Marvin's brother has cancer

[petey]

Today, we found out that one of Marvin's brothers has pancreatic cancer.  It has also spread into his stomach, and right now, the doctors are not sure that surgery is even an option.  They are talking about chemo and radiation.  It was a sad day for our family.

Please keep us in your prayers.




TOPIC MOVED to appropriate section - Bajanne, Moderator

[okarol]

  That's so sad petey. Sending prayers - hugs too.

[Rerun]

I'm so sorry Petey.  I will pray for him and your family.  I hate cancer!

                                          
                                      

[G-Ma]

Your family is in my prayers.
Ann

[Chris]

Sorry to hear petey

[Sluff]

I'm so sorry to recieve this news Petey and Marvin. A person never knows what they will wake up with in the morning.  Please know that I will lift you, Marvin and the entire family in prayer, and ask for a miracle tonight for Marvin's brother.   

[kidney4traci]

I am sorry to hear about your sad news.  Hugs to you and Marvin, and his brother.   

[Wattle]

 

[Mimi]

Oh I just hate cancer, it is so sneaky.  Cindy is going through another waiting period, too.
She went for a mammogram Wednesday and they are having the Dr. look at it and tell her
whether to come back in for more pictures or not.  Please know that Marvin, you, and his brother
are in my prayers.  And I ask your prayers for my Cindy.

Love, Mimi

[paris]

Petey, I am sorry to hear this news.  How is Marvin taking it?  I hate being at the point in life where family members keep getting sick.  I will keep all of you in my prayers and the doctors so they can find a productive course of action for his brother.   Cling to each other.   

[twirl]

so sorry

[petey]

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support -- my IHD friends were the first ones I told.

Marvin is taking it okay, I guess.  He's decided that he's going to be there for Walt for anything and everything he needs.  It seems that cancer has been unusually rampant in Marvin's family.  His mother died of bladder cancer in 1993 at the age of 74, and that little tiny woman put up a terrific fight.  In the end, she went peacefully at home with all of us right there with her.  He has a nephew who survived non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (a miracle this man lived -- he's now 10 years cancer-free).  He had a niece who died of ovarian cancer at age 25.  His brother (who had a kidney transplant 15 years ago -- and still working!!) developed renal cancer about five years ago and had to have his original kidneys removed (the docs blamed the anti-rejection meds).

Marvin is the baby in the group.  He has four brothers and one sister.  All of the others were born within six years of each other (that was five children in six years for his mother -- God bless her soul).  Then, eight years later, Marvin came along.  He was definitely a "surprise baby."  His mom was 40 and his dad was 52 when he was born.  Marvin's dad died when Marvin was 12, so the older ones helped his mom raise him.  Marvin said it was like having four more dads and one extra mom.  And, then, Marvin is seven years older than I am, so his brothers and sister are actually old enough to be my parents (Marvin's nieces and nephews are closer to my age).  They are a very "tight" family.  Four of them (including us) live within 5 miles of where they grew up; the other two live about 15 miles away.  We see each other almost daily, and once a month (the last Saturday in the month), we have "family night" where we all get together and eat supper at someone's house (this often turns into 40-50 of us when you add in Marvin's nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews).

With all that Marvin's been through, he told me last night that he always thought he'd be the first one to go.  And then his eyes teared up.  I told him he'd probably outlive us all, and then to make him laugh, I added, "But you better make damn sure I am the one to get the spot in the cemetery next to your grandma!" (There's a family joke that the best spot in the cemetery is next to his grandmother's grave  - - it has a shade tree over it!!)

Walt has been in the hospital all week very sick.  At first, the doctors thought he had hepatitis, then they said yellow jaundice.  We had been after him to go to the doctor for some time -- he's lost a lot (like 50 pounds) in the last couple of months, and he just looked awful.  After many tests, they told him yesterday that it is pancreatic cancer.  They let him come home last night.  Walt called Marvin about 10 p.m. and said, "Can we have family night tomorrow night even though it's not the last Sat. in the month?"  And Marvin said, "You betcha!!"  So, tonight we're all eating supper together, and I'm sure there will be lots of tears and hugs.

[willieandwinnie]

  petey, I am so, so sorry. Please tell Marvin that I am going to add Walt (and your entire family) to our church prayer list. I pray God gives all of you strength and peace for journey you are about to go through. Please hug Marvin for me and tell him I'd love for him to be my brother. 

[monrein]

It just doesn't seem at all fair but then life often isn't fair.  I'm putting my energy and thoughts towards Walt (and Cindy too, Mimi) and wish all the best for your families.  Stay strong for each other.   

[MIbarra]

Petey, I'll keep your family in my prayers!   

[mikey07840]

Sorry Petey. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. 

[kitkatz]

 

[del]

I hae to hear that somebody has cancer. I hate to think of the suffering they have to go through.  I'll be thinking of you!! 

[Chris]

I wish I had a family like that in respects of being close and nearby. I hope you and Marvin have many more visits with his brother. Hope you had a good night with family night.
Chris

[G-Ma]

I agree with you Chris...........that is what I miss about living in ND close to my siblings and cousins....those family times I miss...my kids all work so many  hours we have trouble getting together a couple times a year......
Petey and Marvin and all your family are in my thoughts and prayers...........it sounds like your family supports each other very well.
Ann

[kidney4traci]

Petey and Marvin, you are blessed to have such a close family.  I have none around me - although God has blessed me with several close friends.  Thinking of you all tonight, hope your family dinner is a great time for all.  Enjoy each other, we never know what tomorrow brings. 

Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

[pelagia]

Oh Petey, I am very sorry to hear this news. I hope that Marvin and his brother will have much time to spend together in the coming months.

[rose1999]

Petey I am so very sorry to hear this, I'm sendig love and prayers to you, Marvin and Walt and all of your loved ones.

Mimi I am also sendig love and prayers for Cindy.

Cancer is a dreadful thing (I lost my husband to it when he was 52) but it can be beaten and it can be lived with and I hope that both Cindy and Walt can beat it or at worst live comfortably with it. 

Please let us know how they both go on.

[Bajanne]

Please let both Walt and Cindy know that there is a group of people all over the world who have them in their caring thoughts.    I am convinced that family support, as well as personal strength of spirit, goes a long way in dealing with the cancer challenge.  It worked for me.  As Rose asked, please keep us updated on the progress of both of them.

[petey]

For a last-minute, thrown-together meal, last night was wonderful.  There was lots of good food, lots of love in that place, and lots of laughs about "old times."   One brother couldn't make (prior engagement out-of-town that he couldn't get out of), but the other five were there, and they sat around and told stories from their childhood and teen years.  About half of the nieces and nephews were able to come.  All total, we had about 30 there.

Walt looked pretty bad -- yellow skin and yellow, yellow eyes.  He's lost so much weight that he looks like a scarecrow.  He's down to 130 pounds now.  He really enjoyed himself, but, by the end of the night, he was pretty tired.  I'm worried about his wife.  She told me and Marvin's sister that she thought the doctors jumped to a diagnosis too soon; she's not sure he has cancer, she said.  I think she's in denial.  It was her 25-year-old daughter who died of ovarian cancer about 10 years ago, so I know this must be a double blow to her.

We decided to change the last-Saturday-night-in-the-month-is-family-night thing we've been doing for years.  We changed it to every Saturday night will be family night.  If you can come, come on.  If you have other things going on, catch the next Saturday night.  We're going to just bring whatever we had planned to fix for our own little family and have a "covered dish" big family meal.  Though we may not ALL be there every Saturday night, there will be some family together.  Marvin's nephew now lives in the house where they all grew up, and he's built a building out back.  We're going to use that as our "meeting place."  I think it's a good idea.