Friday, April 30th

Hey everyone, this is Brad. It's been a very shocking couple weeks. Dad is at home now, with Hope Hospice care. It seems that it is now the "11th hour". Our goal is to keep him comfortable. He has quite a bit of pain, but they've made sure that he gets enough medication to keep him as pain free as possible. He hasn't been eating much, but he is still nibbling. The financial planner in him just keeps ticking though so that takes up most of our conversations. He says hi everyone. He is very much at peace with everything and is "just tired". Please keep up the prayers and good thoughts. You can never get enough of either.

Hi y'all. Been along time since I updated my blog. My last adventure was last week when we had to go up to Tampa General again. Apparently my stints had a mechanical malfunction and I became "backed up" again..very jaundice but not really due to the cancer growing. My scans came back pretty good. Doctor said the treatment at least kept it at bay. Small successes in that it may have shrunk a little and the fact that I did gain 6 pounds. The procedure they did to unplug me really has set me back. I now have an external tube and bag for another week but they will be able to internalize them in a couple of weeks hopefully when I get less jaundiced. I am very tired and in some pain. The pain meds are helping me but I am sleeping alot. When all is said and done, they are thinking of starting me on chemo through IV this time..one day a week, 2 weeks on and one week off. Don't know for how long. But he feels that this is the "work horse" that may help. That is it for now. Thanks for the support and prayers. Until next time...Jim

Hi all, Just a quick update again. The last 2 days have not been good. Right after the cat scan, I went down hill like a rock. Allot of pain, jaundice symptoms again-just like when this all started in Dec. I was concerned so Deb and I drove to Tampa right after Easter dinner and spent the night in a hotel so we could go see the Doc asap.They feel I may be starting to block up again in my ducts so if I get numerous fevers (infections) then I need to go back and probably do the tubes again. I'm having a pet scan Wed and then meet with the oncologist the 13th. I'll let you know after that. Hi to all, congrats on your nice weather. Thanks for the support. Rutts

Hi all, Just a quick note. I had the first scan yesterday and the next on April 7th. I won't have any results till 4/13. Will keep you advised. Thanks for the prayers and support. Jim