[whmatthews]

Hey guys, haven't posted in a while. Spring Break for me was in the Czech Republic. When I got home, found out some bad news.

My mom had a lump on one of her breasts... she got it checked out by a doctor, who sent her to another one.
The doctor today told her he couldn't find anything, so that's a praise.

My dad has a tumor on a lung. He's smoked since he was a kid. The last few weeks he's dropped about 40 pounds - my parents didn't tell me any of this because they didn't want me worrying on my trip to Europe. He goes tommorrow to find out if the tumor is indeed cancer, which is what they think. If it's not too much to ask, please pray for my dad.

[Sly Fox]

You can count on prayers from Houston. You take everything in this regard very seriously.

[Fumblerooskies]

Absolutely, WH...
...big prayers going up for both your parents and family...and for you. Please realize that all is in God's hands. I will pray for healing in whatever your dad has.

[jimflamesfan]

Praying.

[PAmedic]

you got it bro- hang in there.

[BJWilliams]

Prayers for E14. if I could Id come over and lay hands on you and pray for you in person

[FlameDad]

Praying in WC

[krh44]

Praying for you as well

[whmatthews]

Just a quick update.

First of all, I and my family really appreciate the prayers, and I mean that with all sincerity.

Tuesday my dad started radiation. His cancer is the size of a baseball in his chest and it is pushing against his esaphagus. It's hard for him to breathe. They are hoping the radiation will shrink it down so they won't have to put a stint in to keep it from pressing up against it. The first scan showed 10 small tumors in his lungs, and today they didn't even see them, so that's a praise. They are doing the radiation treatments in Chapel Hill at UNC, which is two hours away, so that's tough on my parents. My dad can't go back to work now and his disability hasn't started yet, and my mom is having to work 12 hour shifts at the hospital every night and taking dad to Chapel Hill. She will have to work the weekends now to bring money in, so I have to quit my job (which is just a weekend job) and go home to take care of dad, since he has a tough time breathing and chokes on his food quite often.

I got to go home the weekend and see my dad. Sunday, my sister and her husband and son came up. My dad was re-baptized at church, to rededicate his life to Christ. I am happy about his spiritual decision, but this period in his life, as well as mine, my mom's and our family will be tough indeed. Thanks for the prayers again.

[ATrain]

Prayers from E16

[PAmedic]

thanks for the update- its a long road but praying all goes well, including the financial issues.

[whmatthews]

Dad has now gone through 3 chemo treatments. He was scheduled for 10-12 at the minimum and then they would go with it from there, but when he went Tuesday for his third treatment and a CT scan, they gave us good news: Possibly only one or two more then he would be in remission. Thanks for all the continued prayers.

[Sly Fox]

That's great news. Keep us in the loop.

[62Strat]

continued prayers in OK Bro.

[whmatthews]

I hadn't updated my dad's status since July -

Since then dad's cancer has grown to stage 4 (spreading, incurable). They finished radiation and had to stop chemo on him because the cancer is irritating the lining of his heart, and throwing him into what they call A-Fib (top of heart beating faster than the bottom, like he's always jogging). This past week they had to go back to the radiation, and it's very risky because he's had his maximum dose and it's so close to his heart. He's been in Chapel Hill at the UNC cancer hospital for the past two weeks and today he asked his doctor flat out what his chances were and she told him not very good. Looked up his type of cancer at stage 4 and it's about a 15% survival rate. It's certainly in God's hands now, as it has been through this whole ordeal for me, my two sisters and my mom.

[FlameDad]

We will continue to pray........
Hang in there......

[PAmedic]

sorry to hear about your dad's status- keep praying and hang in there.

[cheerbren]

Praying for peace.

[whmatthews]

Dad has been on a ventilator since Saturday morning. Friday night he made a turn for the worse, Thursday night he came down with pnemonia and they just can't get rid of it. He wanted to be put on the ventilator to breathe, knowing that he may never come off. Right now his body is rejecting nutrition from his feeding tube, making his stomach swell with gas and the feeding has gone into his lungs to make the phemonia even worse. They brought him off the vent today for 5 hours and he did well, but tonight (it's 11:42pm and just got back from the hospital) his heart went into irregular rhythm and if it can't come down they can't bring him off again. They want to bring him off a little each day so his lungs don't become dependent on the vent, b/c if that's the case, they won't function, just expecting the vent to work for them - so time and pnemonia are our biggest enemies. Furthermore, x-ray showed the tumor in his chest moving towards the aorta of his heart... if it hits that, he will bleed to death in a matter of minutes. He is sedated as much as he can be without anesthesia, and he is still opening his eyes and trying to communicate the best he can... he's a strong man, fighting hard and i've never been so proud of him as I have been the last few days. Just wanted to make an update on his condition and to ask for prayer. Thanks.

[Sly Fox]

I know this is a tough time, Will. He needs you more than you need him at this point.

You can count on prayers from Texas.

[Fumblerooskies]

Oh my gosh, Will...
...my prayers are with you and your family.

[FlameDad]

Stay strong...
Praying now for your Dad, family & caregivers/drs.

[bigsmooth]

my prayers are with your dad and your entire family!

[justagirl]

I definitely sent up a prayer for you and your family..as well as forwarded the message on some prayer warriors..hang in there!

[jcmanson]

I'll be praying for you and your family man.