Update on Grandpa Carl (Drew’s Dad’s Dad)

Grandpa was sent back to the nursing home in Guttenberg today with the possibility of returning to Dubuque on Monday for a final radiation treatment.

For those who haven’t heard, Grandpa came to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque a week ago Tuesday (April 11th) to have his colostomy tube replaced.  In the replacement process the tube poked through his kidney and was emptying into his stomach.  They sent him back to the nursing home in Guttenberg even though he was complaining of unusual discomfort.  He came back to the hospital last Thursday and they did a c-scan to find out what went wrong.  The scan revealed cancer on his spine.  They have given him radiation to help the pain caused by the cancer, not to treat the cancer. They sent him back to the nursing home in Guttenberg today.  He was suppose to have 5 radiation treatments but he would have had to spend the weekend in the hospital to wait for his last treatment on Monday so he was sent back to Guttenberg with the option of returning for his last treatment on Monday. It is very painful for him to travel by ambulance the hours drive from here to Guttenberg.  The doctor was reluctant to give a time frame for Grandpa’s expectancy, but did say possibly a month.  Hospice has not been called yet, but I am sure they will when the time comes.  Grandma is an amazingly strong woman.  She is the most spry 88 year old out there!  She is also very upbeat and positive, saying we need to be ready to let Grandpa go if it is his time.