Sam Austin's Memorial Services

Hi Everyone,

Our family is going through a difficult time right now from suddenly finding out that we will not have much time to spend with our dad. Never did we imagine that we would be going through the same thing 2 years later after our mom Antoinette passed away.


Many people know our dad through music and playing in the streets of San Francisco because that is what he loved to do. You could find him in the bart stations playing his flute or his saxophone a couple of nights throughout the week. His passion for the sound of music as it echoed in the tunnels that brought people to stop and listen, dance which put smiles on their faces is why he would do it. He could talk about music and basketball for hours if you let him, lol!

Dad just got the all clear from his cancer a few months ago which he was diagnosed with almost 2 years ago. He was so happy and looking forward to getting back to his normal self after taking serveral medication for cancer and the blood clots in his legs. He started to feel under the weather while retaining a lot of water after stopping the cancer treatment drugs. He assumed it was his system just trying to adjust to some type of normalcy. 

On Monday July 18th he decided to drive himself to Seton emergency in Daly City because he started to feel pain in his legs. He was admitted to the hospital for open wounds on his legs, something that we did not know he had. The hospital did blood tests and a catscan to determine what was going on. When the results came back, the doctors told us that they saw something in the catscan that did not look normal (they said it might be cancer that spread throughout his body) and blood tests determined infection.

On Thursday the 21st, he was scheduled to do a biopsy and operation in his leg. Once they opened his leg to clean out the wound the doctors found an intensive infection throughout his leg. It was bad enough that they told us they might have to amputate his leg. Although we were worried and in shock we were more concerned about the biopsy results which we were going to find out the next day. We got the call for the results........Cancer! The cancer has spread throuhout his body, it was everywhere. They said it had nothing to do with his prostate cancer, it was a whole new cancer attacking his body. On top of the cancer he has an infection which he will only have a couple of weeks to live says the doctor. 

What! What do you mean? We are all in shock thinking how could this be, we thought he was in the clear? Nothing made sense and it still doesn't!! So now we are at the point of trying to find a place to move him to and make him feel comfortable as possible. We are getting different options everyday on placement from his case worker. We are hoping that we can find a place that his insurance will cover the costs, but we have to be financially ready to pay a deductible (out of pocket). This is very stressful as we are taking unpaid time off of work to be there for our dad and at the same time try to support our familes. 

We want to thank everyone for the love, prayers, and well wishes for our dad and our family as we try to make sense of everything that is going on. Any little amount will be helpful to our family as we have to make the unevitable decisions we are faced with. If nothing else we ask you to just continue to pray for us and no more suffering for our dad as we get through the lasting weeks of our DAD's life.

Dad is currently at Seton in room 627 and, though he is confused and sleeping a lot, really appreciates visitors. The nurse has also said it would be wonderful if his musician friends could play him some music.  He really responds to music playing and tries to dance through the pain.  He is allowed visitors 24 hours a day.  We aren't sure how long he will be there, but we will keep you updated here and on his Facebook page when he does move.  

Please watch these videos of our DAD as he does what he loves...........PLAYING MUSIC!

BRIGHT MOMENTS AS OUR DAD WOULD SAY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GahRa_jvO0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyj6pV30YIA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eabmD9lwWk