Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I decided to take this time to write to some of my compadres on this site to let you all know how things are going. To make quick and simple, things arent going to good. As some of you may remember, my Dad has been fighting cancer and lung disease for a better part of 2 years now. Nothing could really be done about the lung disease due to the cancer. So the doctors told him "get chemo done and if the cancer disappears we will put you in for a lung transplant". The lung disease he has is called "interstitial lung disease" which basically the hardening of the lungs. Kind of like filling your lungs up with quickcrete. Anyway, he did the chemo and got rid of the cancer. What did the doctors tell him after? "Well we can put you in for the transplant but more than likely you will be passed over on the list due to your age". He is 69 now. So he is breathing out of one lung now and only getting about 2/3's use out of it. Oh yeah and he has congestive heart failure as well. So his heart is having to beat very hard and very fast to be able to get blood throughout his body. So anywho, he had gotten rid of the cancer and started feeling worse a few weeks ago. Went back to get a few tests done and found a 2"x2" mass of cancer (mal). So he decided to go back to get more chemo done. He never made it. No, he didnt die. He just never got to do it. The doctors said that he was too weak to do anymore chemo and the only thing we can do is make his final days comfortable. So right now Im over at my parents' house with the family as my Dad is on his deathbed (or in this case, recliner). We arent expecting him to make it through the weekend. He is on morphine to relax him and just breathing is a huge effort for him. My Mother died when I was 3 so Ive always known this time would come. Ive tried to get myself prepared for it but I tell you after 32 years of prepping myself I can honestly say that I am not the least bit prepared. This wasnt supposed to happen for another 20 years. Things have a way of going to you know what though. So to all of my friends here and even newbies and general acquaintances value the time that you have with your friends and families. You never know what tomorrow will bring and what it will take away.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
1.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)
1.1 Short Tailed Python (Black Blood) (awaiting delivery)
0.1 Roommate (sigh...okay, she has a corn snake)

Sorry to hear this a few of my good friends have died in the last couple of years from cancer and my uncle is not expected to make it much longer either from his cancer. It's something we seem to not think about till it happens. Just make sure you tell him you love him and of course that he was a good dad. It's something a lot of us kids never seem to say enough these days.

Our hearts go out to you and your family take care...

The Rash Family
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Tim Rash
www.nocturnal-creations.com

Pythonis,my heart goes out to you and your father.I hope he doesn't have to suffer more than he needs too.I wish there could be more for me to say .....other than Keep your chin up and stay strong for your family brother.You and your family will be in my prayers. Ash Lopez
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Ashley Lopez's Black Forest Constrictors.
blackforestconstrictors@gmail.com
website

I'm fairly new around here and don't post too often but I wanted to let you know that you and your family our in our prayers. Good luck to you in these hard times.

Dan McCauley & Family

Hey,
I am so sorry to hear that your dad is not doing well. You have my deepest sympathy. I understand the process of losing someone, as I lost both parents at the same time, and it was not easy; It is the hardest thing. My blessings to you and your family and my prayers are with you.
Angel
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In life you can fall many times, but you're only a failure, if you don't try to get back up!
Evil Canevil

Rob...

Last thing I'm going to do is say that I know how YOU feel, because every person & every situation is different.

BUT...

My father went through multiple medical complications over the summer, some of which were very touch-and-go, and it really shed a lot of light on the truly important things in life, and drew me closer to my family.

I hope & pray that every moment you spend with your father is richly blessed, that you will carry forward with you regardless of sadness or circumstance.

Be strong!

K~
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Bloodpythons.com - Whats YOUR Blood Type?

Well this weekend the hospice nurses told us that he wouldnt (more than likely) make it to monday. So we all sat in the living room watching as he slept taking fewer and fewer breaths. We contacted certain key people and told them that his time was looking to be almost up. So we all cried and reminisced about happier times just to get our minds off of the dreaded moment. And wouldnt you know? Like the true fighter that he is he woke up and wanted to join in on the conversation. lol go figure. Anyway, the nurses said that it was called "rallying" and if any of you have ever had hospice take care of a family member or assist then you know what im talking about. they said it is normal but it in no way means that they are better. So here it is almost tuesday morning and my Dad is still alive. We had to have a hospital bed moved in today and that really is an indescribable feeling. He weighs less than 130 lbs and when we gave him a bath today i swear to God it was like looking at a holocaust victim. # weeks ago he could walk through the house and now he cant even raise himself up in a chair. The only way im able to really handle it was for me to realize that my Dad (the man that i knew and raised me all those years) is already dead. theres no getting him back. even if the man ive been taking care of for the past few days lives another week month or year the man i knew throughout my life has already passed. i know it sounds cruel but its the only way i can help him without having to break down into tears first. he is taking the idea of dying quite well. whenever he sees someone crying he looks at them with such a calm look at says "why are you crying?" and of course that just makes you want to cry even more. Anyway, thank you all for the kind words and i will keep you all informed of the situation.

Rob
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
1.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)
1.1 Short Tailed Python (Black Blood) (awaiting delivery)
0.1 Roommate (sigh...okay, she has a corn snake)

you may want to get another doctor quick. My father had cancer so bad that he went from 180 Lbs to around 120 and a lot of that was tumor. He talked to over a dozen doctors who gave him 90 days or less. Then he found a doctor that said he had less then a 1% chance of recovering but that he would work with him. That was almost 20 years ago. He got it again 11 years ago and beat it again. Your father is older but there have been more dramatic recoveries.
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"Because life is preciouse...and god and the bible..."

You're still in my prayers, Rob.

God, Rob, I am so sorry you and your family are going through this.

I don't know how the pic posted but it wasn't intentional. Sorry.