Father with Stage IV Mucinous BAC passed away, was given transplant option! - 1254497

hopefaith777
Posts:4

Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your support and insightful knowledge throughout our grueling journey with this monstrous disease. You are all a true blessing, and we have always thanked God that this resource was available to us when we needed it, especially during unclear times where your clarification eased our hearts and minds. My dad had been diagnosed with BAC 5 years ago, and a few short years after that was diagnosed with Stage IV mucinous BAC. After a long, hard, and strong fight, he succumbed on Feburary 22nd around all of those that he loved. Myself, my 3 older brothers... we were there for his last breaths. He had began to decline around the Fall of last year... had to stop working, go on oxygen around the clock, developed a life threatening pneumonia that cleared on Christmas day (he was even without oxygen on room air after the infection cleared), however, that was short lived. He began a few weeks after needing oxygen again... more coughing, more mucous. After suffering a pulmonary embolism.. he just couldn't come back to us. He wound up succumbing to hypercapnia in the end. His kidneys were shutting down, the sclera of his eyes were yellow (his CO2 level was over 100, even after being on Bipap).
Something that I do want to share, however, is that throughout all of this.. his pulmonologist AND oncologist presented us with the option of a lung transplant. My dad was far too weak at this point, unfortunately (wish they would have offered sooner). There was a doctor that had recently been recruited from Loyola in Chicago to Froedtert in Milwaukee, his name is Dr. Bob Love. This man is all over the internet.. he takes on the untakebale. When some are turned away, he will take it on. So, this man that has 100 hour work weeks got our messages, and as my father was on his death bed, himself called my brother. Of course, per my brother's description of my father's condition, he was by far too weak... to be continued

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Reply # - March 5, 2013, 07:36 PM

hopefaith777
Posts: 4

to be taken on as a transplant candidate... after all the infections.. his weakened body would never survive. This was correct. However, Dr. Bob Love said that he had previously taken on patients with BAC.. and if my dad were to get over this hump and get stronger, the door was WIDE OPEN to a transplant.

All I know, is that had my father been stronger.. a few months earlier... we would have undertaken this, and Dr. Bob Love would have been our guy. Seriously.. google him. He is amazing. He undertook the first ever double lung/kidney transplant I believe. A completely humble, Christian man... just the man my dad would have loved to take him on. A man after God's own heart.

Anyhow... just wanted to say thank you to you all again.. Thanks will never be enough. Losing my dad... a man that has dedicated his entire life to God and being a good person, valuing everyone.. is like being kicked in the stomach and not being able to get air. How much he has suffered... it's heartbreaking. What I do know, is where he is. He used to play trombone professionally and toured with a group called Servant Brass. One of his bandmates wrote us a card and put this quote in it. This quote keeps me going, and helps fill the void and sorrow in my heart.

"When you were whispering, 'there he goes,' from the other side of the shore, they were shouting, 'here he comes!'

:-)

Thank you again.

Reply # - March 6, 2013, 12:17 PM

marisa93
Posts: 215

I'm very sorry for the loss of your father. It's nice to hear how much you were all helped by GRACE, I feel the same way. This is a wonderful place to be if the need arises. Take care of yourself and my best wishes to you and your family as you heal.

Lisa

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