pauldaigrepont's Cancer Blog
February 7, 2010
What a day! It started poorly when I got to church this morning and received a text about a patient I had. This patient had become a friend during this past year. He died yesterday of a drug overdose. I felt like I got kicked in the stomach. I had just seen him this past Tuesday and he was doing great. He looked good and was taking his pain/anxiety medicine as directed and was seeing life in a new light. Paul and I had developed a special friendship with him as if he were like a little brother. We prayed for each other and we talked about Jesus and His plans for us and how to live a godly life and so much more. He was only 24 years old and was hit by a drunk driver and lost his right arm in 2008. 9 months later he lost his left leg since he was noncompliant maintaining nonweight bearing on the leg so it did not heal and got infected. His demon was prescription drugs since he was 18yrs old. He lost his mother in Oct last year and has had such a rough time. I have tried to encourage and be there for him as much as possible but it has been difficult since he was high a lot of the time. It had gotten to a point that I distanced myself and prayed for him from afar since it was inevitable that he would end up in the grave at any time. I couldn’t bare to watch him do it. He started reaching out to me in a brand new, clear headed, high on life outlook in the past 3 weeks and I loved it but still had my reservations. How sad, I will miss my friend, JJC. I do pray that he is in heaven and feel like he may have known Jesus from things he has told me in conversation. My friend is now resting and does not have to wrestle his demon any more. Praise God.
On the flip side, the Saints won the Superbowl and I am so happy! I was in shock and couldn’t scream any more. Tears just rolled down my cheeks. I am so happy that Paul got to see the Saints win a Superbowl in our lifetime with me! Woo hoo, go Saints! Sorry, Martha, I guess you were pulling for the Colts! LOL It was such an awesome game, the best superbowl I have ever watched. Good night, I have a big day tomorrow.
Paul and Lisa D <><
Thanks for your support - 
Dear Lisa ^ Paul: There is no way to help someone who is already in heaven before they actually got there. I’m sure you wanted to help your friend stay on earth but he was too determined to get to that place, we all know is NERVANA. He is there. So are all are wonderful cnacer buddies that have actually made much more of an effort,
I hope you have an understanding that we want to be part of something larger. You have to understand that not all of us are so hopefull or into this religous auroa that you have set out for the course of your life.
If I could have some of it I would be a happy person, but I don’t want to think that we all have your faith at WILL….. This is only to say that I envy your faith and admire your strength and will of heart. I do however, feel that cancer is a medical condition that we can fight, that has nothing to do with GOD. It is a medical problem that for many years has not been solved! God is not the reliever here. We all have to fight for our rights for the cancer epidemic that has befallen our communities. Yes, Pray; but for god sakes we need to fight our way beyond the MEGA DRUG COMPANIES that make the MEGA MILLIONS on the backs of our fallen soldiers. YOU may hate my attitude but not the message.
Lisa and Paul—
Please accept my condolences for the loss of your dear friend. Obviously, he had a lot of things in his life that tormented him. How sad at such a young age. I know you will miss him, but he is with God now and at peace.
On a lighter note (well at least for y’all) congratulations on the Saints’ victory! I must admit, even though my Colts lost, I feel very happy for your team and your city! Y’all have been through so much and this win was well-deserved. Ironically, I was just reading a bio I found on my rad onc, who I knew grew up and went to school in Louisiana, which explained how he ended up in the Atlanta area. He and his family lost everything in Katrina and relocated here. He has never mentioned to me that he was in N.O. at the time of the hurricane. He’s a very humble guy and I guess he didn’t feel like telling me about a rough time in his life as I was going through one of my own.
Anyway, Saints rule! Savor the victory! God bless you both.
Martha
It is late at night and I am looking for support as my husband also has 4 stage lung cancer which was also in his brain when he was diagnosed last August. We have had a lot of hope and been through many treatments and procedure. Today, and following radiation to the brain two weeks ago, he seems to be getting a lot worse. I am afraid his cancer in his brain might be getting worse. I have been having a some problems with MD’s responding as they are always busy. Is there any advice you can give me?
Debbie, I am sorry to hear about your husband. It must be very difficult when you are not getting answers from his doctors. We have not had to deal with that issue so I don’t have any experience there. I would imagine that I would call daily and leave messages. There was one time that Paul’s doctor was not calling me but he was purposely waiting until after Paul and I renewed our vows to call me with news that he thought was “bad news”. After he reviewed it with the radiation oncologist they both felt it was not tumor. So it was an isolated incident and I have not had that trouble again. Maybe you can leave a message stating that if you do not get a call back the same day that you will wait in his office to see him when he is in clinic. They do not want to see an upset wife so he may call you back quickly. I do hope things get better for you and your husband. Stay strong!