Before I start let me just say that The Huntsman Cancer Center is amazing and the people we worked with were incredible.
I think Jack and I both knew that something was going on, so when we went in on December the10th for his MRI and to see the Doctor Colman we were not surprised to hear that the Advestin he was taking had quit working. His tumor was growing. The Doctor gave us a few options but none sounded good. After Jack and I talked it over for a few days (and talking to the kids) and calling the doctors (PA) and nurses to answer our questions Jack and I decided to go off all treatments.
We or I guess I should say Jack started Hospice with Intermountain Healthcare Dec. 20th. Can I take a minute to say how great hospice is, because of them people are able to stay in their homes and have excellent care. They were so great with Jack and I, teaching me what I needed to do to make Jack more conferrable and to take care of his needs. They were always so caring and kind.
Tender Mercies -- Jack did really well, being able to take care of himself until the Monday before he passed. He just started to sleep more and stopped talking. He could talk but it took too much energy. He knew everyone until the last. He was also able to eat until the very end. When I think about that time I can think of so many blessings we had.
Jack's last week was hard, somehow he pulled a muscle in his left leg and was in a lot pain. After a trip to the ER by ambulance on Tue. they decided it was a torn or pulled muscle in his groin . He hurt really bad when moved so had to stay in bed and tried not to move. Hospice got him a hospital bed which made it a lot easier. By this time he was sleeping most of the time. Hospice came and checked on him daily and sometimes more to do what they needed to do to make him comfortable.
Jack passed away peacefully in his sleep January 17th which surprised us all that he went so soon.
Just to let you see what a brain MRI looks like with a tumor. The tumor is on the bottom left at the top. The two shoots on the top are before some treatment on the left and after treatment on the right.
Jack getting his Advestin treatment, which he did every other week for 8 months.
He fought the good fight!!!!!!
I'm sure it was hard for you to post this because it was a hard time. But it was a blessing that he did not suffer a lot of pain for a long period of time and that he was so pleasant. It was so good that your family rallied around both of you and that Jack knew he was loved.
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