[eb12]

My Dad...

by eb12 on Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:44 pm

I am here to share this story for all of the caregivers of family members with multiple myeloma. It has been almost 2 weeks since my dad passed away from this cancer. We are 1st generation Americans and don't really have adequate medical records for family history. My father was not a candidate for chemotherapy. He was diagnosed and we were told 6 months but sadly he passed 6 weeks from when we sat with his care team at the hospital. We found these forums helpful in "what to expect" and this is what brings me here today. So what were the signs; tiredness, fatigue and loss of mobility in his legs prompted the hospital visit and stay. Elevated protein, anemia, renal failure and the fact that the protein could not be lowered prompted the biopsy. Then came the sad news, cancer...a cancer we never heard of, knew little about...and then the questions, what, how, when and why??? He was in the hospital a year prior and it wasn't there. So what next? We vowed to take care of my dad at home until we knew we couldn't anymore. This is what happened during those final weeks, we had to take him back to the hospital for shortness of breath, they told us the last time he went for oxygen and platelets that there was nothing more they could do for him...never felt so helpless in our lives. It came fast...bleeding in mouth and nose, shortness of breath, confusion, we rushed him to hospice because we felt we were doing more harm than good at home. It was only 2 and a half day in hospice and he passed. He stopped eating that week and had a fever prior to passing. It was the saddest day of our lives. When I tell this life story I am telling you of a cancer that is swift, agressive and shows no mercy. My father was a fighter! He never showed pain and kept his fighting spirit even though we knew the clock was ticking. I came here to share my story because I feel others need to know. I love my father and always will, I miss him every day...he was 63.

[Anonymous]

Re: My Dad...

by Anonymous on Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:14 am

I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. I lost my dad (he was not a myeloma patient) in July of this year, so I totally understand your pain. I too love and miss my dad so very much:-(
Condolences to you and your family.
Regards
Sharyn

[LibbyC]

Re: My Dad...

by LibbyC on Sat Dec 08, 2012 9:59 pm

I am sorry for your loss, my condolences to your family. My dad died when he was 62 (heart attack) - that was 21 years ago - and there are still things that I would love to show him.

Regards,
Libby