| Author |
|
ksplat
Super Moderator
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 575
Location: Brisbane, Australia
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: Update on Mark |
 |
|
Gidday everyone!
Mark had an "unscheduled" MRI last week prior to seeing his neurosurgeon. The tumour hasn't changed & is very small only 1mm! The continued large doses of steroids have taken their toll on Mark though & the neuro has decided to reduce them right down, thank you God.
Mark has really gone downhill lately - we were all so worried, thinking the tumour was growing again! Mark's energy has been almost zero & after his family took him out for Breakfast the other morning he was so poorly that they didn't think they would be able to get him home again! Mark is also having trouble transferring himself into the car these days so Kath had to book a maxi-taxi (a wheelchair abled Cab) to take him to his appointment. He doesn't have the energy to do anything really. Thankfully, arrangements have been made for a Physiotherapist to come to their house twice a week to work on Mark. Mark gave up going to the hospital for rehab months ago, because by the time he had travelled there for treatment he was too exhausted to do any rehab!
Poor darling has copped most of the side effects (if not all) of the steroids, ie, weight gain, muscle wasting, depression, lethargy, we are soooo relieved that he will be reducing them. Hopefully this will make all the difference for him.
Thanks for your continued prayers & support. I am holding you all up in my prayers & thoughts.
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227
"Without Faith We Have Nothing" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Chief Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4440
Location: Tennessee
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
jenugl
Moderator
Joined: 24 Sep 2006
Posts: 198
Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:11 am Post subject: Re: My Bro has tumour regrowth....3rd craniotomy 19 Feb '08 |
|
|
Hi Angie, I was saddened to hear of Mark feeling so bad. I hope that things improve greatly once his meds are sorted out. I have been thinking of you all - especially while I was down in cold Brisbane. Hope you are all wearing your woolies.  My love to all of you.
_________________
Love to all. Jen.
_____________________________
Partner of GBMIV survivor - so far.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9502 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
ksplat
Super Moderator
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 575
Location: Brisbane, Australia
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: An update |
|
|
I’ve spent the last 2 weekends with my Bro & just this last weekend I can’t believe the deterioration in him! Mark was admitted to hospital in the middle of last week to have some issues sorted out. Mainly his bowel problem, he has no regularity & cycles between constipation & diarrhoea. Because of his lack of mobility the muscles in his stomach & abdomen don’t work anymore & his wife has been using a hoist at home to move him from bed to shower to chair, etc.
Mark’s “short term” memory is SHOT & since he’s been in hospital he’s had lots of confusion, aggression to family & staff (Kath is copping the most of it as she is closest to Mark) & emotion. Mark also says he’s having hallucinations. He was taken for a walk outside the hospital on Saturday in his wheelchair & believed a car was driving onto the sidewalk & was going to run into him.
The surgeon has told Mark & Kath that all this is part of his illness & he believes Mark’s health will be on a slow decline from here, although the Dr couldn’t say how long Mark has. The Dr also said the steroids that Mark has been on have helped his survival up to this point. I still don’t know why they are reducing the steroids if that’s the case? The surgeon has also suggested to Kath that she should be thinking about putting Mark into full-time care. Kath told the Dr No, as this would kill Mark!
Kath told my Mum & I that Mark was in hospital to give her a break so we think she must have had a bit of a “meltdown” last week, although she doesn’t talk to us about her problems we can understand & empathise with her situation. It was evident to us when we saw how Mark was treating her on the weekend. Mark is not an angry man it is the tumour & the illness that has changed who he is. One of the nurses at the hospital who has tended to Mark the last 5 times he has been in there said to Mum that Mark is a “placid” man!
We shared some real quality time with Mark over the weekend & y’day arvo my Sis, my Mum & I all went to visit him. Mark’s 2 daughters were there & we really had a lot of laughs about funny moments in our lives (particularly some brilliant stories from our Mum), we didn’t realise how loud we had become with our laughing until a hospital visitor in another room came & closed our door. I said she was the “fun police” & we cracked up all over again.
Last Friday when I had a call from my Mum & Sis to let me know how bad Mark was I really started to freak out about the “Album” I’m doing for Mark & worried that Mark wouldn’t get to see it (because I’m still working on it). So I took the pages down with me that I had done & on Sat arvo asked him if he would like to look at some photos? He said yes so I plonked them down in his lap & produced a magnifying sheet (his vision is also impaired because of the tumour). We got through about 6 pages when I looked down at him & the tears were flowing freely. I felt awful that I had upset him but he grabbed me & pulled me down to him for a hug & told me how much he loved me & said the pages I had done were “beautiful”. I quickly gathered them up & told him I would leave them with him until Sunday to look through in his own time. When I was about to leave yesterday to drive back to Brisbane I asked him if I could take the pages back with me so I could continue on his album. He said I had to leave them there so he could “show them off”.
I love my Brother so much it hurts, I pray that he will be brave & not afraid of what is to come. I pray that we will be strong enough to accept & I pray for the courage to endure. Bye for now & my prayers & thoughts go out to you all who are on this journey.
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227
"Without Faith We Have Nothing" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Mama 2 2
Experienced user
Joined: 29 Nov 2007
Posts: 82
Location: Sunshine Coast, BC
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: My Bro has tumour regrowth....3rd craniotomy 19 Feb '08 |
|
|
Oh Angie, my heart goes out to you, to Mark, and to your whole family.
I'm welled up with tears reading your post - both happy and sad - to hear of his decline, but happy to hear that you are all still able to sit and have a good laugh now and then, and of how your album touched his heart. Your love for your bro is so clear and I can see he values it so much too.
I'm SO sorry to hear how he has declined though. I can't even express it as I always look forward to your posts to hear how he's doing - it feels like I know you even though you are half a world away. It's just heartbreaking.
I certainly admire you for your courage and willingness to share all that you are going through. It really helps to not feel so alone - everyone here has such good intentions and support, but it's so hard when they don't really understand as well as people on this forum do, and you are always there with a great supportive and helpful posts.
Take care, and I'm sending love and support your way - all the way from Canada!
~C~
_________________
~Life's too sweet to be bitter~
Our Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about7982.html
www.caringbridge.org/visit/eliasminatsis |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
ksplat
Super Moderator
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 575
Location: Brisbane, Australia
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: Update on Mark |
|
|
My Bro’s condition deteriorated rapidly about 8 days ago after he was admitted to hospital to have a “bowel” problem sorted out. He has been on regular morphine since last Tues & hasn’t really eaten anything since last Tues night. He is taking very little in fluids (although I fed him a small tub of yogurt yesterday), & yesterday the medical staff put a fluid line in to his arm. I went to the GC last Wed night & returned home yesterday. Mark started suffering serious pain from headaches last Tues which is when the regular morphine started. He has had moments & periods of lucidity, but as the days roll on you can see small changes in his overall condition. The Dr & nurses cannot or will not say how long Mark has left so we take each day as it comes, & make the most of each day we get to spend with him.
Over the past few days through the sadness & tears we have shared many “light & happy” moments with Mark. His amazing sense of humour is still with him & his “one liners” & “wisecracks” have held us all up during this difficult time. He is aware of people being around & can share some small conversations with us, but mostly he’s sleepy. We’re told he’s being kept comfortable & for that we are thankful.
Please keep up your prayers for Mark.
cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227
"Without Faith We Have Nothing" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
tamayles
Regular
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 23
Location: South Australia
|
| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: Re: My Bro has tumour regrowth....3rd craniotomy 19 Feb '08 |
|
|
My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
My Dad's tumor has started to regrow, and his only option is surgery now.
With love
Tam |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
Search 
Email Digests
Register to post
Profile 
Check private messages 
Log in
What is this ?
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here. All content and posts are copyright.
. I am not sure if the tumor is growing since the MRI should no change. But then, I cannot explain why he is so weak either.
