Tuesday: November 22

We went and saw an Oncologist here in Lompoc today and she gave us a bit more hope than we have received since dads visit with the VA Doctors the end of last month. She said she feels dads condition, his weakness and inability to carry a good conversation, is not due to the cancer but due to the ammonia levels currently in his body. She is having blood drawn tonight to see what the levels are exactly and then going to start him on a medicine called Lactulose to lower the ammonia in his body. According to the Doctor, dad should be feeling a bit better and not so weak. Of course, this is not a cure, but to help him feel better and give him a desire to fight for his life. On December 1st she is going to start him on a drip chemotherapy in her office. She understands that since the liver function is critical, he can only handle a very low dose of the chemo. She is thinking about 10% of what he would normally receive. The chemo probably won't make him feel the greatest, however, the Doctor didn't think it would make him feel any worse than he already does. He is currently having trouble with the left kidney draining so we are trying to get him in to see a Urologist in Santa Barbara to see what he feels is needed at this time. We continue to pray and believe God to work it all out. Dad was ready to get back in the bed as soon as we arrived home from the Doctor today, we told him we were going to sit him in the front room and feed him some more shakes...he just stuck his tongue out! :) We feel his spirits were lifted some today. He has been weary of feeling so bad and just knowing he could possibly get some relief, was good news.