Today Dads chest tube and drain was removed. He was taken off the Nestles Nutrition bag during the day. Nestles will now only be given to dad from 7PM to 7AM. Dr. Anderson again said that it was a T-3 tumor and that the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes. Dad took four walks today, one 400 and three 800 yard walks and not connected to his drug stand on wheels. He met with the respatory therapist and hit 1500 on the breathing machine. I left the hospital at 7:00 and he was ready for bed.
Dad comes home tomorrow. Home health care is set up and we meet with the nurses tomorrow afternoon. We have the groceries ready. From Thursday 2/21 to his first Dr. Appt. 2/29 dad is on a full liquid diet. Six small meals a day. We have memorized what he can and can't have.
Dads Drs. told us today that the next stage is learning to eat all over again. Dad entered the hospital 8 days ago weighing 173. Today he weighed in at 167.
I want to thank everyone for your kind words and prayers. When this whole thing started I found this site to be the place that I would go to learn about EC. From the sharing of individuals that I have never met but have a common bond with due to EC I was able to learn what was ahead of my dad and my responsibilities as his care giver. I thank all of you and again you were in my prayers at mass today. I have shared your responses with my dad and he appreciates each one. His response is always that he did what he had to do. His choice was to either give into EC or fight it and get rid of it. Today before I left I told dad how proud I am of him and that we have to continue to take this one day at a time.
Today I wanted to hug dads doctors and nurses. I told Dr. Anderson he and his staff are life savers. My dad would not be here if it were not for Dr. Anderson and his entire team. They are amazing.
Thank you all, you and your families are in my prayer.