The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Prayer Requests => Topic started by: crusader rabbit on June 27, 2012, 10:37:06 AM
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A close friend of mine, Mike from St. Petersburg, just found out he has a cancerous mass on his kidney.
Mike has recently gone through the loss of his wife of more than 40 years, and his spirits were already pretty far down the drain.
They both awoke one morning, Nancy said she needed some sort of electrolytic sports-type drink because she wasn't feeling well. Mike got her what they had left in the house and Nancy said she'd like a little more. Good old Mike made a quick trip to the store--no more than 20 minutes--and when he returned, Nancy was already growing cold.
Now, he is faced with this.
Mike is a member of Gun Owners of America, has a carry permit, and is an all-around good guy. Haz knows him and had the priviledge of helping him get a nice little Russian sidearm for his very own.
Mike goes in for a PETSCAN today, and surgery the first of next week. Docs are expressing "guarded optimism." But that's just another way of saying "we just don't know."
I know the power of prayer, and I am asking each of you to put Mike in the list.
Put me on there, too, please. Between losing Lady Haz, her best friend Cathy, then Nancy, and my own Mom riddled with Alzheimers, I am really feeling the burden.
Thanks, all,
Crusader Rabbit
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You got it Crusader.
Life Sucks sometimes and way to often....but I've considered all the options and have concluded that it is still the best game in town.
It also seems like you gotta bounce a few times on the bottom before things start moving up again. Hang in there and take care.
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God Bless your friend and his family!
We'll light one more candle tonight...
Tim and Susan...
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My Dad had that and they wound up removing one kidney.
The only side effect he has noticed in the last 10 years is that, being a heavy coffee drinker, he spends about twice as much time in the bathroom.
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Prayers that it is contained within the kidney.
My uncle had the same thing nine years ago and had one removed, and just last week a lady from my church had a kidney removed due to cancer. My uncle had no further treatment for that problem and doctors say the lady will not need treatment either.
Short of God's healing hand intervening, I pray for the best case scenario the the surgery is successful and that no further treatment is necessary after surgery.
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Prayers and all the best wishes,
Chuck
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We're on it...
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Prayers sent.
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DAMN!
Count on it, Brother.
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Prayers go with ya CR.
God Bless,
Richard
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Tell him to keep his spirits up, and yours too.b
Hopefully it hasn't spread or require dialysis ( it sucks, but the other option is much worse)
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Just got off the horn with Mike. The oncological surgeon had a long and hard look at the films and believes this cancer is of the type that can be fully treated by simply removing the mass.
Doc says Mike should not need chemo or radiation or anything more than the surgery--and that now is scheduled for July 16.
He still has another scan scheduled to confirm that nothing has spread, and we should know what that report is on Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime, the doc told Mike he would need a transfusion during surgery but specifically forbade Mike from contributing his own blood. Doc told him he is suffering from both low volume and low red blood count and cannot contribute to his own solution.
Fortunately, Mike has a lot of family and friends ready, willing and able to drain a pint.
So far, this is already starting to look like an answer to prayer, and I am deeply grateful to each one of you, my brothers, for your prayerful support.
Mike broke down as he was telling me the "good" news, so I know this experience has him overwhelmed. Please keep the prayers going.
Humbly,
Crusader
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Some uplifting news, indeed...... now is the time to remain steadfast in earnest prayer for all involved.
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Good news! I know you will keep us posted and we will keep up the prayers.
God Bless,
Richard
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Good indications... we'll hope for the best.
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Good to hear.
People don't realize all the things the kidneys are rresponsible for. I was told that kidney issues can cuase the low red blood count and other imbalances so have him watch the numbers closely. The biggest ones to watch from a kidney function standpoint is creatnine and BUN. They will probably spike but if there isn't any permenant damage shoud go back down with treatment.
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People don't realize all the things the kidneys are responsible for. I was told that kidney issues can cause the low red blood count and other imbalances so have him watch the numbers closely. The biggest ones to watch from a kidney function standpoint is creatnine and BUN. They will probably spike but if there isn't any permanent damage should go back down with treatment.
That is what caused Mike to have this checked. He was just feeling lousy tired and when they did a standard blood test they discovered he was very low on red blood cells. Most of his other levels were goofy, too.
Serves as a warning to us all: As we get older, pay attention to what the body is telling us! Stuff can be fixed if it's caught in time. Waiting until we are smiling from a silk-lined box is too late.
Thanks for the prayers, guys. I know they are doing a great deal of good.
Crusader
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Sometimes it just goes from bad to worse. Sometimes from worse to just awful.
Mike finally got his PETscan on Monday. He got the results on Wednesday and gave me a call. His first words were, "They cancelled my surgery for next Monday."
I thought that sounded okay until he followed up with the information that the PET revealed a metastasized tumor on his liver, another on his lower left lung, a couple around his colon, and some probables throughout the rest of his body.
Bunny and I are trying to coax our recalcitrant RV back to Florida. We made it from California to Texas, so far. It's another long story, but we had a major engine failure in Coachella, Ca, and we spent 12 weeks trying to get it fixed. We are still blowing smoke and leaking oil, but we are trying to nurse it back in time to say our goodbyes.
So, this is a revised prayer request: Please ask our Lord to give Mike comfort and peace. Ask Him to give Mike strength to face this and the courage to make that next step with grace and dignity.
And while you're at it, ask Him to lay His hand on this old Rabbit. As I write this, I have tears running down my cheeks. Not just for Mike, but also for Lady Haz, her friend Cathy, Mike's wife Nancy, and others, all who have gone home in the very recent past.
Thanks all,
Crusader
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I don't have the words but thankfully the Good Lord can hear what I'm thinking...
God Bless and safe journey CR.
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I don't have the words but thankfully the Good Lord can hear what I'm thinking...
God Bless and safe journey CR.
+1
I have a few good, long-time friends facing this also........ all got is prayers.....but, I got a plenty to go around.
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We will pray for "Final Healing" for Mike and family and as for my DRTV Family... meaning you and Bunny and the "Rabbitmobile" continued prayers.
God Bless,
Richard and Norma
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Tough news all around, Crusader. We've got your back.
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Get home soon Brother. You and I need to commiserate.
Stay safe, y'all are in my prayers and thoughts.
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CR, this just sucks. That being said, I firmly believe that God doesn't send us down rocky roads without providing strong shoes. May God give Mike peace and comfort, and may he be with you and Bunny throughout this ordeal, as well.
We're here for you, my brother.
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I thank the Lord for each and every one of you. I know prayer works and I deeply appreciate those prayers spoken on behalf of Mike and of course those for me and Bunny.
The situation has evolved to this: Mike has metastasized cancer throughout his body. There is no cure. And yet, the docs still want to subject him to a liver biopsy next Monday. I think I'll be the one to take him over to Moffit Cancer Center and bring him back after surgery. Maybe a little conversating with the docs will clear some of this for me.
Mike vacillates between understanding and acceptance/and total denial. One minute he is saying he wants to spend his final days seeing old friends and new places, and getting his affairs in order. The next minute is is talking about buying a new .22 semi rifle with a 3-9 x 32 on it. And all I can do is stand by him and try to be the friend I have always been.
We don't know how long Mike actually has. His cancer has invaded his bones, his liver, his lungs, his colon, and we don't know where else. None of it looks good. And there isn't a lot of time left. So, please keep the prayers going heavenward. We are seeking peace and a graceful transition for a really good man.
I don't know if I mentioned this, but Mike and Nancy were heavily involved in the medical foster-care program and provided loving care to hundreds of sick infants and toddlers over the years. Mike has been the very essence of generosity to those less fortunate and he has been the personification of what a good friend is all about to any of us fortunate enough to come into his contact zone.
Thanks again for the bended prayer bones.
Crusader
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Thanks for the update, CR....prayers will continue for all involved.
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Thanks for the update, CR....prayers will continue for all involved.
Ditto^^^^^
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Continued Prayers of comfort for Mike, and for your friendship and strength CR.
tw
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The challenges facing Mike have continued. The chemo caused blistering in his mouth, painful joints, general weakness and an increasingly poor lifestyle. It got so bad the oncologist decided to change things up to try and give Mike some relief. The entire protocol was abandoned for an entirely new group of meds.
The change has resulted in a couple of tics on the "good" side of the equation. First, Mike is feeling significantly better. He has modified his daily routine to accommodate his condition--for example, he takes his major meal at noon so he won't have so much indigestion when he wants to sleep at night. That has allowed him to get better rest, and that alone has improved his outlook. Second, he went in for another round of scans last Thursday. The results showed that many of the tumors are now measurably smaller.
It's certainly not a cure, and the oncologist has been forceful in cautioning against unwarranted hopeful feelings. Mike is still likely going to die sooner rather than later, but he may have a bit more comfortable time left than we first thought.
Your prayers have helped. I know this because I can see the positive results in my friend. I humbly ask you to keep the line open on Mike's behalf.
Gratefully,
Crusader
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CR, no one is ever taken off my list! Continued prayers.
God Bless,
Richard
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Good to hear that at least his quality of life, if not quantity, has improved....(and I can continue to pray for His hand in both).
Take care.
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Here's another brief update as we continue down the road. Mike had his chemo regimen totally changed since what he had been on was causing blisters in his mouth and on the soles of his feet. You have rarely seen a man more miserable. I worried that he would end this himself--but he hasn't.
The new chemo seems to have improved the lesion situation and at least slowed things down on the cancer front, although he gets really tired by mid afternoon and has developed an awful GERD to the point where he can't eat anything for several hours before he goes to bed. So, he takes his larger meal at noon and just has a small bite in the early evening. Compromises.
He remains in fairly significant pain most of the time only getting relief from some locally procured "herbal" remedies. I've not been much a a proponent of legalizing the stuff, but I have changed my mind after seeing how much it helps my pal. He has a very bad reaction to most of the pharmaceutical pain-killers, and cannot abide the opiates, so it's good to have something.
Mike doesn't have much strength, and cannot do all the things he would like to do. But, he is still able to do quite a lot.
Your prayers are helping. I thank God for each of you.
Crusader
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The symptoms your describing are exactly the ones used to justify medical pot .
I have heard first hand testimony from people I believe who were not drinkers, and never approved of recreational drug use that Pot did in fact help them .
It does not have to be smoked, it can be used in a butter, or cooked into Brownies or cookies .
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Continued prayers for Mike.
Richard and Norma
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Ever forward, CR... prayers for Mike to have the comfort and strength to fight the good fight....and for those who are working in support of him.
*Chemo is some nasty poison.
My wife can attest to the blisters..... among other side effects.
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Continued prayers for your friend CR!
Wherever he gets his relief should be welcomed! There is enough evidence to support the use of medicinal herbs of all varieties. The Big Guy up yonder saw fit to put it here, might as well make good use of His every miracle!
God Bless him!
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Tim, I have to agree with you.
Years back I worked with an old fellow from Tennessee who once said to me, "I don't know what all this fuss is about grass. Back home, we smoked something we called 'life everlasting' and it did us no harm. Just made us feel wonderful."
It helps Mike sleep, reduces his need for additional pain killers, and makes him feel somewhat better.
He tells me that so far it has not stimulated his appetite and he has lost another 17 pounds.
Whatever happened to the munchies that made people eat a package of Oreos and a half-gallon of ice-cream?
Your continued prays are cherished.
Crusader
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Sadly, the slow decline continues. Mike has had a number of food issues since all this started. Initially, the chemo that gave him blisters in his mouth and on his feet also gave him blisters or ulcers in his esophagus and his stomach, and that made it difficult/impossible to eat.
That changed with the chemo change and the blisters went away. But his appetite has not returned, and putting anything in his stomach causes immediate nausea. Yesterday morning, Mike managed a plate of scrambled eggs for breakfast. He ate nothing else until dinner when he managed another plate of scrambleds. The weight is just falling off him.
There is no joy in Mudville... Please keep us on the list.
Crusader
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At the top CR!
God Bless
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No need to ask!
God Bless,
Richard
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CR,
There is a great drug for the nausea called Emend. It is expensive, but works way better than the standard fare like Compazene and such. If he has insurance (and if it covers it) he might check into it. It was the only thing that got my wife through six month of treatment with no nausea at all.
Take care, and prayers continue.
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On Monday, Mike drove himself over to Moffit Cancer Center for a "routine" blood test. They kept him there while they got the results, then they walked him over to the cancer ward and checked him in.
The poison they have been feeding him under the guise of "chemo-therapy" has impacted his kidneys to the point he is now in early renal failure.
Yesterday, they gave him two units of blood and a round of dialysis. They also told Mike they planned to send him home the next day.
His daughter called me to let me know and to ask if I could go with her to retrieve Mike's car. It looks like I'm heading over with her today, Wednesday, to drive Mike's car back to his house.
We haven't yet had final confirmation on his discharge, but it looks like they figure they've done about all they can, and they need the room.
So, we are refining the prayer request a bit and are now asking for as little discomfort as possible as Mike approaches this transition. His attitude seems pretty good. He is in little pain at the moment. I have no idea how much time is left, but from my limited experience it wouldn't seem like a very long time.
I should know something more later today.
In the meantime, I am so grateful for your prayerful support through this. It means so very much to all involved.
Mike has four natural kids and one adopted son. Three of his four "naturals" are successful professionals--a doctor, a hospital administrator, and a research specialist for a large brokerage firm. They understand exactly what's happening and have the inner strength to see it all through. Oldest daughter is a mess and will have difficulty, but she is in a very long term relationship and that will probably see her through.
Mike's adopted son is a black kid in his early 20s and has depended on Mike for everything since he was two years old. He will have no financial support when Mike is no longer in the picture, except for a modest amount of Disability Insurance (he suffered severe burns to his hands as a toddler before being taken away from his birth mother and placed with Mike and Nancy). There won't be a great deal of monetary legacy when this is all over, and that may be a good thing. Too much money would do the kid more harm than not enough. So, raise a special prayer for this lad. He's about to lose the only father he has ever known.
Thanks again, my friends.
Crusader Rabbit
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You got it CR
God Bless,
Richard
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Tough stuff, Crusader...we're on it.
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Will do, as always, CR.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
~ 1 Peter 1:3-7
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Praying for comfort and peace CR.
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done..
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Just another update...
Mike is on a dialysis schedule of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. He goes in at around 9 in the morning and is brought home at around 3 in the afternoon. He is exhausted by the time he gets home and says he feels a coldness so deep he can't get warm. All he wants to do on those three days is sleep--he has to force himself to eat something just to keep up a bit of his strength. And, the dialysis experience takes three days out of the week when he can accept visitors.
On his better days (none are really good anymore) he still manages to get around a bit. I got a call from him on Monday to let me know he had made up a batch of homemade horseradish and I should come by and get a couple of jars. He make some really intense horseradish and it goes great on a cold roast beef sandwich. I am going to try and swing by today (Wednesday).
Mike's greatest complaint right now is the constant pain deep in his bones. The various cancer locations around other parts of his body don't seem to be giving him the same level of discomfort as the bone cancer. He can't seem to get any real relief, even from some pretty hefty opiates that have been prescribed. The only time he can manage some sleep is after several "tokes" of some "herb." But, he doesn't like to do that during the day because it makes him kind of drifty. The opiates make him driftier, but still don't provide the same level of pain relief that his ganja yields.
He seems to have gained a deeper acceptance of his reality, and decided to stop all the chemo poisons they have been pumping into him. The docs have told him that chemo can't cure him--it can just make his last days miserable. They were certainly right about that. Chemo caused his mouth and throat to break out in canker sores, and he also developed blisters on his hands and feet. But perhaps the worst part of the chemo was the way it affected his voice. He could hardly talk for several weeks. His voice was weak, raspy, and words were difficult to get out. At least that part of it is improving.
So, that's the latest. Please know I am deeply thankful for your prayers and even though Mike only knows a little bit about this prayer chain, I am certain he is grateful, too.
Please hang in there with me.
Crusader Rabbit
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We knew this journey would be difficult. We knew the ultimate end would be painful. And so it progresses...
As you know, I am recuperating from major abdominal surgery and have had my driving privileges rescinded, so I am no longer able to run Mike around to any of his appointments. Still, I have tried to keep in touch via telephone.
Here's what I have learned.
Lately, Mike has had a couple of issues. First and foremost, his left hip was giving him great pain. Docs scanned him and determined there was a tumor pressing against his sciatic nerve. He needed to go in for some cyber-knife radiation to relieve this. Meantime, Mike started having difficulty seeing. Docs thought it was another tumor and sent him in for more tests. Now, no one seems to know what it is exactly, but there is growing interocular pressure that is causing him to go blind. They want to do a spinal tap to relieve some of this pressure, but there are no guarantees.
When I talked to him last night, he was in tears. His biggest complaint: he had just purchased a Turkish-made 1911 and he didn't think he could see well enough to shoot it.
We are losing him, gang. His going is turning into a nightmare. So, I'm going to revise this prayer request to this: May our Lord ease Mike's transition and relieve his pain and anxiety.
Thanks,
Crusader Rabbit
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CR, we will pray for Mikes "final healing" and relief for his pain as it approaches.
God Bless,
Richard and Norma
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Will do, CR.
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We don't know or understand why this needs to be so painful and difficult. But, the greatest healing is coming, and there is something for somebody in what Mike is enduring and as he waits.
Prayers continued for you all!
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We are now approaching the very end of the road.
Mike has decided to forgo further dialysis and has cancelled any remaining radiation treatments.
Hospice has been invited in.
With another close and cherished friend, and a young family member, I have been sharing transport duties getting Mike to his various medical appointments. Oncologist, pain management doc, radiologist, ophthalmologist, dialysis, and internist appointments have all been kept.
None of that helps anymore.
And yesterday, Mike accepted the inevitable with a large measure of grace and an ensuing peace.
He had become so very weak that just getting down the steps from his house to the walkway had become an overwhelming challenge. From walkway to car required greater and greater effort. And just getting into the car was nearly impossible.
His back causes him so much pain that he can no longer sit in his easy chair in comfort. He is not able to lie down in comfort and his eyesight has deteriorated so badly that he is unable to even watch TV. And taking enough painkillers to provide relief zonks him so completely that he is not able to participate in any aspect of interactivity.
So, yesterday afternoon, Mike made the decision to retain some measure of dignity and grace.
Today at 3 PM, he goes for his final visit to his pain doc where he is scheduled to receive some sort of injection that should provide a measure of relief for his painful back. After he returns home, hospice will take over managing his condition.
Michael has been my pal for 25 years. We have fished together, drank good whiskey and some great martinis together, enjoyed Cuban cigars together, and shared more holiday meals than I can begin to recall. His late wife, Nancy and Bunny were great pals, too. We watched their kids grow up and become mostly well adjusted adults. I officiated at the marriage of daughter number three, and at the wedding of one of the step-grand-daughters.
And all I can ask for now is that the pain docs and hospice can somehow manage to reduce Mike's pain to a tolerable level, and that God sees fit to give him an easier exit from these mortal coils than he has experienced thus far.
I thank each one of you who has raised us up in prayer. We're right at the end, now. Another prayer or two should see us through.
Crusader Rabbit
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He has been blessed with a friend like you CR. Hang in there and know we are with you.
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CR,
This is a time where I don't have many words of value other than to say God bless Mike, and God bless you for being a true friend in his time of need.
Prayers continue for you guys.
Chuck
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CR, We pray for Mike's final healing to be as painless and easy as possibly.
God Bless,
Richard and Norma
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Since the last update this song had been on my mind.
Sorry if it is not very uplifting....
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Mike passed away at about 10 PM last night.
He was attended by his four natural children and his adopted son.
Mike had been unresponsive since late Tuesday evening, but he awakened shortly before 10.
Each of his kids had time to voice their appreciation for Mike's guidance and patience. Each thanked him for setting them on a good path.
Mike then closed his eyes, took two deep breathes, and relinquished the fight.
Cancer took another one of the good guys.
Mike was my friend for nearly 25 years. I've officiated at the weddings of his kids and his grandkids. Now, I am called to officiate at his funeral.
I am deeply grateful that Mike is no longer in pain.
And I already miss my friend.
Your continued prayers are deeply appreciated.
Crusader Rabbit
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My sincere condolences to you and Mikes family.
His journey begins anew...God Bless!
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Even though you know it's coming, it still ain't easy to lose a friend.
Prayers and sincere condolences, CR.