Lori & Todd » cancer

Close to the Light…

Lori — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:02:23 +0000

Today is thursday, september 3rd. I have been in Fl now for 24 hours and am spending another night in the Moffitt cancer center treatment with my father.
Today he was taken in for a procedure, stint replacement. This helps to open the bladder and kidneys and secrete the fluid build up. Fred is having back pain and is very weak.

The doctors came in while my mom, sister and I were waiting around. The outlook is very grim. Freds bladder is 40% melonoma, along with many other tumors which have spread, the kidneys are damaged beyond repair. The stint is a temporary ease. He has been receiving blood & fluid solutions daily. The doctors believe his body will shut down causing him to pass. In the next day or so he will be going into hospice care. Details are still being sorted. He is resting and visiting with immediate family, it is his wish not to see anyone else or speak directly as he is to weak to hold a conversation. But my mom sister or i can relay any messages directly to him.

We appreciate all the love, support, wishes and years of friendship.

Fred says he’ll see you on the slopes…

Lookin Good Dad.

HAPPY 4th of JULY!

Lori — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:49:40 +0000

HAPPY 4TH!

Todd & I wanted to send warm wishes out to all of our friends and families! It’s early here in California but already you can tell the weather and the day is going to be perfect; warm, sunny and absolute perfection… Our plans are almost like a ritual that we perform each year (at least for the past 3), our friend Kevin has a great boat and a few of us pack up the snacks, food and drinks and pile in… Come back around dusk and figure out where to watch the fireworks. One year it was Kevin’s roof, another the dunes in Dover Shores… and who knows this year.

Be safe, wear your spf, and have fun!

Here’s a few shots from 4th of July- past.

Kevin the captain & Pat the boat comedian

Lori & Todd

Fred, Update

Lori — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:22:35 +0000

AS of now it’s a waiting game… He is battling 2 areas of the melanoma. One in his head/ sinus cavities that was treated with radiation. He completed 15 sessions. The radiation has stopped the nose bleeds. He is waiting to find out if it was able to help in any other forms. Fred was suffering from bad vision but with some new antibiotic eye drops he is able to now read and see better with some 7x magnification glasses. He was frustrated and felt helpless not being able to read, now at least he can read for himself and enjoy the mystery books.

He completed a minor operation about a month ago for a stint replacement in his pelvis region. He was suffering from kidney issues which we now know is related to a melanoma mass. Every 3-4 months he will need to have the stint replaced until they discover if they can operate on the melanoma.
Meanwhile some more tests are being run to determine if his cells meet the qualifications for a special chemo program.
Its a waiting game now…

Thanks again for the support.
Lori Epner

Biopsy on Kidney Regions

Lori — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:32:46 +0000

Today, Fred met with his Dr.’s in Tampa for a biopsy on his kidney regions.
From what I heard from mom (Gayle) all seemed to have gone well. He should have results back sometime by mid next week.
I briefly spoke to him on the phone and he seemed to have his spirits up and was well enough to hit the beach at Siesta Key to meet up with a few friends.

Tonight I watched “Farah’s Story,” not sure if many of you were able to see this moving documentary. Farah taped the last 3 years of her life battling cancer. She has numerous cancerous tumors in her liver and anal regions. It really sheds some light on the health care in the U.S and how other countries seem so far advanced. She was fortunate to travel to Germany and undergo advanced health care to remove the tumors and shrink/ kill the bad cells. Although they have returned. She is back in LA with family & friends.

Hopefully, some day soon there will be enough research that finds a cure for all forms of this horrible “terrorist” that is able to take over your body and damage your organs.