Deja Vu

Have you ever been caught off guard? 

Not like someone startling you because you didn’t notice them there. More like when you are rough housing with your kid and you let them punch you in the stomach with your hands behind your back – you know you are tough enough to handle whatever force a 5 year old can muster as you flex what used to be rock hard abs once upon a time – and then BAM! Turns out you “knew” nothing about how much force is needed to cause you to double over in sudden pain while gasping for air and wiping drops of moisture from your eyes; especially when that force is applied rapidly by the small surface area of a balled up 5 year old hand directly into your solar plexus. Not that I have ever experienced that…

On July 11th, it will have been one full year since Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer, specifically stage IV mucinous adenocarcinoma. There have been some sleepless nights, some ups and some downs. Some chemotherapy and some surgeries. Some laughs and some tears. Surely though, there has been some time to process where we are at and where we are going. Based on this time and experience, I “knew” that I was ready for the next complication to come – whatever and whenever that would happen to be. 

Apparently I should take more life lessons from my kids. 

Dad is back in the hospital. He has been having some stomach discomfort lately, a few fevers, and some abdominal distention. None of which is new, however today brought some significant pain with distention and an abdomen that is hard as a rock but not from a Men’s Health six week summer workout plan. After a few hours in the ER and a few scans Dad was given an initial diagnosis of: partial small bowel obstruction. There was some further discussion regarding fluid accumulation within the abdominal cavity and increased fluid in the cavity where his right lung used to be. We will be meeting with a surgeon in the morning for further information and to develop an action plan. 

This feels a bit like déjà vu. Almost one full year ago we were preparing for our annual California beach house trip. Dad had just bought some new fishing poles we were going to try off the beach and from the pier. We had our fishing licenses and my brother even had his dramamine for our half day deep sea fishing reservation. Ice chests were full of snacks. Sun block was loaded in bulk. The girls had shopping plans and the kids were ready to run endlessly into crashing waves. The Big Kahuna (beach house) was steps off the boardwalk and the sand and salty air was calling our names. That weekend Dad assumed he had eaten something that didnt settle with him or had a bout of food poisoning. His stomach was distended and rock hard. He wound up taking a trip to the ER just to get checked before heading to California. What did the ER find? A bowel obstruction and some fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Déjà vu.

Right now déjà vu feels a lot like the fist of a 5 year old boy being driven firmly into my solar plexus. 

As with everything, we will place one foot in front of the other and see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully having a chance to review tests and scans with doctors in the morning will shed some light on the situation and answer a few of the many questions currently swirling around in our heads. Until then we have a fantastic nurse and Dad has found enough comfort to fall asleep.

More info to come; hopefully soon.  Thanks for following along with us on this journey and for providing so many thoughts, prayers, and various forms of support.  It has been greatly appreciated. 

With Hope and Love,

Richard