My dad(57) was recently diagnosed with a rare bile duct cancer. 20 years ago he had colon cancer and beat it twice. I was very young then and don't remember much of anything from his first diagnosis. Now I am 31, have two kids of my own and another on the way and it is killing me to watch him struggle through this.
He started chemo two months ago but it has been ineffective and the doctor's asked him to stop until further notice. Because he has a J pouch and no colon he is more prone to infections and dehydration, which he has been in and out of the hospital for throughout this process.
For a bit he was doing really well, looking healthy again and able to function relatively normally, but all of a sudden he started declining. He went back into the hospital and came out with no clear answers. He has lost a ton of weight in just two weeks and is feeling hopeless. He has started to become withdrawn from everyone around him and sometimes quick to anger. He said he felt like they just sent him home to die.
My oldest son is 8 and his grandfather is his favorite person in the entire world and I don't know how to explain to him that he's been really sick and sometimes can't see him. I am 5 months pregnant and feel so emotional. My brother is also getting married in a little over a month and even though we don't talk about it, I know we are both worried he isn't going to be there for these big life events. He used to tell my son he would live 100 years because of him. Now he thinks he won't beat it this time.
My dad has always been a big, tough biker guy and seeing him so weak is really hard. I've just been swallowing my emotions and trying to be supportive however I can. He usually calls me every single day and checks in on me, even for a just a minute. I used to find it annoying, especially since he would nag me about forgetting to text him when I get home or that I made it to my destination. Now I find myself calling and checking on him more than he calls me and I can't imagine one day wanting to pick up the phone and not being able to call him.