Ticket to Care for Sick Grandfather
Donation protected
Two weeks ago I decided to buy a last minute ticket to Japan to see my grandfather who has been ill for about two months. I had a feeling something serious was wrong with him when he had told me over the phone that he had lost 30 pounds in about 6 weeks. Of course being the grandpa he is, he didnt want to worry me so he didnt tell me how sick he was until he felt REALLY sick.
As soon as I arrived to Japan I took him to the clinic to get an endoscopy done. The doctor found stomach cancer right away. That same day the doctor sent my grandfather to a bigger hospital to get checked by an emergency cancer specialist. That specialist immediately had my grandpa hospitalized for extreme weight loss, kidney failure, and dehydration. After a week in the hospital my grandfather was scheduled for his surgery to remove his stomach cancer. The doctor warned us that he found spots in his CT scan on his kidneys and liver but wasnt sure if it was cancerous or not. He was going to determine his diagnosis during surgery. We were hoping the cancer had not spread any further than his stomach.
But unfortunately after his surgery we got devastating news. The doctor informed us that he has peritoneal stomach cancer which means the cancer has metastasized to his kidneys, liver, and pancreas. Due to the vast amounts of cancer he has, the surgeon decided he could not remove any of the cancer. Taking out that many parts of his organs would be too dangerous and almost impossible. That left the surgeon with only one option, and that was to insert a tube from his stomach to his intestines to allow him to eat ( as he was unable to eat before).
The doctors priority is to make sure my grandfather can eat again so he can live out the rest of his life enjoying one of the greatest parts of living...food. We are not sure what further treatment can be done at this point. But for now I want to make sure my grandfather lives a happy, pain free life.
My grandparents live alone which is a big concern for me as my grandmother can barely walk. I feel it is best for all of us if I come back to Japan for my summer break to take care of him. I will be done with my spring semester at the end of May. I want to spend as much time with him as possible.
I am asking for any donations to help make this a little easier financially. I just recently had to pay an extra $500 just to extend my stay a few days after his surgery.
Anything is greatly appreciated. Even $5 would help. I thank all of you for taking the time out to read this.
As soon as I arrived to Japan I took him to the clinic to get an endoscopy done. The doctor found stomach cancer right away. That same day the doctor sent my grandfather to a bigger hospital to get checked by an emergency cancer specialist. That specialist immediately had my grandpa hospitalized for extreme weight loss, kidney failure, and dehydration. After a week in the hospital my grandfather was scheduled for his surgery to remove his stomach cancer. The doctor warned us that he found spots in his CT scan on his kidneys and liver but wasnt sure if it was cancerous or not. He was going to determine his diagnosis during surgery. We were hoping the cancer had not spread any further than his stomach.
But unfortunately after his surgery we got devastating news. The doctor informed us that he has peritoneal stomach cancer which means the cancer has metastasized to his kidneys, liver, and pancreas. Due to the vast amounts of cancer he has, the surgeon decided he could not remove any of the cancer. Taking out that many parts of his organs would be too dangerous and almost impossible. That left the surgeon with only one option, and that was to insert a tube from his stomach to his intestines to allow him to eat ( as he was unable to eat before).
The doctors priority is to make sure my grandfather can eat again so he can live out the rest of his life enjoying one of the greatest parts of living...food. We are not sure what further treatment can be done at this point. But for now I want to make sure my grandfather lives a happy, pain free life.
My grandparents live alone which is a big concern for me as my grandmother can barely walk. I feel it is best for all of us if I come back to Japan for my summer break to take care of him. I will be done with my spring semester at the end of May. I want to spend as much time with him as possible.
I am asking for any donations to help make this a little easier financially. I just recently had to pay an extra $500 just to extend my stay a few days after his surgery.
Anything is greatly appreciated. Even $5 would help. I thank all of you for taking the time out to read this.
Organizer
Rachel Stafford
Organizer
San Mateo, CA
