For a Deeply Loved Father with Cancer

[Jeremy C.]

I will check on you guys call me!!

[Jeremy C.]

I am praying for all of you!

[lmidkiff]

I just got this @12:09am Jeremy. I will call you tomorrow Dad told me you talked to him tonight, We are really putting our faith in some new stuff I have found for dad. The University of Pittsburg has done a study with Triphala, its an herb comprised of 3 different fruits from India. But studies have shown during their testings  that When given to mice that were transplanted with Human pancreatic cancer cells and tumors that the mice that were treated with Triphala, the cancer cells died off and the tumors had shrank by 1/2. Ofcourse, he is going to still continue with the chemo and tarceva, but the Dr. has already told him that those were doing nothing but going to buy him time. So, We need to pray that this will work. Its the MOST promising thing that I have read about. I have done so much reading, and researching. There is not much that I would not do to help save my dads life. I think that is apparent. But if its God's will that he is called to Heaven, I hope that at least he will not be in as much pain as I have heard about by taking the Triphala. That is my wish. But I am praying for a complete miracle. I know that his odds, only 1%, is bleak. But God can work miracles.

For now, I think I am off to bed.
Good Night to you all!
Lori

[tarry66]

Lori,
Your Family is in my Prayers...

[lmidkiff]

I just talked to dad for the past hour, as I do almost every night before I go to sleep. He seemed to be feeling well, and in good spirits. We had such a good time tonight. I managed to get us both laughing so hard we were crying and couldn't even talk. He said, "boy, I had so much water in my eyes I couldn't even see good." I was telling him a story about my son, and how every night for a month when I would make dinner, he would say, "I don't like that I want something else." So one night, I got really sick of hearing that, because I have 5 kids, I can't make every single one of them something different. And besides, I was raised to where you ate what was put in front of you. We didn't have the option of saying, "i don't like that." So, one night, I had went and got Souse -for those who dont know what this is... its a REALLY REALLY nasty lunch meat made from all the leftovers of a pig that don't get used! and its suspended in this jelly gooey clear substance, I don't even know what that is.Google it! ITS NASTY!!!- Anyway, I asked my son that night, do you want what we are having or something else? Without even asking what the other option was, he said, "something else." So that is EXACTLY what the child got. He got himself a NICE big Souse sandwich! My dad started laughing so hard! Just hearing my daddy belly laugh is contagious! So as best I could, went on to try and explain through the laughter my sons facial expression. And how, the kid ate about 3 bites and we found the sandwich buried under a pile of blankets about a week later! Dad said, "Lord I didn't even know they sold that stuff anymore." I said, "yeah you can get it at Save-A-Lot for about .99 for a pound of it, so you know the quality of that." He said, "yeah mostly the goo." And just the tone of his voice, I got tickled and spit my ice cream out cause he was making me laugh so hard!!!  Then we went on to talk about how This one time he decided he was going to try to make one of the cakes that mom makes called a Cherry Dump Cake. Well we were out of cherries, so he decided he would use frozen strawberries.. LOL  Well, when the cake was done, it didn't do exactly what it was supposed to because of the difference in the cherries LOL the cake was only an inch thick!!! Well our bus driver, knew my dad well, they played banjo and guitars together a lot. SO he dropped us off from school, and went in to talk to my dad for a while, and my dad offered him a piece of the cake. Gary looked at it, and like a typical man, shrugged his shoulders and ate it. Dad offered him another piece and Gary said, "naahhhh" LOL So my dad, to keep my mom from coming home and finding it, split the rest of it with me and my brother. Cause he didn't want to throw it out and waste it!! LOL

We had such a good time talking about the old times. He said, with a lump in his throat, " Those were the good times and we didn't even know it."  He was always the best Dad. He said, that we were more than his children, we were his best friends in the world. That really means a lot to me! I cherish every moment I have with him.

Well, I am going to head to bed. I just wanted to update you all, share a few laughs and a couple stories about my daddy.

I wish you all well.

Goodnight and God Bless,
Lori

[Ped]

All of you wonderful people are very much in my thoughts as always .. be strong in your faith and know that all of you are loved .. I hope you get your miracle with all my heart.

Loved reading the story about you all crying with laughter. That last comment by your dad really hits home. Travelling this road with you and your family is a truly humbling experience for me and it's one I know I'll never forget.

My love and best wishes to you and all of yours Lori.

Be blessed .. muchluv,

Pedx

[lmidkiff]

Thank You Ped. You know, we don't know why that my dad has had this burden put on him, we do know, however, that we have all learned a lot about life and the meaning of it. We know that we have learned to appreciate loving and treasuring a 2 min conversation, or spending an entire weekend together. I know that while on this journey, with my dad, we have met some amazing people that otherwise would have remained anonymous, yet they are so much apart of our lives now. You and Jeremy are talked about so much in our family, its like you both have become part of it. I wish so very very much that you could meet my dad, it would be something that you would not likely forget. He leaves that big of an impression in your heart!

Thank you Ped, for staying close to our family, for being there to offer your words. Your words have taught us things to about human spirit. You are so appreciated, thought of, and prayed for everyday in our family.

Much Love,
Lori

[Ped]

Thank you Lori .. I'm sure Jeremy appreciates such kind words as much as I do. You and your amazing family have taught me a lot too .. about life especially, and you know how I feel about walking this path, or some of the way along it, with all of you.

Like I've said many times before .. my Inbox is always open .. please feel free to use it any time.

You have a blessed day.

Muchluvn'respect to you all.

Hugs,

Pedx

[Jeremy C.]

Thank you!

We WILL continue to walk down this road together!

[hottsmokin]

The Eve of Easter...
Seems fitting that I would find myself here tonite, once aain, reaching out to the friends of distant that I did once did not k now, and who selflessly chose to walk a path with my family and has not waivered in the strength you have offered.  I have had the heaviest of hearts today for some reason, I cant explain it..be it the eve of the Easter and the whole meaning that we even have Easter, or because I could not physically be with my mom and dad for this holiday..I am not sure...but when I called home today...I was greeted my dad who answered the phone, and he was in such incredible pain he could hardly talk, and I know he did, because he wanted to and didnt want me to worry...but I could tell. My family has been up there this weekend, and my kids had gotten to spend some time with pappy that they hadnt for a long time, but the truth was, pappy didnt feel like even being with them, and forced himself to ride cole on the tractor because he knew it would be a memory he'd never forget,  and I am sure forced himself to put on a strong face and sit up with as long as he could He feel terrible that he had to go lay down when they were there, although I told him, Dad please dont worry about that. 

The reason I am writing you is just for your thougths and prayers so strongly tonite and into tomorrow..that dad would find rest, and comfort and that he can just get thru this weekend and hopefully next week we can get up back up to Baltimore to get checked out.  Dad has been blessed beyond words with little happenings here and there in regards to the huge financial burden that having this beastly disease incurrs, but  coming from such humble and simple background, I found out today that  even with the blessings that have abounded, he wasnt able to get one of the pills he needed...Truth was..he could have..but he didnt want to spend the money that way.  I just pray for peace for dad in that area, that he will let that go and just trust in the Lord. I told him I could contact the drug company, which is what I will do on Monday...but not before I have someone go get those pills for him and get him started on them.  Its just so hard for him to continue to "cost" so much to live...when, in reality...this just us our temporary dwelling in this life anyway...and one should not have to carry such a burden while we are blessed to be living on this planet.

We were raised to pray, pray, pray and the Lord would hear. Make our requests known to our maker.   I realize all people are not the same, do not view the same,  have faith or believe in many other things that I can not relate, because I simply never knew.  It all does not matter...to me its kinda all one and the same anyway..its us reaching out to a higher power or being that is bigger than ourselves.   With that being said, my dad has faithfully served His Lord as a small town preacher for a good 30 plus years, and it is my request of each of you to please just pray, wish, think, whatever it is you do, that my dad would be shown great mercy in the way of pain. That he would be spared the absolute writhing pain that is associated with pancreatic cancer.  Of course, my deepest desire is a complete miracle and healting and just have my dad back...but I realize that might not be the plan of the One who is much bigger than I. 

The more I come here and share and ask of you, at times, I cant believe I am reaching out to absolute strangers and that its just "crazy" to be so personal, yet...I find comfort here, I believe it was no accident that my family ended up in the caring community that we landed smack dab in the middle of,  and I just thank you for every time you think of my dad and send up your requests.  He is an humble man, a incredibly thankful man, a sweet and genuine soul that loves so much bigger and never ask for anything in return. I pray he can heal, but moreso, I pray he can be spared the pain he is suffering tonite and that he can just rest. 

Goodnight all, Jeremy call sometime   I keep losing your number..ha ha....but you're starting to feel like of the family now, and ya know..family just stays in touch.  You have all been so incredible.  Many blessings to you and yours during this very meaningful holiday.
(heart)   Sherry