My Father
by Celeste
(Salinas, CA)
Hi
I just would like to share the story of my father. He is 66 years old and for the past years he was so "religiously" keen on his medical check up. He does it REGULARLY, checks his sugar, cholesterol etc..., you name it.
Except we forgot colonoscopy. It was some time this year; the month of June, that he started to complain having minor stomach pain. The doctor said he must have gastritis so he prescribed antacid.. dad said it helped ease and soothe the pain.
Later, around June 24 or 25 this year, he was again worried that the pain didn't go away and he was constipated. So he went to the doctor again and insisted that he should do a thorough check on him.
That's when they did the colonoscopy procedure. It was so painful for me to know he had to go through such a procedure because I know very well that my dad is scared of needles, hospitals and most of all doctors.
But he was really determined to have it checked and know the cause of pain.
That is when the doctor found out that the obstruction was caused by a tumor. So they decided to send my dad to CEBU, PHILIPPINES since he can be taken care of there rather than in the province(my dad is from the Philippines).
Two days after, the time came to face our worst fear! - the tumor was sucessfully removed, surgeon said based on the size, it looks like it has been there for two years!
We were told that "maybe" its on stage 4!
I couldn't believe it ..here was my dad, so conscientious about his health, never missed a single doctor appointment even if he is scared, diagnosed with stage 4 cancer...
That's the longest 24 hrs I experienced in my entire life...
I'm telling my fathers story so that we can save a life. Always ask for a second opinion and tell the doctor what you are feeling. Never get scared.
There was no complication in my dads surgery. We approached another doctor, an oncologist, to give us advice. We were told that out of the 16 lymph nodes found in the tumor, only 2 came out positive with cancer cells. So my dad will have to undergo chemotherapy, but we have to wait for one month after his surgery.
For me, through constant PRAYING, GOOD eating habits, positive outlook in life and with the help of wonderful doctors, we can go through with this crisis we are facing.
It pains me cause here I am, taking care of elderly patients, as a caregiver. Yet I can't be with my dad for the time he needed me most...
Never did I miss a single day without checking up on him,at least in my own little way I will let him know how much i care for him.
He is so determined to fight this battle... I hope we will be able to cope with everything that he has to go through. My father was always there for me when I needed him, and i want to be there for him when he needs me most.
We are also hoping that the cancer didn't spread to his other vital organs. As for now, I've been constantly checking up on him, he said he is eating good food, rich with antioxidants to prepare for chemo, he didn't have any loss of appetite so far.
I just HOPE we can be able to shoulder the cost of chemotherapy back home, considering that back in the PHILIPPINES, you don't have a good insurance which will help shoulder some of the medical cost. Its quite expensive. I don't even know if we can afford the whole treatment .. but we STRONGLY believe in GOD .. that HE will provide and there will always be a way.
PLS do your part in saving a LIFE ...
Talk to your doctor, let him/her know if you have family history of cancer.
