The author's father suddenly fell ill with severe stomach pains. He was taken to the hospital where tests revealed a large tumor on his liver. Further tests confirmed it was stage 4 cancer that had spread. The father was admitted to the hospital to try and lower his blood counts for a biopsy, but his condition deteriorated over 10 days. Doctors informed the family that nothing more could be done, and the father was placed in hospice care. He passed away two weeks after first becoming ill.

1. A Sudden Change
I have had personal experiences during the course of my life. Many of the
experiences were wonderful. Occasionally, I have had difficult experiences. Each
experience was a process I had to undergo in my life. One incident has changed my life
forever and has made me a better person.
On the summer night of May 1, 2010, my life would change forever. Myself and
my family was in attendance at a wedding when I received an emergency phone call. The
caller informed me my father was critically ill. Before I knew it, I had rush to the car and
quickly proceeded to his house. As I traveled to his house, I prayed for his healing. I
could hear him talking through the door. My heart was beating faster and faster. Within
seconds, I opened the door to find him slumped over to his side in chronic pain. I asked,
“What was wrong?” He replied, “I am having very bad stomach pains.” I quickly
grabbed my phone and called the ambulance. The ambulance came and transported my
father to the hospital to be evaluated.
As we arrived at the hospital, my dad was examined. While my dad was being
evaluated he explains to the nurse about his pain and the biopsy he will be having, we are
constantly asking question to the nurse and the Doctors and all of a sudden my dad says
“I know my rights as a patient do not give out any of my information and I want to go
home.” Still in so much pain he walks to the car and we head back home. Once we get
home he can barely make it to the bed so he makes his way to the couch. That night, I
could hardly sleep, tossing and turning wondering what could be wrong with my father.
As the day passed the pain he was feeling increased and the more I felt helpless.
It’s finally Monday and now I can make our calls to the VA hospital to get a little more

2. information on my dad’s health and the biopsy.
Slowly but surely time passes and its now close to noon and we haven’t heard
anything back from anyone, so we drive to the local VA Dr. here that referred him to
Shreveport to get an answer in person. Once we arrive to the local VA we discover that
the nurse is a long time family friend and she calls us straight to her office. We walk in
and she closes the door behind us and says have a seat right then we new something was
wrong. We started to explain to her what was going on with my dad and she said I know
its because he has a tumor on his liver the size of a grapefruit, but we are sending him to
Shreveport to get further test done to confirm that it is cancer and what stages it is in. We
then looked at each other lost and confused and then replied to her are you serious. We
then ask her is it necessary for him to drive all the way to Shreveport in his condition.
She said yes because that’s the only way it will be cover threw the VA, so we then told
her he has great insurance benefits with blue cross federal is there anyway you guys can
admit him to a local hospital and have his records transferred there. As she gets the ball
rolling we head home to get him ready. On our way home we make a few stops to pick up
a few things that we think he will need. Once we arrive at the house I prepare my dad for
what’s about to happen, he agrees and we began the processes of showering, packing, and
getting into the car.
Now that are dress, and pack we are ready to head to the hospital. Once we arrive
to the hospital we are brought to a special room to get preparing for the biopsy. The nurse
comes in to start the IV and take blood samples. Once she collects the sample we wait on
the results to come back. While waiting for the results of the blood work we discussion
our option of what do if it turns out to be cancer. During our discussion the Dr. walks in

3. and says I’m sorry but I have some bad news “It is cancer and we are not sure of the stage
and with the blood count being so high we cannot do the biopsy at this time we will have
to put him on some meds that will help lower it and then we will proceed with the
biopsy.” So now what was suppose to be an out patient procedure is not turn into a stay in
the hospital for who knows how long. As the days pass the blood work has not improve
its actually getting worst giving us the state of mind that it is a late stage of cancer. It is
now day 10 of his stay at the hospital the pain and swelling is getting more difficult then
before but he has not said a word. Finally that after noon the Dr.s came in and said the
cancer was in stage 4 and there was nothing that could be done and he would be place on
hospice. Lost and confused from the news all we could do is cry and pray for a better
outcome. We stayed by his side day in and day out make sure he was as comfortable as he
could. As time passed the days seem long and difficult to deal with but not more difficult
then deal with the fourteenth and final day of his stay in the hospital. As we sat around
talking and praying with him he turn and smile and said love ya and closed his eyes and
took his last breathe.