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Lisa..... My prayers for your courageous dad's improvement and recovery, and my heartfelt empathy to you and your loved ones. Sending you love and a warm hug.... Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: LISA CRUMRINE <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 9:24 PM Subject: MY DAD has cancer >HI LIST..... > >My dad has cancer... The treated a manifestation inside his mouth several >months ago and he was almost finished radiation, when his back started >hurting. This back pain went on un heeded and untreated for6-8 weeks until >he woke up one morning last week and couldn't walk. > >A trip to the hospital and consultation with a neurologist and testing >revealed multiple cancers on his spine. basically most of his spine is >invaded. they scheduled immediate surgery at Columbia Presbyterian hospital >in NYC, rushed him there from NJ and by 7pm Friday nite he was having >spinal surgery. they removed three of his vertebrae that were creating >pressure and causing neurological damage. they replace them with titanium >and inserted a rod in there as well for support. 9 hours of surgery. >within a 1/2 hour of surgery we were allowed to see him and he could speak >and knew that we were there. three hours later he was able to recognize us >and talk coherently. that evening he was able to almost feed himself. the >very next day, Sunday, he was sitting up fully and by evening he was feeding >him self! Monday he was fitted for an orthotic brace which he put on >today. and then proceeded to get out of bed and into a chair, where he ate >lunch and then again into the chair for dinner. >tomorrow (5 days later) he will walk..... > >This man( my father) should be an inspiration to us all. the strength, the >courage and the power. What an amazing man. His biggest battle is yet to >come. There is a very large tumor in his neck and more on his lower back. >these will be treated with radiation and chemo. > >what I gained from this terrible experience is a family and a father. we >were able to sit and talk and find out who we both were and are and why. He >got to meet his daughter the artist. ( he never knew her) and I got to meet >my dad the incredible warrior and spirited soul. I got to tell him that I >love him and also spent time with my mother and brother and got close with >them again. It was an awful weekend, flying into NYC from my home in the >virgin islands, not sleeping for several days and crying my heart out over >my dad. > >so If any one is feeling down and bummed out. think about my dad and the >power he summoned up from his core to persevere and kick ass! (a very >special thank you to the team of doctors and neuros and all who did this >amazing surgical procedure at Colombia/Presbyterian ,these guys ARE THE BEST >IN THE WORLD! >