troop
Well-known member
Today is my first day of freedom. I am free from endless appointments and tests. No more poking veins, no more MRI's, CT scans and no more biopsies. The stress of it all has been greatly reduced. We are now on hospice care.
After careful consideration we have decided not to be listed for a risky second liver transplant. After talking with the liver team they have convinced us the risk and quality of life (if I do make it through the surgery) is just not worth going forward. The unbearable stress it's put on Joan and I is just too much to go through again. With the transplant it is almost sure my PTLD lymphoma cancer would come back because of the high dose of anti rejection drugs I would be taking for next year or more. The chances of surviving the first year is 51%. The surgery would be 20 to 30% more risk than the first because of the scar tissue and risk of bleeding out on the table. My health today is way worse than it was the first transplant so that makes recovery that much harder. Google explains best. I just wanted to thank you all for your prayers and support through the years. This has been going on since 2018. I've been sick long enough. I hope you understand and don't judge me as a quitter. I fought as hard as I could. There's no fight left in me. In us.
From Google
Deciding to stop "fighting" an illness—whether that means discontinuing curative medical treatments or shifting away from the exhausting cycle of constant resistance—is a profoundly personal choice. It is rarely an act of giving up, but rather a courageous shift toward prioritizing your comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
The transition from a curative or aggressive treatment approach to a comfort-focused approach involves specific realities and considerations:
Weighing Quality vs. Quantity: Many patients reach a point where the severe side effects of ongoing treatments (like chemotherapy or intensive physical therapies) outweigh the additional time they might gain. The focus shifts to how the remaining time is lived, rather than just the length of life itself.
The Role of Palliative Care or Hospice: Stopping curative treatment does not mean stopping medical care. It transitions you into Palliative Care or Hospice Care, which are explicitly designed to manage pain, relieve symptoms, and provide emotional and spiritual support for both you and your loved ones.
Shift to Acceptance: For individuals with chronic (but non-terminal) illnesses, "quitting the fight" often means moving from a state of constant, exhausting resistance and denial into one of acceptance. It is the process of learning to work with your body and focusing on small moments of joy, rather than endlessly battling your medical reality.
Revisiting Goals: Your goals may shift. Instead of pursuing a cure, your priorities might become traveling, spending uninterrupted time with family, or simply ensuring you are free from pain in your own home.Deciding when to take this step is a deeply individual process that takes time and thoughtful planning.
Once again Joan and I both thank you for your prayers and support. God bless you all.
After careful consideration we have decided not to be listed for a risky second liver transplant. After talking with the liver team they have convinced us the risk and quality of life (if I do make it through the surgery) is just not worth going forward. The unbearable stress it's put on Joan and I is just too much to go through again. With the transplant it is almost sure my PTLD lymphoma cancer would come back because of the high dose of anti rejection drugs I would be taking for next year or more. The chances of surviving the first year is 51%. The surgery would be 20 to 30% more risk than the first because of the scar tissue and risk of bleeding out on the table. My health today is way worse than it was the first transplant so that makes recovery that much harder. Google explains best. I just wanted to thank you all for your prayers and support through the years. This has been going on since 2018. I've been sick long enough. I hope you understand and don't judge me as a quitter. I fought as hard as I could. There's no fight left in me. In us.
From Google
Deciding to stop "fighting" an illness—whether that means discontinuing curative medical treatments or shifting away from the exhausting cycle of constant resistance—is a profoundly personal choice. It is rarely an act of giving up, but rather a courageous shift toward prioritizing your comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
The transition from a curative or aggressive treatment approach to a comfort-focused approach involves specific realities and considerations:
Weighing Quality vs. Quantity: Many patients reach a point where the severe side effects of ongoing treatments (like chemotherapy or intensive physical therapies) outweigh the additional time they might gain. The focus shifts to how the remaining time is lived, rather than just the length of life itself.
The Role of Palliative Care or Hospice: Stopping curative treatment does not mean stopping medical care. It transitions you into Palliative Care or Hospice Care, which are explicitly designed to manage pain, relieve symptoms, and provide emotional and spiritual support for both you and your loved ones.
Shift to Acceptance: For individuals with chronic (but non-terminal) illnesses, "quitting the fight" often means moving from a state of constant, exhausting resistance and denial into one of acceptance. It is the process of learning to work with your body and focusing on small moments of joy, rather than endlessly battling your medical reality.
Revisiting Goals: Your goals may shift. Instead of pursuing a cure, your priorities might become traveling, spending uninterrupted time with family, or simply ensuring you are free from pain in your own home.Deciding when to take this step is a deeply individual process that takes time and thoughtful planning.
Once again Joan and I both thank you for your prayers and support. God bless you all.
