I regret to inform you that my brother entered hospice this week.
I regret to inform you that my brother entered hospice this week.
Actually, he has been an in-home hospice patient since this all started 6 months ago. But he has become so weak over the last 3 weeks that he can't walk, so he was admitted as an in-patient. Thankfully, he is not in pain. He has some minor pain in his back from a tumor near his kidney, but that's about it. With his brain tumors, he has periods of mental clarity and mental confusion and his speech aphasia waxes and wanes, being especially bad when he is tired or under stress. He still hasn't given up the fight– he says that he intends to regain his strength in hospice so he can go home again. But the doctors say that would be a medical miracle. On the other hand, part of him understands the reality of his prognosis, which is why he sold his car and (finally!) made out a will last week.
When he was first diagnosed in June, he had tumors all over his body including his brain. We were told that he had 4-8 weeks to live. Due to his tremendous will and the availability of Zelboraf and Cyberknife, he had 6 months of a good quality of life. That gave my brother, as well as the rest of the family, time to emotionally adjust to this devestating diagnosis, to make legal and financial plans, and to enjoy some good times together. We will be forever grateful for that.
I want to thank all of you for your help, advice, support, and encouragement over these months. Much as I love my family and friends, I didn't want to overburden them with my problems and my concerns. But you folks understnad the all-consuming nature of this disease and our desperate efforts to "beat the beast". Thank you for being here.
.
