Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna E
Hi Sophia,
Wow, it sounds like our Dads are going through the same thing. My Dad is also very congested and his feet are swollen. His feet and hands are wrapped. His white blood cell count is very low and he cannot heal without a boost in them. He is not ready to give up, he still wants to fight this disease but I just don't know what he is supposed to fight it with . . .
I am exhausted and feel sick to my stomach. I pray we all have strength to get through this. My Dad is our Rock . . . the center of all of our joy . . . He has fought this disease with such tenacity and courage.
Please feel my hug across the miles and know my heart is with you during this difficult time. My prayers are with you and your family. Please keep me updated . . . I want to be there for you, even if it is just through this most valuable web site.
Love,
Donna E
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Hi Donna,
Thank you so much for your love and support...I am here for you also. This site is such a blessing for victims of this horrible disease. I have learned so much through the experiences and knowledge of everyone posting on this site and am very grateful for the support.
For all of my dad's 80 years of life he has been a very independent. He had a rough beginning in life, pretty much abandoned by his parents and as a result, has always carried a bitterness/resentment around with him. (Always grumbling about one thing or another.) He loves his children (there are 9 of us - I'm the youngest of my siblings) and my mum very much but doesn't show it in a physical/affectionate way. He was a very active person who took pride in keeping up his house, mowing his lawn and "fixing" just about anything electrical and around the hosue. (He's an electrician by trade.) He used to have this table set up outside the front of his house under the patio where he would "fix" things, wires/screws and all the electrical bits n pieces he needed were strewn all over the table....bits n pieces he's had in his possession for years and years....(never liked to throw away anything!)
That was "his" time. Now that space is bare as he doesn't have the energy to fix anymore and his new lawn mower parked. It breaks my heart to see him feel so helpless.
My dad was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) about 10 years ago and was being treated with prednisone and methotrexate for many years. I have a feeling the methotrexate is what contributed to him developing the MDS. He is currently being treated with an IV infusion of Orencia for the RA. Unfortunately, my mum was also diagnosed with RA recently, and although also prescribed prednisone and methotrexate, refuses to take the methotrexate in fear she'll develop MDS too. Mum is also having issues with her blood and now they accompany each other to see the same specialists!
We know as our parents age or anyone ages, health deteriorates and spirals downward but it's so very hard to watch the decline and to have to face or deal with the inevitable....it's just horrible. If only we could stop the hands of time!
Anyway, dad is still in the hospital. He's on Bactrim and vancomycin. Still feeling very week. He didn't have a fever last night so I hope that is a sign he is on the road to recovery. The nurse said his WBC was 0.3 yesterday. Not sure what the other counts were. Still has no appetite.
Thanks again for your support.
Love,
Sophia