Doug no sooner gets a green light from cancer and moves up north then tries to burn himself up with a kerosene device... reports are sketchy, but I believe Russell had some part in it also... Doug called and told me he was still with us but won't be doing any typing for a while.
I think we need to start a gofundme page for a rubber room addition to the new house :)
RB
The rubber room might be a fine idea. For once, Russell was innocent. He was using an old Montgomery Ward burner that consisted of a pump can with a shoulder strap and a hose to the burner. The hose split, sprayed kerosene everywhere and, of course, caught fire. He managed to get it out with lots of water but it took too long. He has third degree burns on his right arm and second degree on the left hand from pulling burning stuff off. He is currently residing in the burn unit of Emanuel Legacy hospital in Portland, Oregon. He had skin grafts from his thigh to his arm yesterday (10-14) and made it through the surgery fine. The surgery was nervous making because he has a problem with anesthetic. He is doing as well as can be expected today, Tuesday, so I came home. The bandages over the skin grafts will be left on for 5 days so the grafts can take. Then the real fun can start with PT to get the arm to move. He is going to be a sore puppy at best for a long time. Best estimate right now is three more weeks in the hospital if everything goes right. The clock starts again if he needs more grafting. The cancer is a complication plus his age. Still, all is looking very good right now. I wouldn't have come home if he wasn't looking and sounding good.
As an aside, the J in D and J has decreed that anything that burns kerosene is going to the scrap pile. Guess she has some input - she drove him over 400 miles starting at 5 AM to get him to the burn center. It's a good one, the only one in Oregon and the only one between Seattle and Sacramento. Portland is good for the family, he has a daughter 3 hours from him and I am about 5 hours away. So, I will be going back for a visit once he starts rehab and is more ready for "helpful" suggestions from his brother. I did offer to give him his shot on Sunday, but the nurse wouldn't go for it.
Man, that's a bad deal. When it rains it pours. Poor Doug, he had enough going on and certainly doesn't need this. Third degree burns are very serious.
Just to clarify some things, I was 600 miles from Doug when this happened. He had sprayed the back lawn at his new house to kill the grass so his neighbor could rototill it for a garden next spring. He was burning off the dead grass with his antique. If he hadn't had a water faucet somewhat near this would have had a whole different outcome. For some fortunate reason his kerosene soaked overalls did not catch fire. He called me the day after while he was waiting for the ER in his very small hospital to clear out enough so he could get back in for more attention. I told him to get in the car and go to Spokane to a bigger hospital but that didn't happen.
He certainly has my best wishes for a full recovery.
Man, I'm gone for a few days and this place falls apart!
I gotta check much more often or the membership is going to self destruct! :blech:
Man if it were not for bad luck those folk wouldn't have and lick at all. moved them back to the top of the prayer list.
Old Salt and Blue Bird
wish him a full and fast recovery ! burns are not a good thing in any way !
My thoughts and prayers are with you Doug for a speedy recovery. Sounds like I need to send you another eagle feather!
Sad to hear this. Hoping for a full recovery.
Yesterday, Saturday, they took off the bandages to check on the graft progress and all is good. The staples were removed - that wasn't fun- and rebandaged. He was hurting bad last night but he doesn't want too much pain killer because that shuts down his functions and causes more trouble. The plan is to take another hard look on Wednesday and make decisions on future care. The docs are leaning toward sending him home to do his PT on his own with his wife's help. So, we should know more on Wednesday.
Prayers going up for a speedy full recovery.
Good. Sounds very promising.
Doug is home and doing well. He goes to Spokane Monday for a visit with a burn recovery Doctor. He is still weak and using a walker to go out but he IS going out. Their internet and tv have been out so he is out of the modern world for now.
Healing prayers up
Any Update, Russell?
Doug is slowly gaining on his recovery. The burns are healing well and the donor sites where the skin grafts were removed are fine. He is working on getting range of movement in his right arm because things tighten up when the grafts heal. I called him a couple of days ago and he was out walking with his wife so that is a good sign. He is in really good spirits I think, and sounding better that since he started the chemo. The fog is going away - now he has to get some strength back so he can have a good summer.
dntn
Yes, let's have the very best of outcomes; okay?
Quote from: redhawk on October 17, 2019, 01:18:01 PM
My thoughts and prayers are with you Doug for a speedy recovery. Sounds like I need to send you another eagle feather!
Burned Strap on feather. Found it strapless in pile of burned cloths, If my hands would work right,I might be able to fix it to wear again. It sure saw me through the worst of my cancer--worn every day!!
I'm going to need more surgery as I am splitting scar tissue and growing ropes under my right arm. They tear and stretch leaving gaping holes that leak and soak my shirt.
Doug
Dang...you are really goin threw it brother,,,Prayers upon the wind for healing
Doug, got a feather made to send you and deer season came in and somehow I got sidetracked. I'll get you one out. I may wait til after Xmas so it won't get lost in the hustle and bustle of Xmas . Is your address the same?
Quote from: redhawk on October 17, 2019, 01:18:01 PM
My thoughts and prayers are with you Doug for a speedy recovery. Sounds like I need to send you another eagle feather!
The one I could still wear burned off. Recovered feather and part of beads and one horn pipe from burned clothing pile. Was just able to rebuild one last week. 4 hours to untie knot, restring feather. 4 beads and one horn pipe. Fingers still don't work too well, but perseverance got me through. Wearing full time again and will for life to hold back the big C and recover as much as I can from burns. Thanks Doug
Surgery on Monday, working so far--Esophagus stricture ,Acute esophagitis with extensive ulceration, inability to swallow. Second time around. Last one lasted 5 weeks. Bigger stretch this time and more scarring removed. Tested non- malignant last time, looking for same pathology report this time.
If I can make it for three months without closure again, I will be back in for repeat of procedure and again 3 months later, hopefully for last time.. Time will tell. Just don't seem to stay out of Dr's hands very long. Cancer still in remission. Next testing/scans in August. Hope to get in for spinal injections for pain relief later this month (old military time injury).
Doug
I had to have the esophagus stretching done a few years back so I could swallow. So far, so good. My best wishes for your complete recovery and comfort, Doug.
prayers still going out for you - the wife actually thought I had gone back to smoking with all the tobacco smoke I am sending into t he sky for all my recovering friends :) Worth it if these prayers are getting to the places they need to be to help!
Jim
Any updates lately?
ONLY SON KILLED BY TRAIN TODAY. I was train engineer/conductor with 4 fatalities under my belt and know what that does to a person.. Out of here for now.
Doug
Prayers Up - tried to call, no answer...
update : Doug called and we talked for a few minutes... He needs our support folks....
I cannot imagine the pain, so sorry for this. Prayers & thoughts from here.
I had sent Doug a private message the other day to check on him. He messaged me to say he was to go Tuesday to get shots for physical pain and would start mental pain Thursday. Then he said his only son was killed by a train. He did say his cancer was in still in remission. He said that he probably wouldn't be on here for a while. I too have lost my only son so I know what he is going through. Right now I urge everyone to keep him in your thoughts and prayers to get through this. He needs all the support we can give him. Believe me it is a hard road to travel . The only way he can get through this if his friends are here for him. So I would urge everyone to send up a prayer for him.
OMG Doug. I can't think of anything worse. I feel guilty that both of my kids are healthy and in good shape.
Please accept my condolences and I hope and pray that this doesn't set you back too much. Our children become adults and we don't have control over them anymore. We do what we can when raising them and then leave it up to them to have good judgement.
Doug, my thoughts and wishes go to you and the family; and please accept my condolences for your loss.
you have my full sympathy ! hope things start improving for you !
I'm at a loss for words. My prayers continue.
Thank you guys. really appreciate all your support. We are getting on with life. Made a trip to AZ and met his girlfriend and infant son born after his death. He's cute and we like his mom. Hope we can stay in contact and live to see him grow up. Cancer still in remission and burns healing. 12 stitched out today from burn repair surgery on my left hand.
Enjoying next youngest grandson as he is visiting for 6 weeks. My little shadow helper helps with anything I do and is right on my heals all day long. He just turned 5 last month..Just picked a bucket of plums off our tree before hard frost forecast for the next few days ++snow.
Bye for now Doug.
Just an update. Still teary at unexpected times when thinking of Allen, but think more of good times than bad. My wife flew my shadow helper home and flew back the next day. I had PT apt. and stayed in my daughters appt. in Spokane while waiting for her return flight. Nice to have a place to stay without expense of motel. Hand surgery complete success, nice to not have an open hole what wouldn't heal for a year fixed with Z-plasti type surgery. Now eldest daughter whose appt. we stay in has Covid. The good things just keep on coming in my l life. I buy groceries for them in off hours and leave them in my son in law's pickup bed, no contact...More isolation at home....Christmas tree is up but needs lights and decorations. Lights are up around yard and oven has been busy baking goodies for others....Christmas plans all changed acct Covid, hope all here have a great Christmas and happy new year....one more year and scaring is supposed to be set and PT can end.
Doug..
PS Hands are working better and I can type without as much pain....They still don't spell too well sometimes but I don't have
to pick and peck with only one finger anymore.
Great to hear. Keep on keeping on.
Merry Christmas.
Always glad to see when you pop in here... this is part of your home and the door is always open, We don't have to worry about the Covid here in our online home. I think we can all borrow a line from a book I once read "When we get to the Pearly gates, they will be wide open for us... We have served our time in hell..."
Ditto +1
Quote from: Red Badger on December 24, 2020, 02:26:31 PM
Always glad to see when you pop in here... this is part of your home and the door is always open, We don't have to worry about the Covid here in our online home. I think we can all borrow a line from a book I once read "When we get to the Pearly gates, they will be wide open for us... We have served our time in hell..."
I wonder if the author of that book ever worked for Red Badger? [hmm]
Regardless, this is a COVID free zone, spend as much time here as you can.
Good to hear from you Doug. Hang in there we're all trying to ride this wave out to better times. Seen that old eagle flying pretty low the other day made me think of you. I couldn't remember if I ever got you another feather sent or not. I been told I have old timers, can't remember a blame thing. Sounds like you are on the mend stay isolated and I'll talk at you later.
Well, Dec. was the last month of my remission of C. Markers up 10%, then50%, and60%, followed by33% and lastly 86% on the up and up. New scans ordered after nurse ordered wrong one last week. Blood sent in for full genome testing and more blood drawn acct out of limits on some tests a day earlier. Meeting with Oncologist on 8 th of June to discuss more options.
Fourth esophageal stretch and cut this Friday. Finished PT for burned arm. Full mobility back but still some weakness. New PT at much closer physical therapist for full trunk strength and balance.( I seem to fall at least one a week) Don't need to break any bones on top of everything else. (bone cancer is bad enough).
On the good side. Went out today with my eldest daughter and we brought home 8 nice trout. Threw back several under 11", so pretty good day. She hadn't been fishing since I took her out as a kid. (30 yr + ago). She caught the largest one. (16") Fish for dinner. Life is good. Got to live it to the fullest for as long as I can.
I had the esophageal stretch just a few years ago, acid reflux. It is wonderful you've improved so much and I hope you continue to improve. Just quit trying to kill yourself; I think it's illegal anyway.
Well last blood test up 239% so aPca is starting to take off.. Na-f18 Scans in Spokane showed bone lesion....todays scan in Sand Point showed same lesion on CT scan, so now have to find RO who can kill my right ischial tuberosity lesion.... Ain't that a nice word for your pelvic sitz bone.
I only speak English, but it doesn't sound very good. Hoping that my translating skills are fault.
Nope, just means my bone cancer is back in my sitz bone... Front lower pelvis. That's a little bit more like normal language.
Well, let's get rid of that lesion, Doug. What does this mean as far as any treatment prescribed?
Current $12,000 per month pills I have been on have failed. Hope we can zap bone and kill it for a while. More blood tests and start bone strengthening treatments on Tue.
Quote from: DandJofAZ on June 26, 2021, 09:00:26 PM
Current $12,000 per month pills I have been on have failed. Hope we can zap bone and kill it for a while. More blood tests and start bone strengthening treatments on Tue.
Man oh man, Doug! Lets get this taken care of once and for all! This stuff needs to get zapped away asap. We're all pulling for you and we just have to get you back in fighting shape before the season starts. My thoughts and wishes are for a great outcome.
Prayers are always up from this lodge
dntn Full week of high energy radiation to bone mets starting next Monday. Hope to zap them out of existence and get a few more years out of this old body. Going shooting with my 5 yr old grandson today... He really loves to shoot and is pretty good at it... Life is still good and I need to enjoy it for as long as I can. After all, I am only 71 and should have years to go before I have to feel old.
Doug
Yes, you are young and I even consider myself to be young. I'll be 75 next month - so I am told, but being a baby when I was born I could have been lied to. Even my name could have been a lie, and likely is, and I believe my real name is Chance McCall.....or something sounding like it's a character from a William Faulkner novel. skrt
Long break. Red Hawk sent a new feather since the last one shattered on the CT room floor after it took the scan that confirmed my new lessons (2)/ Treatment with radiation in June/July seem to have been successful. PSA leveled off and dropping after steep climb. Provenge immunotherapy in Aug/Sept and PSA continuing to drop, now 5 months in a row. Life Is Good.
That's more like it, Doug, and is what I was hoping for you.
I'm glad to hear that. Keep on keeping on. thmbsup
Glad to hear you're doing better.
I am sorry to have to say that my brother Doug passed on January 16. He is missed.
Yes, he will be. No more pain though.
He had to be the best fighter in the country. No other person I know would persevere through all the tribulations that Doug endured.
It really is a shame that someone who fought as long as he did had to lose in the end. :'(