#26861 10-17-2004 12:09 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | First of all, let me state that we live in a sparsely populated rural area in Northeast Mississippi. This morning around 10am I received a frantic, panic strickened phone call from the wife of my dear friend and neighbor, Gary Parker. I knew immediately, that something was terribly wrong. When I arrived, my friend was in deaths grip, his frantic wife screaming for me to do something, but there was nothing I could do but hold my friend in my arms until he crossed over into a land where there is no pain or suffering. Gary had instructed me and his wife that he did not want to be resusitated, let him go, when the time came.
Gary has been fighting cancer in one form or another since 1985, he is a champion. He is now at peaceful rest in the arms of God. I will miss Gary, but I am glad he is no longer suffering.
Darrell
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
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#26862 10-17-2004 01:55 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Darrell,
So sorry to hear of your friend's passing, but it sounds like he suffered for quite a long time. I am sure you will miss him as a friend and neighbor. I will keep you and Gary's wife in my prayers for peace and comfort during this very difficult time.
God bless,
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#26863 10-17-2004 03:05 PM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 | Darrell, Your friend was not the only HERO there. There was another one there, YOU, yes you. You were are HERO to help your friend go into the hear after. You were a HERO to the frantic wife that made the call. You are a HERO to me because you were there in a time when most would have ran. So we bid Gary farewell, and we bid you a GREAT BIG THANK YOU. For being the kind of friend that we all hope to have. This had to be a very very hard day for you. For those who have never gone thru this experience, they have no idea, for those of us who have, God Bless You. You will become a new person, who will see things in a different light. What can I say to you.. God Bless you,,,Always Miss Vicki. | | |
#26864 10-18-2004 03:12 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Darrell, God Bless You, I am sooo glad you were there for Gary. Vicki summed it up beautifully! You too are a hero...Love, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#26865 10-18-2004 07:00 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Darrell,
I am so sorry you had to go through this but as Miss Vicki says, your friend was so fortunate that you were there when he and his wife needed it most. God Bless You, my friend!! Your rewards in the next life will be great.
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
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#26866 10-26-2004 04:22 PM | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 15 Member | | Member
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 15 | God bless you for being there for your friend and his wife when they needed you the most. I am sorry for your loss.
Cecelia | | |
#26867 10-27-2004 02:30 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | God loves you, Darrell. How strong you were to answer that call.
Nicki, wife of Thomas
dx July 2004, SCC, Stage 4 Tonsil. Tx begun 8/4/04. Cisplatin/Xeloda x 4; IMRT 7 wks, 8/7 - 10/25/04 Modified Radical Dissection (right), Selective Dissection (Left) 12/10/04.
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#26868 10-27-2004 04:44 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Darrell
My condolences on the death of your friend, how blessed he was to go in the arms of those who loved him.
Take care
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#26869 10-27-2004 12:59 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 | hey Darrell,
it takes a real person to do what you did for Gary and his wife. i'm at a loss for words.
cu,
larryb | | |
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