Benefit for Timothy Barber/Medical
Donation protected
SHARING THIS FOR Diana Heitman Barber. THEY'VE BEEN BATTLING BRAIN CANCER FOR 9+ YEARS. OFFICIAL UPDATE ON TIM:
On Monday, July 8, 2019, we went to have the scheduled MRI done. Before we had gotten home from the hospital, the doc called and said he was VERY concerned because the tumor that was the size of an egg 3 months ago, has grown so much that it is now covering both sides of the brain, and that there is a lot of swelling on his brain. The doc put him on steroids to help bring down the swelling and then said they'd call back after they talk to Mayo Clinic and Wash U to see about more treatment options.
When the doc called back, they hadn't found any available treatment options for him, and when bbn I asked for a timeline, was told that without treatment, he has less than 3 months, tops. The Mayo Clinic said that the surgery to remove this large of a tumor would most definitely kill him instantly.
Monday he was feeling pretty good, so we attempted to go to Donnies last baseball game of the season. We made it there for about 45 minutes, until I could tell that Tim needed to go home. So I pulled Donnie from the game and left. By the time we got home, Tim had lost all ability to use his motor skills. He couldn't walk or talk right, he couldn't find his mouth with the straw each time he went to take a drink, and he was constantly trying to reach for and pick up items that didnt exist. This scared me to death. It took me about 2 hours to get him to lay down, and almost immediately he was snoring. I watched him closely all night. I called the after hours emergency line for his oncologist, who called back right away and I told her what was going on. She said these symptoms are from the amount of swelling on his brain. She was also convinced that he would wake up the next day in the same state he went to bed like.
So the next day, I tried to wake him up twice, even violently shaking him, and he would not wake up. After taking to his brother who convinced me to call EMS because he was afraid that Tim had fallen into a coma, I called and had EMS here before he got out of bed. The dispatcher told me a few things to try to wake him up, which actually worked. He woke up, and he could talk and walk a lot better. Still didnt have all his faculties, but one heck of a lot better than Monday night! Tuesday and Wednesday were great days, Tim was feeling ok, just needs a lot of reminders throughout the days. But at any moment, per the oncologist, he could slip back into one of these episodes where he could lose motor function at which point he would need emergency services to be called.
I am looking for someone to come help with caregiving when I return to work on August 5th through 8th, and then full time starting August 13th. The hours initially would be from 545am til 615pm. That may change into the fall. I would pay this person, but is unable to afford full time nurses, as they are extremely expensive. This person would most of the time just need to watch Tim and make sure he is ok. Warming up food I've prepared ahead of time, giving medications at the correct times and occassionally taking him to theoncologists' office, located in Lake St. Louis would be additional things needed. If I dont find someone for this before starting work, i will be forced to put him in a nursing home which he doesnt need most of the time, would be very tight financially and which he would absolutely hate. Please feel free to share this request and have them contact me at [phone redacted]. We need this ASAP! It seems like a no win situation. I HATE everything about this! And as always, prayers are greatly appreciated!
On Monday, July 8, 2019, we went to have the scheduled MRI done. Before we had gotten home from the hospital, the doc called and said he was VERY concerned because the tumor that was the size of an egg 3 months ago, has grown so much that it is now covering both sides of the brain, and that there is a lot of swelling on his brain. The doc put him on steroids to help bring down the swelling and then said they'd call back after they talk to Mayo Clinic and Wash U to see about more treatment options.
When the doc called back, they hadn't found any available treatment options for him, and when bbn I asked for a timeline, was told that without treatment, he has less than 3 months, tops. The Mayo Clinic said that the surgery to remove this large of a tumor would most definitely kill him instantly.
Monday he was feeling pretty good, so we attempted to go to Donnies last baseball game of the season. We made it there for about 45 minutes, until I could tell that Tim needed to go home. So I pulled Donnie from the game and left. By the time we got home, Tim had lost all ability to use his motor skills. He couldn't walk or talk right, he couldn't find his mouth with the straw each time he went to take a drink, and he was constantly trying to reach for and pick up items that didnt exist. This scared me to death. It took me about 2 hours to get him to lay down, and almost immediately he was snoring. I watched him closely all night. I called the after hours emergency line for his oncologist, who called back right away and I told her what was going on. She said these symptoms are from the amount of swelling on his brain. She was also convinced that he would wake up the next day in the same state he went to bed like.
So the next day, I tried to wake him up twice, even violently shaking him, and he would not wake up. After taking to his brother who convinced me to call EMS because he was afraid that Tim had fallen into a coma, I called and had EMS here before he got out of bed. The dispatcher told me a few things to try to wake him up, which actually worked. He woke up, and he could talk and walk a lot better. Still didnt have all his faculties, but one heck of a lot better than Monday night! Tuesday and Wednesday were great days, Tim was feeling ok, just needs a lot of reminders throughout the days. But at any moment, per the oncologist, he could slip back into one of these episodes where he could lose motor function at which point he would need emergency services to be called.
I am looking for someone to come help with caregiving when I return to work on August 5th through 8th, and then full time starting August 13th. The hours initially would be from 545am til 615pm. That may change into the fall. I would pay this person, but is unable to afford full time nurses, as they are extremely expensive. This person would most of the time just need to watch Tim and make sure he is ok. Warming up food I've prepared ahead of time, giving medications at the correct times and occassionally taking him to theoncologists' office, located in Lake St. Louis would be additional things needed. If I dont find someone for this before starting work, i will be forced to put him in a nursing home which he doesnt need most of the time, would be very tight financially and which he would absolutely hate. Please feel free to share this request and have them contact me at [phone redacted]. We need this ASAP! It seems like a no win situation. I HATE everything about this! And as always, prayers are greatly appreciated!
Organiser
Diana Heitman Barber
Organiser
Troy, MO
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