When Daddy was getting out of the hospital in September, the nurses gave me several booklets to read. They pointed out one in particular as being VERY important for a cancer patient. It was about keeping as positive an attitude as possible.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Daddy was beginning to be like his old self, smiling again and believing that maybe he was going to get better. I could see how his positive attitude was definitely helping his health.

Then about 3 weeks ago, his doctor, the same one who told him he only had 3 months to live, told him there was really nothing they could do about his cancer. (even though all Daddy's tumors had all but disappeared and the two that were left were shrunk down to about an inch in size.) He told him that they could only keep it in check with the chemo and that he would have to take the treatments the rest of his life.

Daddy told me this when he came home and I tried not to make much of it but I noticed his attitude right away and the depressed look on his face. And now, three weeks or so later, he is so sick again, and it is something that can affect not only his treatments but the cancer itself.

Doctors, especially doctors who are dealing with terminal patients, need to read some of the pamphlets the AMA puts out. They need to be more positive with the patients. It is a proven fact that having a positive attitude works.

I don't believe there was any reason in the world to tell my Dad that there was no way he was going to be cured and that all they could do was try to keep the illness in check as long as they could. You could sure tell this came out of a doctor's mouth and not a nurse.

This is just one more of my complaints about doctors. I have others, like the time I woke up in the morgue after major surgery. That is a whole story in itself.

Anyway, Daddy went to the doctor today, just his primary care doctor, for this horrible cold he has come down with. He was given antibiotics and other medicine. So hopefully, this infection and cough he is dealing with will not kill him. Even though, it very easily could.

February 18, 1999~~~~~~~~

Daddy is no better today. In a lot of pain. I think it might be pneumonia. Mom and I are thinking he may have to go to the hospital again soon. Praying alot.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Dolls I made of Mom & Dad

Mom in her pretty new dress!