Re: MY DAD has cancer

[Barbara Mallut <barb_msn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-----Original Message-----
From: LISA CRUMRINE <LCRUM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
<PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 9:24 PM
Subject: MY DAD has cancer


>HI LIST.....
>
>My dad  has cancer... The treated a manifestation inside his mouth
several
>months ago and he was almost finished radiation, when his back
started
>hurting.  This back pain went on un heeded and untreated for6-8
weeks until
>he woke up one morning last week and couldn't walk.
>
>A trip to the hospital and consultation with a neurologist and
testing
>revealed multiple cancers on his spine.  basically most of his spine
is
>invaded.  they scheduled immediate surgery at Columbia Presbyterian
hospital
>in NYC, rushed him there from NJ and by 7pm  Friday nite he was
having
>spinal surgery.  they removed three of his vertebrae that were
creating
>pressure and causing neurological damage. they replace them with
titanium
>and inserted a rod in there as well for support. 9 hours of surgery.
>within a 1/2 hour of surgery we were allowed to see him and he could
speak
>and knew that we were there.  three hours later he was able to
recognize us
>and talk coherently.  that evening he was able to almost feed
himself.  the
>very next day, Sunday, he was sitting up fully and by evening he was
feeding
>him self!  Monday he was fitted for an orthotic  brace which he put
on
>today.  and then proceeded to get out of bed and into a chair, where
he ate
>lunch and then again into the chair for dinner.
>tomorrow (5 days later) he will walk.....
>
>This man( my father) should be an inspiration to us all.  the
strength, the
>courage and the power.  What an amazing man.  His biggest battle is
yet to
>come.  There is a very large tumor in his neck and more on his lower
back.
>these will be treated with radiation and chemo.
>
>what I gained from this terrible experience is a family and a
father.  we
>were able to sit and talk and find out who we both were and are and
why.  He
>got to meet his daughter the artist. ( he never knew her)  and I got
to meet
>my dad the incredible warrior and spirited soul.  I got to tell him
that I
>love him and also spent time with my mother and brother and got
close with
>them again.  It was an awful weekend, flying into NYC from my home
in the
>virgin islands, not sleeping for several days and crying my heart
out over
>my dad.
>
>so If any one is feeling down and bummed out. think about my dad and
the
>power he summoned up from his core to persevere and kick ass!  (a
very
>special thank you to the team of doctors and neuros and all who did
this
>amazing surgical procedure at Colombia/Presbyterian ,these guys ARE
THE BEST
>IN THE WORLD!
>