In the past week...

Sorry for all Dad's followers for being slack...in the midst of everything else we have had going on this summer...I had two birthmarks removed last week.  The doctor said that they may never become anything, but with the family history now, he would rather be safe than sorry.  So now,  I get to be a weeble wobble like dad...like father like daughter...and when these heal, they will go back in on one leg and get the rest.

So for dad...

• we have put his car in my name and proved to DSS that he no longer has ANYTHING to his name.  Now we are playing the waiting game to see if we can get any help from DSS for dad's Temodar. 
• we have started to see a NEW doctor...go figure...a Neurologist, Dr. Wiese.  She is not happy with dad's dilantin level at all.  She said she had never seen someone on a level like dads.  She has now prescribed Vimpat for dad.
• but...dad's insurance wants prior approval from Dr. Wiese for the medicine she has prescribed so until that goes through, his medicine is $1046.00 for one month.  Luckily, she gave us a 14-day free trial that we only really last 11 days in the hopes we can get all the prior approval stuff straight.
• In the mean time, we have applied to 2 different foundations for help with dad's med's.  I faxed the paper work last week, mailed a copy, and made a copy incase I need to "remind" them in a few weeks if we don't hear anything.
• Dad and Billy went to the VA today.  Dad did 12 years in the National Guard many years ago.  They would help him buy a house, but no help there with his drugs.  The guy there did however get us another contact for some help, so I will be calling them tomorrow.

With all this going on...Billy's old shift became dad's MIRACLE tonight.  Thanks to the wonderful people on that shift, dad will be going to get his first dose of Temodar tomorrow.  I will never be able to repay them for their generosity, but please know that the 3 of us, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts...and a special thank you to Connor!!  He turned 8 this past weekend and shared his birthday money with dad so he could get his medicines. 

The trials of Cancer...

Well today we accomplished a lot. 

Yesterday we started the process at DSS only to find out that dad's car was worth $100.00 more than he was alotted to have in assests.  So today, we had to transfer his car into my name, take info back to DSS, and now hopefully he can get processed through for Medicaid. 

Next, we got all his info filled out for CancerCare so hopefully he can get some support for Temodar.  We are going to fax and mail the forms tomorrow.  So now we just wait.

With this disease...you have to either be very rich or very poor.  People who are middle class, who have worked hard all their life, have the hardest time getting any help.  UGH...it is very frustrating!!

This weekend...

This weekend has been kinda rough for dad...the two times Billy and I have left the house on Friday and then Saturday, dad has had a seizure.  I hate that he was home alone because they scare him so bad.  Earlier he asked if we were leaving so he could get prepared since they liked to come when we were gone. 

We have a very busy week...
Monday, doctors appointment with his family doctor
Wednesday, doctors appointment with a neurologist...this will be our first visit to her
Thursday, doctors appointment with the brain surgeon

Hopefully tomorrow we will get dad's paperwork for his chemo drug!!

Cancer Meds...

So how can the people who make these medicines sleep at night?  The first time I went to pick up dad's meds yesterday, they wanted over $4000.00.  I about lost it in Walmart.  They said they needed to do some checking and when I went back later it wasn't much better.  For 1 week of meds, they had come to a little over $800.00.  How do these companies feel that people can pay that much.  Dad can't pay that each month for a week of meds...it's outrageous. 

I called dad's chemo doctor and talked to the nurse.  She is sending dad's information to some drug company in Raleigh.  Hopefully they will be able to come up with something.  Dad's feeling is that you have to be rich to survive cancer...and if you can pay the price, that's true.  Ugh...

Chemotherapy

Went to Dr. Anagnost today...If all goes well with dad's MRI tonight @ 8:45, Dad will start Temodar on Thursday.  If the MRI shows anymore brain lesions, chemo will be held up for a bit.

He will take Temodar 5 days and be off for 4 weeks.  Hopefully with the help of Zofran and Phenergan, the side effect of throwing up will be limited. 

For the first time today, Dad's Cancer was stated as "Stage 4" and yesterday the doctor said his record stated he had "Progressive Brain Disease."  I had never heard dad's diagnosis like this, but it does make sense with the reaccurances of the brain lesions....not that it makes me feel any better.  It is so hard to hear this about your 58 year "young" dad.  I want many more years with him...I want to see him grow old...to walk me down the aisle one day...I want him to be able to enjoy some grandkids..and most of all, I want him to enjoy life! 

This disease is awful...since February it has robbed dad of his independence, his abilitiy to drive, to get up and feel good, to do the things he wants to do.  He has been a trooper though, making jokes when he can, helping billy with the boat...billy has been so good to both of us.  It is a lot to ask of him to take on this situation, but I know he loves dad as much as I do...I feel so lucky to have had this summer to spend with my boys.

Surgery Day...

Dad has just gone back to get ready.  Hopefully we will get to see him in about 45 minutes....I'll keep everyone updated...