Father in Law

This is an email I sent out to a friend and I wanted to post it here to. Please go and donate blood in your area if you can, just in my father in laws honor and any prayers would be appreciated.

I am not sure what I told you about my FIL last but they have found cancer. The rupture of the blood vessel/artery in his hip, 2 weeks ago, was because of the pressure from the golf ball size tumor. When the blood vessel/artery ruptured so did the tumor. It is lipo sarcoma cancer or something like that. Chemo is not an option as the cells are resistent. Radiation isn't an option as the cells are scattered in his hip area and they would being burning off to many good cells in the process of trying to get the bad cells. Basically the options are total leg and partial pelvic amputation or do nothing. The dr.s are recommending do nothing and I think that is what the he has decided to do as well. It is a slow growing cancer and that by its nature stays local so he will watch his hip area and if he notices lumps or anything like that the dr.s will remove it at that time. Basically, he will live with the cancer cells and hope they don't grow to quickly. He has received 31 units of blood since this began, with the first 25 in the first day of the rupture. They feel they have the bleeding under control and they have assured him that there is not an issue wth his blood or his vessels that is was simply the pressure from the tumor. He is tired and ready to be home. 2 weeks in the hospital and 4 surgeries along with 31 units of blood have taken their toll. He does have a positive spirit, though! He said when this is all said and done he wants a butt like JLo! The surgery yesterday was to clean up the hip area and remove some of the skin that had "died" in the process of all the blood just sitting there. When everything ruptured he bleed into a pocket area in his hip and the blood just sat there. It has caused lots of damage and much of his outer skin "died" in that area and had to be removed. They were wanting to clean everything up to reduce the risk of infection as it could get bad. They think he may require another surgery to do some more repair and he may need some grafts but right now they did what they could and are going to leave him alone for a bit to let his body do some healing. They also removed some muscle tissue from his gluts but seem confident that he will be able to walk unassisted eventally.

I am really tired so I hope this all makes sense.

DH and his brothers, he is one of 5 boys, all seem to be holding up well. MIL is having a hard time. She did not fully recover from her stroke several years ago and it has taken it's toll on her mental capicity.

Any advice from others who are caring for aging parents are in laws would be helpful. I am preparing to taking on a more caregiver role. I do not want to embarass or make them ashamed but they are gonna need some assistance, at least for a bit.

Jana