Double Whammy

I’m briefly stepping outside my box of sharing the stories of courageous WOMEN who’ve overcome life’s tough challenges, because my father-in-law Wayne’s* story demonstrates the courage and strength to overcome not one, but two life-altering health conditions. Both occurring less than TEN months apart. Yes, I said TEN months. So, I can’t not tell his story!

* His real name is used with permission.

 

Single Whammy

Wayne’s single whammy literally knocked him off his feet in January of 2012. Despite doctors telling him he was in good health, having shortness of breath and difficulty walking led him to insist on a heart catherization to explain his symptoms.

Being admitted to the hospital that night was a new experience, evoking anxiety and fear of the unknown. When he awoke from the heart cath surgery, his doctor revealed Wayne had nine blockages in his heart.

His quintuple bypass heart surgery occurred the next day. When our family went to visit him in the ICU after the surgery, we barely recognized him as he was as swollen as the Michelin man. “It was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. It constantly felt as if my chest were ripping open,” he shares.

Once home, fears crept in again as he worried about going to sleep and never waking up. Thoughts of what would happen to his wife Sandra, his kids, and his grandkids if he died crossed his mind hundreds of times during his months of recovery.

During his scheduled colonoscopy visit in September of 2012 (just NINE months after the heart bypass surgery), the doctor took blood work and discovered Wayne’s platelet level was low – his level was 85,000 platelets as opposed to a normal level being between 150,000 and 400,000 platelets.

At first the doctor didn’t want to complete the colonoscopy, but later decided to complete it with strict instructions to see a hematologist as soon as possible.

Double Whammy

By late October, Wayne underwent a bone marrow biopsy. Three weeks of nervous waiting ended with a diagnosis of low grade myelodysplastic syndrome. Essentially, Wayne’s white blood cells were eating each other.

The pre-cancer diagnosis in November of 2012 was definitely Wayne’s double whammy.

Wayne remembers hearing the doctor say the words and feeling his whole body get hot. His first thoughts were of his mother who died of cancer and all the horrific pain she suffered. “This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening” were the first of his ongoing chants of denial.

His prognosis was six weeks without treatment and six months with treatment. Once agreed upon, an aggressive chemo treatment regimen of Vidaza was given intravenously five days per month in the hopes of stopping the pre-cancer cells from developing into cancer cells. Because his immunities were very low and his chance of viral infection was very high, Wayne and anyone who came near him were to wear masks.

Pale and extremely fragile. Low platelet levels. Nose bleeds. Walking with a cane. All these things described him during his nine months of treatment on this chemo medicine. It honestly didn’t seem possible for things to get worse … but they did.

Pre-cancer Developed Into Cancer

At his October 2013 oncology check up, Wayne’s doctor delivered the news that the pre-cancer cells had indeed developed into cancer, despite the chemo treatments.

The diagnosis was acute myeloid leukemia. His prognosis a mere 20% chance even on a new chemo drug called Dacogen. With these low odds of success, his doctor asked, “Do you want to try it?” Wayne didn’t hesitate a second. He said, “What choice do I have? I believe it’s going to work.”

Within just a few months of treatment, Wayne’s red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet numbers increased. His color and his strength slowly returned. Each month at his chemo treatment visit, Wayne’s numbers improved.

Wayne has had several conversations with his oncologist about those (like himself) who believe in prayer and how they heal quicker because of prayer than those who don’t believe. Wayne strongly believes the numerous people who prayed for him combined with the success of the ongoing chemo treatments are the reasons he has outlived the grim prognosis he was given in November of 2012.

Our Family

This picture of our family was scheduled to be taken on a day not long after Wayne’s pre-cancer diagnosis. A nose bleed that wouldn’t stop without the help of the Emergency Room staff prevented it. Once Wayne was feeling back to normal, we rescheduled. So glad we did . . . family means everything to him.

His Advice

One of the most special parts of my interviews with overcomers is asking them to share words of wisdom or advice. Wayne said, “If you go through struggles, be open with your family. Don’t hide anything. They need to/want to know because they love you.”

He told me several changes have happened as a result of his health issues. He said, “I changed the foods I ate, of course. But my attitude has changed, too. I’m not as judgmental anymore; instead, I’m more compassionate about people’s situations. I think a lot more about where I will be when I die. I forget about myself and focus on others by reaching out and helping any way I can.”

Leave a Reply: In the picture to the right, Wayne is wearing the OVERCOMER! bracelet I give all of the courageous women (and now men) I interview. Wayne has scars from his heart surgery and wears a port for his chemo – both evidence of what he has and continues to overcome.

Theo Rossi says, “Scars show toughness: that you’ve been through it, and you’re still standing.”

You’re still standing, Wayne. You’re still standing!

UPDATE: Wayne exceeded the six month prognosis the oncologist delivered. He fought bravely for an additional twelve months, passing away on September 9, 2016. Our hearts grieve, but we rejoice in knowing he is with Jesus!