Well, I wish I did not have to write this update, but the situation is as it is and I need to document it.
I had been waiting a few days to write it, hoping that the news might improve, but it does not appear to be going to do so.
We were informed earlier in the week from MD Anderson, by the Advanced Practice Nurse for Dr. Rhines that the tumor board consensus was that the surgery would not benefit me. This is a significant departue from what we were preparing for.
The essense of that message is that they feel it is too late for the surgery. Since the cancer has already spread to my illium, the feeling is that it has already started metestizing into a more aggressive form which is precisely what the major surgery is meant to prevent.
My feeling and hope was that since it had not spread to any organs or soft tissue, that the spread to the bone could be controlled. But these individuals are the professionals who do this for a living and who have seen and dealt with many, many such cases. I have to respect what they are saying, knowing it is not the message they want to deliver either.
So, we are now waiting to see what palliative treatment (which is a treatment regiment that is geared towards trying to slow furute spread and make me as comfortable as possible) indicates.
In addition, I now intend to personally go all out (if I feel up to it) to trying to contact Japan and Germany about the Carbon Ion Radiation tretment they have developed and are using. I also want to present to MD Anderson the idea to use me as a research project. I am an individual with a sacral chordoma that they do not feel the principle US treatment of resection can benefit. I have had no other direct treatment. What better subject for a baseline than that to send over and try the Carbon Ion Radiation treatment that the Janaese and Germans are using that is not yet approved here in America? I know these institutions in the US are aware of it, and it is certainly not a "lark" or "quack" treatment since the accelerators used in Japan and Germany (each nation now has two of them) cost well over 200 million dollars each.
So, those appear to be my choices at this point. We hope to be in further contatc with MD Anderson next week.
In the mean time I have been back at work and will continue to do so as long as I can and according to whatever treatment plan they now come up with.
Added to this, I had my Fentnayl patches increased this last week on Wednesday to 37 mgr per hour. On Friday I was very sick and so decided to go back to 25 mgr per hour (simply by not adding the 2nd patch Friday night when I was due for a change). This morning I feel a little better, but am still very fatigued, weak, short of breath, and a little sick.
Again, thanks so much to all who are exerting their faith on our behalf and praying for us. Those prayers and that faith mean more than I can say...on a very real and daily basis. Thank you!
It is, and always has been, in His Hands.
I will write again as I can.
Sincerely and in Christ,
Jeff
Jeff my deepest regrets that your having such a test in life, of life . Your a friend and a mentor to me an many others as you well know and I hope and pray the good lord keeps you here on earth with us to fight the good fight for liberty and freedom as long as possible.
Prayers up for you and your family Jeff.
Novena to the Sacred Heart
1. O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you". Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of (name your request) Jeff Head.
Say the: Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory be to the Father Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. ***********************
2. O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of My Father in My Name, He will give it to you." Behold in Your Name I ask the Father for the grace of (name your request). Jeff Head
Say the: Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory be to the Father Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
***********************
3. O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but My words will not pass away." Encouraged by Your infallible words I now ask for the grace of (name your request) Jeff Head.
Say the: Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory be to the Father Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. ***********************
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom one thing alone is impossible, namely, not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of Thee through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your and our tender Mother. St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.
Say the Hail Holy Queen
Amen.
Prayers up Jeff. As always.
God Bless you my FRiend.
Jeff,
My best wishes and most fervent prayers for you and yours.
Ray
You remain in my prayers.
I am so sorry to hear this news. May you be blessed with the alternate treatment if it will benefit you to receive it, Jeff.
We continue to hold you and your family close in thought and prayer at my house. May the Lord comfort you and grant you strength to face the challenges ahead.
Continuing to pray, Godspeed brother.
Standing the prayer watch, Jeff. All the best wishes to you.
My dear Jeff. I appreciate what has to be a most difficult update to put into words. Prayers for you and your family, as always, of course. And prayers for those concerned with the medical aspects of your life to be guided to the best possible outcome for you, your family and us.
Mrs. Taxman and I are praying for you and your family, Jeff. Keep fighting the good fight!
I’m so sorry about your set back, Jeff. We will continue to keep you in our prayers.
Prayers will continue.
Prayers for you Jeff.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Jeff, sending prayers for you that the ever present Love of Jesus Christ will comfort, heal and bring strength to you.
Prayers continue for you and your family.
The LORD remains 100% fully in charge.
Our prayers remain with you.
Prayers continue for you and your family.
May God’s life-giving powers flow into every cell of your body, restoring you to wholeness and strength.