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My Wife is in the hospital in the worst way...

Smitty500mag
June, my wife, recently had left shoulder replacement but that wasn't the source of her pain. I took her to the emergency room in Fayetteville, GA on Monday due to the pain in her neck and shoulders getting worse everyday. After doing MRI's, CAT scans and a biopsy they've determined she has upper spine cancer and lung cancer and now have moved her to a hospital in Atlanta. She's always been in good health and now we're hit with this news and it was the most shocking thing we've ever experienced. 

To make matters worse I can't be with her because of the virus. I'm having to sit at home and talk to her and the doctors by phone. When she calls crying over the pain it's about more than I can handle. Knowing she lying there suffering and there's nothing I can do about it is the worse thing I've ever had to deal with. I was able to stay with her in the hospital room from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM at the hospital in Fayetteville for 3 days but since they moved her to Atlanta yesterday I can't visit her at all.

She is supposed to have surgery on her neck this Sunday morning. The doctor said this surgery will take 8 or 9 hours. Her C 2 vertebrae is deteriorated and putting pressure on the spine and it appears there's a tumor in the C3 vertebrae that's destroying it also. The doctor is concerned about having good bones to attached the rods and screws to in order to support the neck to get the pressure off of her spine which is causing the pain. I asked him about not having the surgery and doing the radiation treatment first and then doing the surgery and he said the radiation treatment will damage the tissue to where they couldn't do the surgery. He said she'll have to wait about 4 weeks before the radiation and chemo treatments can be started after the surgery. 

I've talked to 3 or 4 different doctors today. It looks like it's going to be a long ordeal to recovery but they said her being in such good health otherwise that she has a good chance of making a recovery.

June and I have been together since we were just kids, she's 69 and I'm 71.  If she goes I don't think I'll be able to continue without her.

If anyone feels like saying a prayer for her it will be appreciated. 

 
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Comments

166 comments

Date Votes
  • thunderbolt
    Prayer sent in Jesus' holy name.
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  • ni hao
    Praying for her and the family. God bless you both! 
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  • Smitty500mag
    It's been 4 days since my last update. We've been home from the hospital now for 4 days. Yesterday was a nerve racking day for us. We visited the pain clinic for the first time. Getting in the car with the brace that attaches around her waist and up her chest to the brace around her neck was not easy and it's painful. Every bump in the road hurts her.

    We were very afraid that the doctor would not give her the same meds that she's been taking in the hospital but it appears we're going to be OK on that. I suppose since the cancer in her lungs and spine is stage 4 along with all the surgery and strokes she's had that they're being more understanding about pain meds and writing prescriptions but they still won't write anything until the last prescription is almost completely used up which means if the pharmacy doesn't have it in stock they have to order it and that'll really be cutting it close. I was sweating it yesterday when I was down to her last blood thinner injection and by the grace of God the Fed-X truck showed up with the remainder of the prescription that they were short on when we left the hospital on Thursday. I now have 3 more weeks of the injections to give her before I have to start worrying about the pharmacies being out of it and have to order it again. 

    Last night about broke my heart. June had a nightmare that the brace around her neck was tightening up and trying to choke her to death. I sleep in the recliner beside her hospital bed in the living room and she woke me up in a fright crying for me to save her. I took the brace completely loose but couldn't get her to quit shaking and crying. It about scared her to death and I wasn't far behind. I finally got her to take half of one of her sleeping pills and gave her another dose of pain meds and she finally calmed down some. She's been a nervous wreck since and so have I. I know it's only going to get worse once she starts her radiation treatments next week. 

    Going out of the house has really been a problem to get anything. I can't leave her alone long for fear she'll have something happen where she'll need me and start trying to get out of bed on her own which would be a diester because she would fall.

    I went to the store a couple of days ago and even though I made a list I still didn't get everything I went for because I couldn't find some of it and I was in a hurry to get back home. I've got to go back to the pain clinic on Monday to pick up her pain meds prescriptions because she had to much left over from the hospital for them to write anymore yesterday. She was trying to not take so much pain meds so she wouldn't run out and that only made things worse. I should have taken what she had remaining in the bottles out before we went to the doctor so they would have written the prescription then instead of me having to go back. At least they let me come back and didn't make June return herself. The doctor said normally the patient has to return for the pain meds. How would someone that can't get out of bed at all return?? 

    Well that's the kind of things we're dealing with and there's no relief in sight.  

    After 4 days we received a call from home healthcare this morning that said a nurse was supposed to call us this afternoon to arrange coming to our house tomorrow. I don't know what that'll involve? I ask if they would be taking blood samples because I'm worried that somethings might be off with her blood but the person that called didn't know any details. It's almost 5:00 PM now and no phone call. Well just as I typed that the phone rang. The nurse called and she's going to check on blood testing for tomorrow and call back to set up the time later. Nothing else has worked out very well so this probably won't either.

    Thanks again everyone for the prayers and well wishes. If things continue as they have I'll be the one they'll be sending the men in white uniforms for with the straight jacket. 
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  • mohawk600
    Hang in there Smitty.......it's the only thing you can do. I feel for you as a caretaker........I saw my mom go through it with my dad's cancer back in the 80's when I was a 10 y.o. kid. I didn't get it back then..........but I recognize now how strong she was for him. June is counting on you to be there for her and I know you will be.
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  • susie

    Smitty, you both continue to be in my prayers. Yep, the pain med usage is a conundrum. You think the docs will frown on use, but they actually frown on non use when it is prescribed. They will suspect hoarding for selling. Its best to use it as prescribed. If she isn't taking it they will decrease dosage or amount.

    My late husband found some relief with Marinol for pain, anxiety, and nausea. It is legal in all 50 states even if medical Marijuana isn't. I have been in your shoes so to speak. You must take care of yourself or you will be of no use to your bride.

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  • mohawk600
    I will second Marionol.............however, if you can't get Marinol............smoking some high grade stuff works too. If a patient is terminal........let them smoke it or eat it in properly prepared edibles.
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  • RobOz

    Sending prayers. Don't be shy of taking help from friends, family and neighbors.

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  • Gregor62
    Hang tough Greg. You are in my  prayers every day. Such a tough battle you are dealing with. God bless you and your family.
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  • KenK/84Bravo

    Hate to hear of your continued difficulties. Hang in there Greg. You and June both have an awful lot of good folk keeping you in our thoughts and Prayers. (On a daily basis.)

    -Ken-

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  • mogley98
    Man I feel so terrible that you all are going through so much. Thanks for taking the time to update us and sharing, if nothing else you have a lot of people praying and thinking of you both.
    Sadly most of us will never understand the toll that health issues takes on individuals and families. I know it is a eye opener for me. God Bless you both

    Bill
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  • kimi
    Smitty, our prayers continue for you and June.  I really do admire June's spirit and your devotion to her.  
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  • Old-Colts
    Thank you for the update; it lets us know how we can specifically pray for you and June! Prayers continue!
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  • Ambrose
    I am so sorry about June.  As has been said, give Hospice a call.  I am one who has had the misfortune of having to enroll my late wife.  They are great--among other things, they will deliver needed meds directly to your door.  That alone will be considerable help to you; saving your running around and waiting, leaving June alone.  My prayers are with you.  I know you suffer along with June
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  • armilite
    Prayers sent from here.
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  • Smitty500mag
    I know you all are right about hospice but I dare not mention it where June could hear it or know that I've contacted them. She's determined to fight this and if I even say the word hospice I know she would give up immediately. I can't do it. As long as she's willing to fight I'm going to fight with her until the very end. 

    Again I want to say thanks to everyone for their prayers and caring thoughts. Radiation treatments are to begin on Wed. of this week but it'll take a miracle to get us out of this and we keep praying for the miracle. 
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  • jimdeere
    Never give up. Miracles happen every day but you and June will beat it by shear determination and overwhelming will.
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