(Most recent updates first)
First received Monday, August 12, 2019
For Hunni H. of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania who is in the hospital and has just been diagnosed with acute leukemia....[August 19] Hunni is still in the hospital for transfusions. She started chemotherapy last Tuesday and has responded very well. Soon she will be released to rehabilitation and then will have another round of chemotherapy in September.
Update Thursday, August 22, 2019
After the initial good response to treatment, the leukemia came back aggressively. Hunni went into hospice care this morning and made her transition this evening. Continued support for Adam, her husband of sixty-five years, and her children and grandchildren.
First received Monday, August 19, 2019
For Wayne B. in Fairhope, Alabama who is in intensive care with multiple health issues, and for his son Drew.
Update Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Wayne made his transition today. Continued support for his son, Drew.
First received Thursday, July 5, 2018
For Brendon C. in Aurora, Colorado with a chronic incurable upper GI disorder who is in pain, depressed and feeling suicidal...[August 30] Brendon has been hospitalized in the ICU in Parker, Colorado with Chronic Vomiting Syndrome. The illness has been ongoing since December 2014 and has now been further complicated by diabetes...[September 16] Brendon is improving. He is now seeing a psychiatrist weekly who is teaching him coping techniques....[May 17] Brendon has gastroparesis which has no known cure. Periodic relief from the chronic vomiting and pain is available in hospitals. He has just been released from a week in a hospital but continues having daily nausea.
Update Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Brenden will have outpatient surgery on August 23 to install a new battery in his stomach stimulator for his gastroparesis.
First received Thursday, May 2, 2019
For Tom J. in Mounds View, Minnesota with fatigue and severe gastrointestinal issues... [May 3] Tom is hospitalized with severe dehydration. He must recuperate before having a colonoscopy to determine the cause of severe
diarrhea... [May 9] Tom was released from the hospital on May 5. He is recovering from acute renal failure. He will be evaluated by his primary doctor on May 9...[May 13] Tom will have a colonoscopy on May 21.[May 18] Tom has been diagnosed with C. diff and is on antibiotics for two weeks. The colonoscopy will be performed when he no longer has the infection... [June 10] A colonoscopy is scheduled for Tom on June 14 and a doctor's visit on June 18 that will hopefully resolve the cause of chronic diarrhea and weight loss...[June 24] Tom has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. He is on medication which is giving him some relief while he waits for his insurance company to approve an infusion type of medication that is needed to address his severe issues....[July 10] Tom's infusion medication was approved by insurance and he has had one infusion. His heart rate went up and his heart was monitored for a day. He had a stroke and heart attack on December 24. He has not had any other side-effects and his heart seems to be fine. He is scheduled for a second infusion on July 12...[July 16] Tom had his second infusion. He is having problems with fatigue and a sore throat which are gradually diminishing. These are common side effects. He is eating well, is not having diarrhea, and has stopped losing weight. He has lost sixty-five pounds since December 24. His next infusion will be August 9.
Update Saturday, August 17, 2019
Tom had his infusion on August 9 and experienced the same side effects of fatigue and cold-like symptoms. His weight remains stable, and he has not had any intestinal issues. The side effects are now minimal. He is having problems with weakness in his left leg as a result of his stroke and is not walking properly.
First received Tuesday, July 30, 2019
For Misha, a cat in Ojai, California with intestinal problems and loss of weight and energy.
Update Friday, August 16, 2019
Misha still has intestinal issues which could be cancer or a blockage. He had improved, but now he is not doing well.
First received Thursday, July 11, 2019
For David J. in Sticker, Cornwall, England whose hormone cancer treatment has stopped working, and for his family.
Update Thursday, August 15, 2019
Dave’s scan showed the cancer has not gone to his bones. He is now on steroids to help keep the cancer in the nodes.
First received Monday, August 12, 2019
For Cheryl C. in North Carolina who has been receiving chemotherapy for liver cancer and is now unresponsive, and for her family.
Update Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Cheryl has regained consciousness. After she receives chemotherapy, she will be placed on a list for a liver transplant.
First received Saturday, April 27, 2019
For John S. in Claremont, California with severe pain in his right hip from osteoarthritis...[May 26] John is scheduled for hip replacement surgery on May 28.
Update Monday, August 12, 2019
John's surgery was successful in resolving the deterioration and subsequent pain in his right hip. During recovery a second problem emerged in his right knee, a torn meniscus. He will have surgery on the meniscus on August 20.
First received Tuesday, July 2, 2019
For Miki I. in Vienna, Austria who is having four dental inlays removed on July 3 with the possibility of irritating nerves...[July 7]
"The dental procedure went well and so far the nerves seem not to have been affected." [July 20] "I will have intense and invasive dental work in which all teeth are to be drilled for crowns on July 22 (lower jaw) and July 24 (upper jaw). Support also for the dentist and his team."...[July 28] The latest procedures went well. The work will continue on August 1 and August 8. Miki is in constant pain and is therefore on pain medication. Continued support is requested.
Update Sunday, August 11, 2019
"Everything went well, still inflammation and discomfort, but moderate. It will take several months for the final adjustment, but the worst is over."
First received Saturday, June 29, 2019
For Eva G. in Vienna, Austria who is having surgery on July 4 for a recurrence of cancer...[July 7] Eva's surgery went well. The tumor was much bigger than expected. She will continue with radiation and chemotherapy.
Update Sunday, August 11, 2019
As Eva's surgical wound is not healing well, she cannot continue with the necessary treatment at this time.
First received Sunday, November 4, 2018
For Elfi I. in Austria who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer... [November 22] Elfi has surgery scheduled for Tuesday, November 27. Support for the best outcome for her and support also for the surgical team....[November 27] Her surgery went well. She needs to decide which follow-up treatment will be best for her....[February 3] Elfi starts four weeks of radiation treatment on February 5... [March 13] Elfi has completed the radiation treatment and will have her next check-up in three months... [April 1] Elfi has radiation pneumonitis as a consequence of the radiation treatment...[June 20] Elfi is still in recovery from the radiation pneumonia and is physically weak and emotionally unsteady. She now has to decide how to proceed with her post-operative breast cancer, whether to take hormone suppressing drugs or try another more holistic approach...[July 7] Elfi had another CT scan on her lungs because of her radiation pneumonia and it got worse. Continued support is requested.
Update Sunday, August 11, 2019
Elfi continues to take medication for her lungs and will begin long-term medication (anti-hormones and immunotherapy) to prevent cancer from coming back.
First received Tuesday, August 6, 2019
For ninety-three-year-old Rosemarie D. in Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany with dementia who is agitated after a fall last night.
Update Saturday, August 10, 2019
"Rosemarie is nearing her transition. She refuses to eat and drink and is partly despairing and agitated and partly calm."
First received Wednesday, August 7, 2019
For Heidrun K. in Berlin, Germany who fell in her home last Sunday and doesn't want to go to the doctor.
Update Friday, August 9, 2019
Heidrun discovered how to help herself and is nearly without pain now.
First received Friday, April 6, 2018
For Jim O. in St. Petersburg, Florida who is caring for elderly parents, and for his father who is having skin-graft surgery this week for radiation-damaged tissue on top of his head...[August 4, 2018] The skin-graft surgery was not successful and the cancer has returned. Jim will begin driving his father to Tampa every week to receive chemotherapy treatments...[January 20] Jim's parents are now living in separate facilities. His father still has squamous cell carcinoma and is not doing well. His mother has dementia.
Update Friday, August 9, 2019
Jim's father made his transition in July.
First received Sunday, September 23, 2018
For E. K. in Berlin, Germany with inflammatory bowel disease and weight loss.
Update Friday, August 9, 2019
E. K. is planning to visit the lake country in Prenzlau to enjoy nature.
First received Monday, August 13, 2018
For Neen B. in Huntsville, Alabama who is involved in a property management lawsuit...[July 30] A deposition will be given on July 30 regarding a misappropriation of funds.
Update Saturday, August 3, 2019
She and her former partner have agreed to sell the property and share the proceeds. They believe they have a buyer.
First received Sunday, July 21, 2019
For Cecilia V.M. in Miami, Florida who has a carcinoma.
Update Monday, July 29, 2019
Cecilia’s surgery for the skin cancer on her nose may be on August 13, and her family is looking for funds to pay for it since she does not have health insurance.
First received Thursday, June 6, 2019
For Alida S. in Santa Barbara, California who is deciding about the best procedure for removing a deep basal cell cancer on her nose... [June 25] Alida will have surgery to remove the cancer on July 22.
Update Friday, July 26, 2019
Alida’s surgery went well and she is recovering. Plastic surgery will be needed on her nose area, but the cancer was not as deep as expected.
First received Saturday, May 4, 2019
For Luis S. and his wife in Santiago de Chile, Chile as they go through the procedure to validate their medical licenses in Chile after they left Venezuela.
Update Thursday, July 25, 2019
"Luis is very grateful. He passed the revalidation examination as a physician and is now looking forward to doing a master’s degree to be a cardiologist/internist. The whole family is celebrating."
First received Thursday, July 11, 2019
For Daniel G. in Berlin, Germany as he meets with officials on July 16 to renew his German visa.
Update Thursday, July 25, 2019
Daniel was able to obtain a one-year extension of his visa to remain in Germany.