The details...

This may be through tears, but I'll say it like it is...although everyone probably knows what it is.

Dad's liver just isn't responding to the chemo. The bone marrow is doing what it should, which means the doctors gave him the right chemo in the right amount. Unfortunately it's not what his liver needed, and no one knew what it needed anyway. The doctor said the biopsy didn't show as much cancer as they were thinking it would...but they have done thorough tests on everything else they could think of. There is just simply nothing left.

His kidneys are also steadily declining. They did ask if we wanted to do dialysis. However, it wouldn't help anything long-term...nothing for the liver, nothing for his mental status, it would just help the kidneys. There are lots of risks too, which seem useless to take. We chose not to go with it.

His brain, or mental status, is also declining. He was able to be awakened this morning, but couldn't respond to questions. Now he is unable to drink. He can kind of swollow when water is put in his mouth, but he can't suck through a straw. They figure his mental ability will remain the same, or continue to decline because of the toxin level in his body.

His heart and lungs are being troopers; considering all the hassle they've been through his entire life, that's irony.

From what we understand he's not in pain, nor will be.

I asked if there is still any chance, any hope. Dr. Martin said, probably less than 5%.

Mom will need to decide if she wants him to come home, with the hospice care.
They said about a week, but there is no real timeline. They think the toxins will get high enough that it will effect his heart, which will eventually stop.

Thanks, everyone, for the thoughts, prayers, and hope. I guess I could say there is still a thread, but now I'm not sure if it's worth holding on to.

Luckily Dad already said he's ready to die. And we all know he lived a good life. I wish it would be longer.