The Results

It took about a week to get the results.  They were good.  Even Dr. Ravi was surprised, he originally gave daddy six to eight months, when the dye went trhough the kidneys into the tube, showing that the cancer had not spread and daddy only needed to have the kidney removed and then start the chemo he felt it would add some more time.

By this time one of us or all of us went with momma and daddy for any doctor appointment.  I think it use to bother him.  Maybe he felt we were treating him as a child or not trusting him, but we were not taking any more chances.  We were there whether he liked it or not. 

The surgery was scheduled in October to remove the kidney, first week.  One week after the family picnic and the Filipino dinner.  We were all a little more hopeful.  Maybe daddy would beat this cancer just like he believed he could and in the back of our minds we kept thinking he would be the one to do it.

Knee Surgery

Years ago, maybe twenty years ago, daddy had to have a knee replacement.  He kept trying to put it off but finally decided to go through with it.  Daddy has not been in the hospital ever, I don't think he was even born in a hospital and when we were born they didn't let dad's in the room till after the birth.  No hospital as a patient, just a visitor.  Daddy dresses for his surgery.  Sweat pants.  The importance of sweat pants didn't mean anything at the moment but when he registered and started prep for the surgery, he proceeded to lift the sweat pant on the leg for knee surgery and told them he was ready.  Ha! Ha!  Boy was he upset when he found out he had to totally undress for a "knee" surgery. 

Later, after the surgery the doctor informed him that after the anesthesia wore off he would have some pain so they provided him with a liquid codiene that was suppose to last seven days.  NOT.  The anesthesia wore off and he couldn't drink it fast enough in a day and a half.  Luckily the doctor renewed the prescription and he made this one last till the end of week.

"kidneys"

We our having our meeting with the oncologist.  First they will need to insert some dye and take an MRI of daddy's kidney.  The doctor needs to check to see if the dyes flows through the kidney and out to the vein.  It it does, that's a good thing.  It means there is no blockage and a good chance the cancer hasn't spread to other areas.  The funny thing is that daddy is totally claustrophobic.  We didn't know this till a few years ago when he had to do a MRI for prostate.  They asked him if he would be okay, because momma usually gets sedated and she warned him it could get claustrophobic.  Daddy said no problem.  Well "John" put him on the table, set the  music and told him, "okay Ray, if you get nervous just knock on the wall and we'll pull you out."  Slowly they pull him into the tube, bam!  Daddy starts screaming and kicking.  "Get me the hell out of here John!"  Claustrophobic. 

Another MRI but this time they said his whole body wouldn't go in and it would be a circle MRI.

Happy New Year 2011!!

It's going to be a new year and I am so ready but I miss daddy so much my heart hurts and it's an effort not to cry anymore, hoping for a better year and easier bumps ahead.  Happy New Year 2011!!

Easter in Porterville

We usually had Easter in Porterville at grandmas house; volleyball, food, and of course the Easter Egg hunt.  She raised chickens for eggs and Bar-B-Que (sometimes rabbits).  It would be an adventure before they even got on the grill.  First daddy would chase the chickens and it depended on how many were there.  I remember one year when he asked us if we wanted to know if the chickens would run without their heads.  We were game.  Yes we wanted to see.  Were in the back, grandma had a green grass yard with the volleyball net and tables, then farther back were the coops with plants of vegetables and chickens.

First thing first, daddy had to catch the chickens.  He had to be fast because grandma had them in the back but they had a big area to run around in, and they're pretty fast.  Finally he catches a few and proceeds to "chop" their heads off, holding the neck he warns us, "o.k. I'm letting them go so you could see them run."  We're screaming and running in circles along with the chickens.  I don't remember being scared, more excited, they really do run around without their heads.  Daddy laughed, we laughed, then proceeded to play volleyball with grandma and everyone else. 

The scary part for us is when they had to gut them, pluck them, then cut-up to cook.  The realization that the chickens that we saw every weekend were now going to be on our plates along with other fixings is what was scary.  I don't think Badoll ate chicken for two years.  Personally, the chicken was the best chicken I have tasted since.

The meetings

Things are getting busy.  Meetings with the social workers, oncologists for the kidney and the shoulder, gasteronologists, lab work, and then there is momma's oncologists, gasteronologist, internist, orthopaedic surgeon, and more lab work.  

With momma we usually know what's going on, daddy is a whole different story and this time we're making sure at least one of us is going with him to all of his appointments.  He tends to color coat medical information and we want to make sure there are no more surprises. One scare was enough. Daddy in his own way is still trying to protect us even at the expense of his own health.

One appointment; me, badoll, and chris, are there and the oncologist is asking him:
   Are you having pain?
   How long has the arm been bothering you?
   How do you feel?

It's like a movie, we are sitting there waiting.... with abated breath for the answers.  One of us thought we could answer for him and boy did we get the look.  Funny.

The old days

When we were kids it was definitely different and I think better in some ways for our own kids.  We didn't have the tons of toys, all the technology, and all the fears.  We lived on California Street and once a week the milkman would come and drop off glass jars of milk.  The pan dulce truck would come twice a week with trays of fresh Mexican sweet bread.  If I think about it hard enough I could smell them and taste the sugar topping of the bollilo breads.  Then there was the Library bookmobile, my favorite.  Once a week the bus would almost park between our house and Aunt Connie's and we would check out two books at a time.  I got to read all the Nancy Drew  mysteries, Gabe read all the Hardy boys and my first American classic - Little Women.  I loved that book.  Badoll read Nancy Drew too and too early for Christina yet.

I had one Barbie -versus- the twenty kids have now, not the mention the Bratz and the other Barbies, the more bustier, more ethnic.  We played outside from sunup to sundown.  Read a book instead watching TV.  But, then we have more cars, more conveniences, more techology then we know what to do with.  Too bad we couldn't mix the two, that would be great.