patti77

Hi Mark, my brother had dark urine and fluid retention. It was discovered that he had a collapsed bile duct at the time and they were able to do a procedure to reroute the duct. He also had a drain put in to drain the fluid from his abdomen, which was principally made up of lymphatic fluid.

Have they tested your father to see what the fluid is comprised of? My brother’s doctor also had his fluid checked for cancer cells and infection. (He had neither.)

Is your father in good enough shape to receive additional chemo or targeted radiation? I would recommend that you and your father create a list of questions and sit down with his oncologist to review what can be done and what the root of the issues are for his fluid retention.

I will be keeping your father in my prayers.

God bless,

Patti

Dear Gerardo… My deepest sympathy at the passing of your dear and beloved Ginger. We will be lifting you up in prayer for the healing of your broken heart and the strength of your continued memories to replace your grief.

Know that Ginger is at rest and the struggle is over…We will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

God bless…

Patti

Hi Melinda! This is wonderful news for everyone! This was the trial that I was researching for my brother Bruce…and one that he desperately wanted to get into. Unfortunately, he was precluded from entering the trial due to one thing: the fluid retention in his abdomen. If only we had been able to convince him to go for the trial last July when he was “fluid-free.”

My advice and lessons learned from this is to move fast with entering a clinical trial. Don’t wait until it is too late and you are not physically able to be a part of it.

I believe, and my brother Bruce believed as well, that this particular trial holds great hope. If anyone here is interested in talking with Bethesda regarding viability for being part of this trial (they were still recruiting when I spoke with them in early January), the contact info is:

Contact: June Kryk, R.N. (301) 451-1929 ncisbirc@mail.nih.gov (I spoke with June multiple times.)
Contact: Steven A Rosenberg, M.D. (301) 496-4164 sar@mail.nih.gov

Links to more info on the trial:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01174121?term=cholangiocarcinoma&recr=Open&rank=48

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=683241&version=HealthProfessional&protocolsearchid=11144799

Wishing you all of the best! We are all cheering you on, Melinda!

God bless,

Patti

Dear Deane,

What a very hard January we both (and our families) have endured! Your words had a very profound effect on me as I share the same sorrow and gratitude that you described so well.

I just realized that your mom and my brother entered heaven on the same day and same time: January 17 at 5:00PM — Did anyone mention to you the most amazing sun set at that time? It was on the news in Pittsburgh, and according to family friends, people were pulling off the parkway on their way home from work to capture its beauty. I like to think it was my brother saying goodbye…and now will include your dear mom in that thought.

How beautiful that you and your brother are finding ways to honor your mom’s name…through generosity and through service!

I will keep you and your family in my prayers, as well, for continued healing and peace.

With love and God bless,

Patti