it right up on the computer and said the cancer was growing up his throat and had been absorbed into the tissue of his skin (this test was done on April 21) and immideately put David in the pallitive care unit and began trying to relieve his pain. While I am thankful for the care he is receiving at this top-notch facility, if the doctor would have just taken 10 seconds to look at the results of last month's test we could have saved David the horrible pain he has experienced this past month and he would have a little more time to prepare -though knowing David he would have waited until the last minute anyway. It's probably easier on him this way. The counselors have been in and talked to his wife and daughter. It's difficult for his wife, but the little girl is holding up pretty well. My sister's two little girls are there with them and they keep the little one occupied and bring smiles to David's day with hugs and kisses for their "Uncle Boo". I will keep you posted as I can.
My husband, son and I just returned from Houston last night (They thought they would be sending him home today, but now that's been delayed). He is looking well but has been unable to sleep for three days. (They said the steriods and other medication that have him on is inhibiting sleep). They are hoping to have him stablized enough to send home Tuesday. Fortunately my brother has no problem with hospice coming in and his doctor ha refused to release him until that is in place anyway. I feel they will be a valuable asset. David wrote me a note while I was there that said, "Well, this kind of snuck up on us. I need to write a will." (Something I've been trying to get him to do since last June.) Those few words give me the hope that he is coming to terms with what is happening. We are having friends, and those just wanting to express their wishes, send emails to my sister's email address. She checks it several times a day and prints out messages to take to him. If anyone would like to do that the address is [email protected]
Thank you for your caring, your thoughts and prayers and the sharing of your time to express those things to me and offer assistance and guidance.
Bless you all,
Tonya