My step-dad (76 yr old) has had skin cancer for years and
has been treating for it. The type he has is called squamous cell carcinoma. A
seed of this dropped down and spread to his left side lymph node in his neck a
year and a half ago. He had the lymph node and the mass removed along with half
of his ear and a large portion of the left side of his face. He then went
through radiation. A few months ago we found out that another seed had dropped
down and attached itself behind rib number 7. Back into surgery to have ribs 6,
7, and 8 removed along with a tennis ball size mass. During surgery they found
another mass on the other side of his lung. He’s had a rough recovery from that
surgery and was supposed to start chemo.
He’s not a big man. Probably weighed 150-160ish when he was
healthy but yesterday he weighed in at 92 pounds. He’s about 5’2”.
He had decided not to do radiation this time around so was
starting chemo. He had one chemo treatment and then developed COPD. He was a
long time smoker so this isn’t all that surprising. However, he also has
Chronic Lumphocytic Leukemia which has remained dormant throughout all of this.
He was supposed to have another round of chemo yesterday but his Dr. said no.
That he is too frail and that they are afraid that more chemo will trigger the
leukemia active.
That all being said. My dad has now opted to not further any
treatments and just wants to be kept comfortable. They put him on oxygen
yesterday.
We’d chosen to get married in January in Vegas but since
that decision, a lot of these health issues have escalated. We’ve sent out STD’s
but I’m considering changing our wedding plans so that he can be there. We’d
only invited close family and were expecting 65-70 people.
Would you guys change plans in this situation? I don’t know
if anyone has purchased airfare yet but I kind of doubt it since we’re this far
out yet. We did get a super deal on a hotel block but if anyone has reserved a
room, those would be 100% refundable at this time. We have paid about half of
our venue but would lose $1000 in the deposit. I’m not really concerned with
that though.
If we did change plans, I don’t think anyone would side-eye
it as we are all pretty close and they would understand the situation. My FI
has lost both parents so his side would understand why we would move everything
up and the majority of the other guests are my dad’s siblings so of course,
they would understand.
What are everyone’s thoughts?
Also accepting all thoughts and prayers.