Birthday Thank Yous...

[SF4-EVER]

Best wishes for your dad's health, Sleepy. I hope the doctors are able to treat him successfully.

[Lynner]

Sending prayers your father's way. Hope it helps! We're here for you. God bless.

[SleepyHead]

Oh, you dear, wonderful folkses! This has been a very topsy turvy four weeks for me. Our bowling center is hosting the Southern Bowling Conference Tournament 2003 - "Rolling on the Red" - for the next 5 weeks, and I've been struggling to finish spring cleaning before this weekend. My Daddy was re-admitted to the hospital 3 weeks ago with gangrene (something to do with the plaque in his blood vessels from his open heart surgery last August), and while doing various tests to determine whether excising the necropic tissue was necessary or not, they found a spot on his lungs. Only after deciding to proceed with some kind of revolutionary medication treatment for the gangrene (some kind of drug to "open up the vessels" in his toes, as they are too small to stint open) did they do a biopsy.

I had just opened my email box and found a literal slew of "Happy Birthday" gifts and cards flooding my inbox when I got the call.

The spot is malignant, and Daddy isn't a good candidate for surgery because of the titanium heart valve he now sports. They've still to test to see how far it's spread, and that's all I really know right now.

I'm going to be kept very busy the next month or so, what with the tournament and being the family center of communications as I field incoming inquiries and send out updates, but I wanted to take this time to say "My heartfelt, happy tears "Thank You" to you all!"

Love,
SleepyHead

[SleepyHead]

Thanks, you two, you don't know how much I appreciate you're saying so.

The biggest question in all of our minds right now is whether the cancer is lung cancer in its earlier stages, or if it's a completely different type that has metastasized since Daddy's open-heart surgery back in August. I haven't cried so much since Daddy came home from the hospital last September - I didn't think there were any tears left.

We haven't said anything to the girls, yet. As scary as the "Big C" is all by itself, we'd kinda like to know more about which road we're gonna be traveling before we approach them with a subject we're having troubles dealing with.

At any rate, like Momma said, right now, we're just taking it one day at a time.

[joelcrowservo]

Well, I'll have my new family keep you and yours in our prayers. Let us know if you need anything.

[SleepyHead]

Thanks, Dave, all I really need now is some prayers for strength and faith enough to keep going, and trusting God.

[Lucy]

Sleepy: You, Kat, the girls and all your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Taking it one day at a time is the best way to go. Don't forget to take care of yourself too over such a stressful time - it is so easy to let yourself get run down when you are concerned for others.

[Lynner]

Sleepy, I think it's probably for the best not to say anything to the girls until you know more yourselves. You don't want to have them think the worst and you also don't want to have them hope for something that may not be.
Lucy is right, you need to take care of yourself, as well. You can only stretch so far...
Always feel free to "talk" to me offline, if you'd rather not do so on the forum. What you're going thru, I can only guess at, but I do know that often times it can help to talk to someone who is not so close to the situation.
Take care, Sleepy. I'm pulling for you (and for your Daddy, too!)

[SleepyHead]

I will do my best to take care of myself, because you're right, of course. Take today, for instance. I've got to do some housework - and it needs to be done today, because maintenance is probably coming tomorrow. Laundry has to be done today, because I won't have the car tomorrow. I want to go visit with my folks - no, I need to, but I don't see any time to do it because of those 2 huge "gottas". And, of course, I won't have the car tomorrow until after 5:30...

And the little kid in me really, really needs Momma or Daddy to pull me into their lap, pat my back and say, "It's gonna be okay..."

[Lynner]

It is gonna be okay, Sleepy. Even if it doesn't have the outcome you might think you want. It will be okay. Please keep the faith.

I sent you a PM on this, read it when you have time.

Remember how much you are loved! images/icons/smile.gif