My brother is terminal with Cancer

[Aztech]

Man, this is sad. My brother was diagnosed last December (2005) with a rare kidney cancer that had already spread to his lungs. He's gone through all the chemotherapy drugs and all that jazz and it wore him flat out. He's so thin and tired and cold now. Anyway, nothing has worked and all the approved drugs have been tried. It's pretty much over. He's got a couple of months or something. It sucks because he's married and has a young daughter and a young son.

He lives in the Houston, TX area and we've (my parents and my other brother and I) moved to an apartment near by to spend time with him while we can. Has anyone been through something like this? What's something special we can do for him and his family? He's still able to get around and we've been eating out and such, but we wanna do something bigger.

A cancer survivor friend of his just took them on an all expenses paid weekend to go see a Dallas Stars hockey game. This guy put them up in a super nice hotel and paid for the tickets in the front row ($300 each) and their meals and taxis and everything! What a guy.

more info:

He's 39. Wife's 29. Daughter is 7. Son is 5.

I bought the kids a Gamecube a while back and we've enjoyed the heck out of that. I got them Super Mario Party, the Monkey Ball games and the Pikmin games. They love them. I'm gonna buy the Wii for them as soon as it comes out. I've really enjoyed spending time with them.

Well, I just wanted to share this news in case anyone has any good ideas or thoughts or whatever. I think he wants to keep the trips to the surrounding area around Houston just in case he needs medical attention in an emergency or something, I don't know. We're talking about San Antonio for a weekend, Austin for a weekend, things like that. We're considering a cruise out of Galveston too...

Ahh man...

 

[imported_Ned Flanders]

...

 

[d3n]

That sucks. It's too bad that there are dozens of treatments tied up in clinical trials that might have helped. Target engineered viruses and what not. Still, if its in his lungs I don't think theres much at all that be done.

Makes you think though. I probably should bring home more fruits and veggies so my family has less of a chance to get sacked with something like this.

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: d3n
That sucks. It's too bad that there are dozens of treatments tied up in clinical trials that might have helped. Target engineered viruses and what not. Still, if its in his lungs I don't think theres much at all that be done.

Makes you think though. I probably should bring home more fruits and veggies so my family has less of a chance to get sacked with something like this.

Yeah, I think that's true about the fruits and veggies. One of my cousins gave him a book called Natural Strategies and people who don't eat enough fruits and veggies increase their chances by a lot. Since reading throught it, my younger brother and I have bought two more book. The titles are something like "Super Foods" and "The American Detox Diet" or close to it. Very enlightening. We've started eating a lot healthier recently. Cancer is still a mystery, but I'm not going out like that due to poor diet.

 

[funboy6942]

Having everyone around me die of cacer the best thing right now would be to spend as much quality time as you can with him. Try to make the best days with him and his family something to remember and talk about when he passes with all the good things you all shared with one another. Its going to be hard. I didnt loose a brother buth my step father, mother, and both grandparents and I can feel for you that it sucks and suck big time. You feel hopeless but being there for him and his family and trying to get things in order so his family wont have that one over thier heads as well would help them alot though all of this, not having to worry about getting all the other stuff prepaired.

I cant really offer much other then being there and lessening what other stress that may get piled on a little thinner to make this easier for his wife and kids. I wish you and your family the best of luck thoughout the rest of the tough times.

 

[Greenman]

The greatest gift you can give him is your promis that his kids will be taken care of.

 

[Vich]

Originally posted by: Greenman
The greatest gift you can give him is your promis that his kids will be taken care of.

That sounds great, but that is something he can just tell him ( and hopefully do).

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: Greenman
The greatest gift you can give him is your promis that his kids will be taken care of.

Yeah, that's his biggest concern. That's the hardest part is leaving his young kids and not knowing how they'll be/do. He's making videos for the big occasions in their lives and stuff.

 

[KarenMarie]

My prayers are with your family.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Greenman
The greatest gift you can give him is your promis that his kids will be taken care of.

Definitely. It's got to be hard leaving behind kids like that, especially when they're so young.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I am really sorry. Just think of all the good things that you will be able to remember.... and that we are all only here for such a sort time.

 

[eleison]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
My prayers are with your family.

If its any consolation, most nurses say that having cancer is a very peaceful way of dying... you just die in your sleep... all the drugs and what not... my condolences..

 

[moshquerade]

that is so heartbreaking. i didn't even like to take pictures of my father when he got to that stage cause he was so frail and pale that it didn't even look like him.

i agree with the others who have said to promise him you will look out for his kids and wife for life.

do anything you can to spend time with him. i found that my father made me feel better about his situation just by being with him. you don't have to go on a fancy trip. go fishing, go on a local guided boat tour, a scenic train ride, do some local things. there are usually a lot of local things to do if you investigate.

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

just spend as much time with your brother and his family. Pictures and videos would also be good as it will help the kids remember their dad.

 

[mrrman]

sorry to hear about that...just lost a friend last week to cancer and it sucks...I truely believe that we need antioxidents for our bodies so I eat alot of fruit and vegetables plus I love them...also I detox the body once a year...all you can do is spend quality time with your bro and family and let him know that all will be taken care of when the time comes