Dear Family and Friends,
I am writing this from Walter's hospital room at Memorial Sloan Kettering where he has been for over two weeks. I want to keep you all informed about Walter's condition.
Some of you may recall that Walter was first diagnosed with colon cancer in October of 2000. At that time we were assured by his doctors that he had a low grade tumor that could be treated with resection and chemo. Unfortunately the cancer metastasized to his liver in 2004. After more surgery and chemo he was cancer free until 2006. When Walter had a relapse in 2006, he decided to compliment the traditional treatments with natural and biological medicine. While going through chemo, he also underwent treatments at the Paracelsus Klinik for Biological Medicine in Switzerland from July 2006 until June of this year. I believe Walter beat the odds because of the alternative treatments (according to the NIH stats, less than 10 % of people with metastatic colon cancer live five years or longer).
At the end of April, we learned that the cancer was beginning to spread again. In June Walter started having symptoms that debilitated him for the first time since all this started. The disease first attacked his voice and swallowing and is now in his bones. This time he was hospitalized because the pain was excruciating. While here he received radiation treatments to relieve some of the pain. He is also heavily sedated and seems to be comfortable now. On Friday Walter's oncologist recommended hospice care.
I've decided to do hospice care for Walter at our home. Walter is comfortable with this decision. The focus of the care that Walter is now receiving is to make him as comfortable as possible. When he is awake for brief periods he is lucid and mentally alert. He is most generous to his caregivers, often coaxing a smile from them with humor and letting them know how grateful he is.
I've given a summary of Walter's experience with cancer ("battle with cancer" doesn't seem appropriate for an activist scholar like Walter) because many of you may not know how long he has been dealing with it. It would be an understatement to say that Walter has an enormous need for privacy that I have tried very hard to respect. A number of you have understood and have assured me that Walter has every right to experience this final journey as he chooses.
I watched Walter struggle with having to give up the vision he had of how he wanted his life's journey to end. He had hoped to teach two more courses during the 2008-2009 academic years and complete a number of writing projects. It continues to be his most difficult surrender.
Finally, for those of you who do not already know Walter and I got married a couple of years ago. This official act was quite simply an affirmation of our commitment to each other over the past 23 years.
I am most grateful for the concern you all have shown for Walter's well being over these many years. Please feel free to email me back. I will be happy to read your messages to him.
The most valuable gift you can give Walter is to STAY ENGAGED!!!!
Chelli
No comments:
Post a Comment