Just got home from the MD Anderson Proton Radiation Center… Dad has 3 more treatments of proton radiation. Before Dad went in for his radiation tonight, we heard the gong sound. For those who don’t know, on your last day of treatment, you can ring a gong for the pride and joy that you graduated from radiation. Plus, you get a completion certificate.
Dad gets to ring the gong on Friday, April 5, 2013 around 10pm. I will make sure to post pictures and video when he rings the gong.
We meet all kinds of people here at the proton radiation center. We have met several families that there love ones also has esophagus cancer, just like Dad. Though, there are also families we have meet that have other types of cancers. There is this one family I want yall to pray for. His name is Korbin, who is an 15yr old from Elk City, Oklahoma. He was diagnosed with an inoperable glioma brain tumor.
Yesterday (Monday, April 1, 2013) was Korbin’s last radiation treatment. The doctor told him this past week, this week and next week will be his hardest for him since he will have all the radiation in him. I ask to pray for Korbin. K4K
Here is a website you can follow: http://www.facebook.com/PrayForKorbin
From the Cunningham family, Happy Easter!!!
The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name. Luke 24:46-47
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The people I (Adam) work with at NASA Johnson Space Center are very supportive and understanding in regards to Dad’s health. The other day Thursday, March 28, 2013, Jimmie my one supervisor sent this email out to everyone on the team.
We have a team member who has some family issues going on with health so if some adjustments need to be made during the day and throughout be flexible.
Of course, everyone knows who that team member is, but it was very nice of him mentioning this to the team. Thank you Jimmie. I also want to thank everyone on the ACES migration team I work with, especially Baron who is the other head tech. I think his exact words to me was, “You got take care of your pop, he is your pop. If for some reason you need to take time off, just let me know.” Its so good to know my co-workers at NASA JSC got my back. 🙂
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- Due the nature Dennis was in the hospital from March 24-30, 2013, EMS came and transported him to the proton radiation center couple blocks down from the hospital. They did this 4 times while he was in the hospital.
Late last night, Dad’s temp spiked to 103 temp. The doctors at MD Anderson did a complete work up of test including a full body CT to see if they can find any type of infection. The CT shows that he has a blood clot in his lower lung. So, he has to get 1 shot twice a day in the stomach to resolve this issue. I would venture to say he will be in the hospital for at least a good week.
Dad did not have his chemo nor did he have his proton radiation done today. Good news is that Dad’s blood pressure and pulse seems to be stabilized. They have been pumping tons of fluids and antibiotics in to him like crazy. However, his temp is still going up and down. He didn’t get sick today like he did yesterday, but it did come up. Luckily, Dad was able to keep it down.
At this time, what I am about to say is unofficial and please keep this in mind that things are still developing…
There is an unofficial report that Dad has an infection in his chemo port. Plus, according to the X-rays from today, the tubing from his port has moved across his chest and into a small vein versus his major vein. The doctors do not like how the tubing has moved like that. Meaning, they will most likely remove his chemo port… a procedure that generally takes about an hour to complete. The reason why I am saying that this is unofficial because the chemo doctor have not mention anything about removing the port to Dad or the rest of the family… we found out by a medical tech who is on the IV team, who would be doing the port removal procedure. Plus, there are no official orders that have been written up for the port removal procedure as of yet. Now, this is supposed to be Dad’s last week of chemo until after the results from PET Scan and Endoscopy has been performed. We are thinking they are going to skip this week’s chemo treatment.
In regards to his proton radiation, Dad was schedule to get his radiation done tonight, but MD Anderson rescheduled his radiation for today only. His is currently scheduled to receive his radiation done tomorrow night at 7:00 PM, which pushed his last day of radiation until April 5, 2013 at 7:00pm.
Dennis’s blood pressure, pulse, and temp went up and down all day… especially his blood pressure and temp. So, we took him to MD Anderson ER.
Dad got sick little bit ago. It was red / slimy fluids and none of his medication or his food is red color. We called the MD Anderson on-call doctor and it happens to be Dad’s one doctor. Mom explained everything to the doctor. The doctor is concern, but at this current point, it is understandable. Dad’s esophagus is “very very raw” and would only take a few drops of blood to make it a red color. Plus, since it was red / slimy fluids and not just straight blood, everything is OK for now.
Now, the doctor did tell us what to look for such as him continuing getting sick, high fever, low blood pressure or black stools, we will be going to the MD Anderson ER. Mom is going to continue to take Dad’s blood pressure, but it is borderline on having to take him to the ER.
Dad feels like crap and is trying to rest in his lounger.
Have a blessed Palm Sunday.
For about a week now, Dad has been getting his nutrients through his feeding tube only. He is no longer eating by mouth. In fact, he can barely swallow his medication. The doctors is stressing to him that he needs to try to continue to swallow because those muscles will actually forget how to function and that means a longer recovery for dad in regards him eating by mouth again.
I am sitting there eating supper tonight and Dad is sitting across helpless. The food smelled great, but he couldn’t eat it… it made me sad. The radiation may end on April 4th, but Dad has to wing himself back onto solid foods which will take at least 2-3 weeks or more afterwards.
As far as Dad, he is feeling really lousy the past couple days and I have a gut feeling he is going to get worst. Please keep in your prayers.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dad has requested all donations be giving to Relay For Life of Alvin/Manvel. We are “Team C”. Our goal is to raise $1,000 by Friday, April 12, 2013. We have less than 22 days before the big event!!!
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