Dear all,
Its been over a year since this blog was updated. A lot has changed since and, on behalf of my father (Pappa), I want to make one last update. Pappa was not someone to leave anything incomplete and would have not liked for this blog to end abruptly without any closure.
So, here it is, one last time...
Pappa's MRI on Dec 20th 2018 showed tumor growth. The Doctor decided to take him off the clinical trial and start him on a drug called Avastin, our final resort. It was also decided to put him on a short regimen of radiation therapy. Similar regimens had shown some-what positive results for other patients. Irrespective of the treatment options, the Doctor did let us know, in no lesser words, that the prognosis was poor. We, however, decided to forge ahead with hearts full of hope, insistent that all will be okay.
On 26th Jan 2019, we celebrated Pappa's 60th birthday in San Diego. Due to his ill health, the celebrations were simple and held at home. But everyone got a chance to thank him and tell him how much we love him. A day after his birthday he started treatment with Avastin and radiation therapy.
On 25th Apr 2019, Pappa was taken to the ER due to fever and cough. He was started on antibiotics and was admitted to the hospital. On 30th Apr 2019, he experienced an episode of respiratory failure and was admitted to the ICU. Due to his inability to breathe on his own, he was put on a ventilator. Tests and MRI scans showed that there was further growth in the tumor leading to loss of ability to swallow. This inability had eventually caused a lung infection and fever. The tumor progression indicated that his recent medications had not worked and, all our treatment options were exhausted. Palliative care was the only option at that time.
On 08th May 2019, at approx. 3:40 PM PST, Pappa passed away due to complications from tumor progression. Several members of our family had flown in from India to be with him during this time. His hospital room was filled with family who held his hand and prayed, while my mother was constantly by his side. He was cremated in San Diego and the final rites were performed in India.
Nothing will ever fill the void that Pappa's departure has left in our lives. However, his memories, his lessons, and his values will forever remain with us as we now try to imagine a life without his physical presence.
On behalf of Pappa and the entire family, I thank you for being a part of his journey. Thank you for staying with him via this blog and wishing him well. I am sure wherever he is right now, he wishes you well too.
Regards,
Niyati
Its been over a year since this blog was updated. A lot has changed since and, on behalf of my father (Pappa), I want to make one last update. Pappa was not someone to leave anything incomplete and would have not liked for this blog to end abruptly without any closure.
So, here it is, one last time...
Pappa's MRI on Dec 20th 2018 showed tumor growth. The Doctor decided to take him off the clinical trial and start him on a drug called Avastin, our final resort. It was also decided to put him on a short regimen of radiation therapy. Similar regimens had shown some-what positive results for other patients. Irrespective of the treatment options, the Doctor did let us know, in no lesser words, that the prognosis was poor. We, however, decided to forge ahead with hearts full of hope, insistent that all will be okay.
On 26th Jan 2019, we celebrated Pappa's 60th birthday in San Diego. Due to his ill health, the celebrations were simple and held at home. But everyone got a chance to thank him and tell him how much we love him. A day after his birthday he started treatment with Avastin and radiation therapy.
On 25th Apr 2019, Pappa was taken to the ER due to fever and cough. He was started on antibiotics and was admitted to the hospital. On 30th Apr 2019, he experienced an episode of respiratory failure and was admitted to the ICU. Due to his inability to breathe on his own, he was put on a ventilator. Tests and MRI scans showed that there was further growth in the tumor leading to loss of ability to swallow. This inability had eventually caused a lung infection and fever. The tumor progression indicated that his recent medications had not worked and, all our treatment options were exhausted. Palliative care was the only option at that time.
On 08th May 2019, at approx. 3:40 PM PST, Pappa passed away due to complications from tumor progression. Several members of our family had flown in from India to be with him during this time. His hospital room was filled with family who held his hand and prayed, while my mother was constantly by his side. He was cremated in San Diego and the final rites were performed in India.
Nothing will ever fill the void that Pappa's departure has left in our lives. However, his memories, his lessons, and his values will forever remain with us as we now try to imagine a life without his physical presence.
On behalf of Pappa and the entire family, I thank you for being a part of his journey. Thank you for staying with him via this blog and wishing him well. I am sure wherever he is right now, he wishes you well too.
Regards,
Niyati
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