Drama Queen?

Cyanosis, Pitting Edema, Ischemia, Pulmonary Embolism, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Metastatic, Aphasia, Necrosis, Bronchial tube, Subungual Melanoma...these are just a few terms that pertain to the Major's diagnosis and disease. All of these words (except the Subungual) are words I knew from the field. They are words that have been used in many trip sheets (reports done after EVERY SINGLE call we go on to document EVERY SINGLE complaint or issue with the patient, as well as everything that happened and every intervention we used) in my career. I am NOT a doctor, I am NOT a nurse, and I don't claim to be. I do not believe I have all the answers or know all medical things. I do not believe I have seen everything. 

I have been married to the Major for 7 years. I have known him A LOT LONGER. I do not know how long he has, just as I don't know how many days I have, or any of you have. I never claim to. I do know he is very sick. I do know his body is worn down. I do know there is no cure for stage IV metastatic melanoma. I do know he is not eligible for any other medical treatments. Two weeks ago when I brought him into the ER, he was screaming in pain from a growing tumor in his lung, crushing a bronchial tube and pushing into his ribs. He was gasping for air, unable to speak, walk or stay awake. There was more swelling in his brain. Blood clots forming around the tumors. And the wonderful people here are SO GOOD AT THEIR JOB that they were able to work together to get him comfortable over the course of a week and a half. 

I have been questioned about the recent change in the Major's appearance. He is talking more, but still unable to get a lot of words and sentences out. He is comprehending more and staying awake more and out of pain due to a thoracic epidural, less narcotic pain medication, and a high dose of steroids treating the swelling in his brain. He is on round the clock alternating anti-nausea medications so he can eat if he thinks of something he might like. With help he is able to stand to go to the bathroom. I have all but been accused of being a drama queen, making his condition seem worse than it is for the sake of attention. 

So back to the first part of my post. I am not the medical know all genius, but I do know my husband. I do know medicine. I do know signs and symptoms and prognosis. I do see what is better in him, and appreciate the fact that for the most part I am able to converse with him again. I ALSO know that nothing in his body has changed. The cancer has not shrunk or gotten better. The tumors are still present and growing, not responding to treatment. Melanoma does not grow in the blood stream, but it does suck up a person's blood supply. It is also a "bleeding cancer", meaning at any moment, for no reason at all, it can bleed from any source. A brain lesion, a stomach tumor, a lung tumor, or his toe can start bleeding at any moment. He is on a very small dose of preventative blood thinner because of his history of blood clots (also a side effect of cancer), and because of this he is at a higher risk. There is no perfection in the game of cancer. Treatment is not cut and dry for every single case, every single patient. So there are benefits and risks of everything they do for the Major. One medication or therapy may help one thing and cause something else to get worse, it is just a matter of weighing which you would rather have. 

I know there are certain people who look at me as if I have no hope. People that get to lay in bed with their spouses at night. People who visit when they remember, or get to walk away healthy and not worry about every single hour, every single medication, shakes and chills, colors of fluids, schedules of medicines, which ones work better for which symptoms...they don't wake up in the middle of the night terrified of what they will find when they look beside them because they had the same nightmare for the thousandth time. A nightmare that they know is coming. 

And here is where my faith is questioned. Questioned and judged by people who have absolutely no right. If you want to say you are something, then be it. Own yourself. Own your actions, your attitude and your life. I own mine. I don't push medical fact onto people. I am a provider who has always believed I work with God. That God gives us the knowledge of modern medicine, but at the end of the day, His will is done. I don't try to argue that. I don't stop cheering my husband on. I believe if anyone can keep going, he can. But I also stand by him if he tells me he is too tired to fight. I will not go anywhere, no matter what. I support him, no matter what. If he wants to do radiation and go through more painful treatments, I will do what I can to make him comfortable. If he wants to enjoy pain free days and laugh as much as possible without any more treatment, I will sit here and hold his hand. I don't get to forget about this. For one second of any day. And the more people who choose not to support what Little Tink and I are going through, the more people who leave us alone to plan for the future, the more people who walk away from us, the less likely I am to include people in our future. If you can't understand the line I have to walk, really that any military family has to walk, then don't say anything. Yes I get that you pray for miracles, and we are both very thankful for the prayers. Some times there are things that happen that we can't understand. I can't imagine the pain these people: https://www.facebook.com/Addisons.Army are going through. This little girl contracted melanoma in her mother's womb and recently passed away. Not because she wasn't deserving of a miracle, not because God didn't love her, not because she was a sinner...but because sometimes awful things happen and we won't know why until we end up with our Creator. 

So I just ask for understanding. And if you can't understand where I am coming from then just keep your snide remarks and sarcastic comments and condescending thoughts to yourself.