My Dad had surgery for Bladder Cancer. The Surgeon told us in the waiting room, following the operation, that he was able to remove all the cancer.
It may sound corny but, I believe my brothers and I have the best, kindest and most loving Dad ever. Friends, Teachers and Coaches would always tell my brothers and I growing up how lucky we were to have such a great dad.
He was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer a few months back. He had surgery to remove a five-centimeter tumor. The doctor said after the surgery that he was able to remove all of it. On dad's first post op visit to the doctor to have the catheter removed the doctor tells us that the cancer is in the lining and that it is aggressive.
My brother, dad and I lived in our van in the Winter of 2021 - restaurants, libraries and churches were closed.
It was Winter in Eastern Oregon and it was freezing, down in the teens most nights. Dad has poor circulation due to not being able to walk well or exercise following the breaking of his knee and shredding the meniscus and tearing the rotator cuff in his right shoulder while moving a piano. Some months later while in San Diego helping my brother rehab from surgery my dad was selling air conditioning services during the week and moving furniture on the weekends. Four or five feet into the Moving Truck the bed of the truck was elevated about four inches, he stepped up grabbed a large box marked Kitchen, turned back around, took a step, forgetting about the elevated step, stumbled forward falling he attempted to land on his right knee but, his knee brace would not allow it so he threw himself to his left knee landing on the metal plate on the back edge of the truck. No broken dishes but a torn lateral collateral ligament and a splintered meniscus. A few weeks after dad returned home our dog was at the back door wanting to go out - dad went out with him - it was early Spring - the deer were jumping the fence to help themselves to the apples that were being uncovered by the melting snow. The deer would attack our dog sometimes so someone always had to be out there with him, so dad went out with him and stepping off the patio into the same shallow puddle he had been stepping in for several days, only to find that a slight drop in the mercury made for a solid ice puddle - his foot flew out beneath him sending him falling backwards, dad tried to break his fall by trying to reach back with his right hand but , the torn rotator cuff would not allow for it so he threw his body to the left and got his left hand down just before his head would have hit the concrete. He tried to get up but, found he could not get his left arm in position to help push himself back up from the concrete - he scooted himself over and grabbed a patio beam with his right hand and pulled himself up, only to find his left arm facing backwards at 90 degrees, no matter how hard he tried he was unable to get his arm back into its natural position. Panic was starting to set in, having studied Kinesiology and feeling great pain in his shoulder he knew it was swelling and if he didn't get it back into position soon it would swell too much to get it back into position outside of emergency medical intervention. He tried hitting his arm against the patio beam to coerce it back into place to no avail, a lot of blood but no movement. it entered his mind to just punch straight down, he felt intense pain in the shoulder with each attempted punch and then there was a loud cracking sound. He thought he had fractured something in his shoulder but, looking down he was thrilled to see his left arm by his side, and he was able to move his arm a little and open and close his hand - he was grateful and relieved. The next day ultrasound revealed two torn tendons, two torn ligaments and a torn rotator cuff! All the aforementioned injuries to both shoulders and both knees took place in a span of six months, between his 58th and 59th Birthday's.
Dad was waiting until he turned 65 (insurance pays 65-70% before age 65 and 100% after) to have the surgeries to repair his knees and shoulders, then a couple months ago we had our world rocked with the finding of the tumor, an aggressive cancer diagnosis, more surgery and long-term treatment plans.
In addition to his regular meds Dad is using a large number of supplements and alternative medications in this battle, totaling way more than we can afford each month.
Dad had his surgery pushed out several weeks by the same doctor who said it was imperative that they get back in there as soon as they could. Dad called his Primary Care Provider after the surgeon responded with extremely inappropriate and unprofessional responses to some questions Dad had asked him regarding post operative care following surgery. The PCP suggested a facility in Idaho specializing in Bladder Issues.
We are in need of long-term lodging - an RV or Truck and Trailer and help with costly Conventional and Alternative interventions. It has been very stressful with the many moving parts of this puzzle. The doctors all say reducing stress and getting good sleep are the most important things that he can do to allow his body to heal, this is difficult to do while being homeless and in need of beds, a bathroom and some heat on a fulltime basis.
Due to postponement of surgery by original doctor - changing to Specialist in Idaho, transportation and lodging issues We now find ourselves several months behind schedule. We were told it was urgent that the second surgery be done ASAP as the cancer was aggressive - in the middle of the Bladder Lining and it had to be stopped before it got to the Muscle Wall. The surgeon said that if it reaches Muscle Wall - the best scenario is coming out of surgery without a Bladder.
Please help us to act with the urgency that is needed. Your contribution is needed today so we can get on the road tomorrow. Every little bit helps!
Thank you for taking the time to read this far.
Your generosity will help dad get the help he needs to fight this battle and win!
We are grateful for whatever contribution you can offer to help Dad Beat Cancers Butt!
We Appreciate Your Prayers and Encouragement!
Please take a moment and SHARE on your Social Media Platforms with Friends and Family - Sharing is Caring - Thank You!
To Donate monthly visit-https://ko-fi.com/helpmurphfight
HelpMurphFight Merch-
Here is my Dad reciting a poem he wrote when he was 20:https://photos.app.goo.gl/NNYEfzrMic962x2V6
