Dads Renovation Dream
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In June 2012 my dad was diagnosed with a form of lung cancer called Sarcoma, while on a holiday in Sydney.
He was told by doctors to return to the Gold Coast as soon as possible where he would be admitted to
John Flynn Hospital to undergo further testing.
We received the results from the test and it showed dad had a large tumour 7cm in diameter on his left lung,
(he has never smoked a cigarette in his life) the doctors told us they would have to remove his lung.
We were all so shocked to hear this news.
Dad this whole time remained his happy go lucky self, cracking jokes with the nurses and taking it in his stride.
The surgeons removed his lung and stitched him back up.
We were then told that he would have to undergo some chemotherapy treatment once a week for 12 weeks to clear up
any remaining cancer cells. So dad did that with no complaints.
After the chemo they gave him another scan to see how everything was looking, and found that where the lung had been removed there was still microscopic cancer cells.
They recommended dad should start radiation treatment to get rid of these bad cells. So dad went down to the hospital 4 days a week for a month and received his radiation.
After the radiation treatment he had yet another scan.
The doctors gave him the 'all clear' and said get out there and live life!! We will see you in 6 months for a check-up!
His family and friends were so excited he was finally in the clear
and could get back on track and live a normal happy long life again!
But it wasn't to be a couple of weeks after the "Good news" dad started to become really dizzy and light headed, he couldn't stop vomiting. He went down to see the local GP and was under the assumption that it had something to do with his blood pressure tablets being changed and this was causing him to feel light headed.
He was given the old tablets he was originally taking to reduce his blood pressure, but this had no success in changing the way he was feeling.
The doctors gave him another scan of where the lung was removed and it was still all clear, so they were
pretty stumped on what it could be...
On Wednesday the 10th of May 2013 he was given an MRI scan of his brain. The doctors came back with a result the next day. He has a sarcoma (the same cancer he had in his lung) an inch in size at the back of his head – close to the top of his spine, pressing on his central nervous system and four other small tumors on his brain.
The surgeons had to remove the large tumour and put a shunt in to drain fluid from his brain. He then had to undergo radiation therapy for the second time, but this time on his head.
This effected him immensly and he lost all mobility and was
pretty much confined to a wheel chair or bed as he didnt have
the strength to lift himself.
The doctors told us that this would give him some more time.
He was slowly deteriorating, it was the hardest thing our family and his friends could go through. Knowing that he was getting worse and there was nothing we could do to help.
He put up a heroic fight and was never going to give up for us, his family.
On the 3rd of January 2014, dad lost his battle with cancer.
There was a time while dad was in hospital where he went through a dramatic phase where he wanted to note down all the things he wanted to do ( i think because he knew the end was nearing) He had some awesome plans for what he wanted to do for the outside pool area at my parents home, which he never got to forfill.
My mum took time off work to be dads' full time carer through the whole sickness and stood by his side through thick and thin. With herself also unwell at the moment and has undergone her 3rd operation in as many years. She is slowly trying to do bits and pieces and chip away at dads plans, but being by herself and not well, she is struggling to fund the project.
Due to the rough time my mum has had to endure over the past 2 years, I was hoping to help her fulfill one of dad's last dreams, to try and bring her some happiness & a nice outdoor area to relax in.
If you or anyone you know is able to make a small donation of any amount, or able to offer a trade service in order to help complete the outdoor area it would be greatly appreciated beyond words.
Thanks for reading,
Mark
I have also put some pics up of the plans dad drew while in hospital.
Dad and i arm wrestling in John FLynn Hospital.
Dad a few years ago at the footy, fit and healthy
The day dad came to check out mine and my partners new place.
Dad receiving chemo therapy like a champ, nothing fased him!
Our last christmas in 2013 with dad.
Here's the list of plans dad wrote out while in hospital.
He was told by doctors to return to the Gold Coast as soon as possible where he would be admitted to
John Flynn Hospital to undergo further testing.
We received the results from the test and it showed dad had a large tumour 7cm in diameter on his left lung,
(he has never smoked a cigarette in his life) the doctors told us they would have to remove his lung.
We were all so shocked to hear this news.
Dad this whole time remained his happy go lucky self, cracking jokes with the nurses and taking it in his stride.
The surgeons removed his lung and stitched him back up.
We were then told that he would have to undergo some chemotherapy treatment once a week for 12 weeks to clear up
any remaining cancer cells. So dad did that with no complaints.
After the chemo they gave him another scan to see how everything was looking, and found that where the lung had been removed there was still microscopic cancer cells.
They recommended dad should start radiation treatment to get rid of these bad cells. So dad went down to the hospital 4 days a week for a month and received his radiation.
After the radiation treatment he had yet another scan.
The doctors gave him the 'all clear' and said get out there and live life!! We will see you in 6 months for a check-up!
His family and friends were so excited he was finally in the clear
and could get back on track and live a normal happy long life again!
But it wasn't to be a couple of weeks after the "Good news" dad started to become really dizzy and light headed, he couldn't stop vomiting. He went down to see the local GP and was under the assumption that it had something to do with his blood pressure tablets being changed and this was causing him to feel light headed.
He was given the old tablets he was originally taking to reduce his blood pressure, but this had no success in changing the way he was feeling.
The doctors gave him another scan of where the lung was removed and it was still all clear, so they were
pretty stumped on what it could be...
On Wednesday the 10th of May 2013 he was given an MRI scan of his brain. The doctors came back with a result the next day. He has a sarcoma (the same cancer he had in his lung) an inch in size at the back of his head – close to the top of his spine, pressing on his central nervous system and four other small tumors on his brain.
The surgeons had to remove the large tumour and put a shunt in to drain fluid from his brain. He then had to undergo radiation therapy for the second time, but this time on his head.
This effected him immensly and he lost all mobility and was
pretty much confined to a wheel chair or bed as he didnt have
the strength to lift himself.
The doctors told us that this would give him some more time.
He was slowly deteriorating, it was the hardest thing our family and his friends could go through. Knowing that he was getting worse and there was nothing we could do to help.
He put up a heroic fight and was never going to give up for us, his family.
On the 3rd of January 2014, dad lost his battle with cancer.
There was a time while dad was in hospital where he went through a dramatic phase where he wanted to note down all the things he wanted to do ( i think because he knew the end was nearing) He had some awesome plans for what he wanted to do for the outside pool area at my parents home, which he never got to forfill.
My mum took time off work to be dads' full time carer through the whole sickness and stood by his side through thick and thin. With herself also unwell at the moment and has undergone her 3rd operation in as many years. She is slowly trying to do bits and pieces and chip away at dads plans, but being by herself and not well, she is struggling to fund the project.
Due to the rough time my mum has had to endure over the past 2 years, I was hoping to help her fulfill one of dad's last dreams, to try and bring her some happiness & a nice outdoor area to relax in.
If you or anyone you know is able to make a small donation of any amount, or able to offer a trade service in order to help complete the outdoor area it would be greatly appreciated beyond words.
Thanks for reading,
Mark
I have also put some pics up of the plans dad drew while in hospital.
Dad and i arm wrestling in John FLynn Hospital.
Dad a few years ago at the footy, fit and healthy
The day dad came to check out mine and my partners new place.
Dad receiving chemo therapy like a champ, nothing fased him!
Our last christmas in 2013 with dad.
Here's the list of plans dad wrote out while in hospital.
Organizer
Mark Fitzgerald
Organizer
Burleigh Waters, QLD