David Doerr David Doerr

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I have visited many CaringBridge sites but never thought I would be writing David's story on it.  Here's how it started:

David started having pain and discomfort in his lower abdomen in early March, 2017.  Just thinking he had got a "bug" somewhere he didn't think much of it.  He noticed he was having trouble relieving himself of the food he ingested as the weeks went by.  He became light headed, short of breadth, had lost more than 13 pounds since the first of March, and the pain and discomfort were getting to be too much to hide from me.  On April 21, 2017, I took David to the emergency room at Unity Hospital in Fridley.  After 5 long hours there and a CAT scan being done, we were told David had metastasized colon cancer that had spread to his liver.  We were told to keep the appointment David had made with his family care doctor for Monday of the following week.  We met with his primary care doctor Monday morning, April 21, 2017,  bright and early at 8:30.  She confirmed from looking at the  CAT scan that David does have cancer.  She recommended us to Dr. Noel Laudi at Minnesota Oncology.  By 3:00 p.m. that same afternoon we were sitting in Dr. Laudi's office being told that it probably was not colon cancer but possibly stomach or lung cancer.  Either way, it had metastasized to the liver which is not good.  We were told it is a very aggressive cancer and that with no treatment, David had possibly 1-2 months to live.  We were told to get our affairs in order and talk to our children and family. 

Needless to say, we were in shock at this point.  Total disbelief because we thought David was just constipated.  I guess it goes to show you that we are not trained doctors.  Dr. Laudi wanted to perform some additional tests to find out where exactly the cancer started.  He ordered at PET/CT scan, a liver biopsy and an endoscopy down David's esophagus to his stomach.   On Tuesday morning, April 25 we arrived at Suburban Imaging at 6:45 a.m. for the PET/CT scan.  This scan involves David being given radioactive dye in his system and then taking a scan of his body from his mid-thigh to lower part of his scull.  Cancer would appear in yellow on the scan - and it sure did.  We were back at MN Oncology by 11:00 a.m. meeting again with Dr. Laudi.  We were told that not only did David have cancer but that he also had blood clots in his lungs which was causing the shortness of breath.  Dr. Laudi admitted David to Mercy Hospital so that they could start him on blood thinners right away to start to thin his blood and prevent any more blood clots from forming.  He also still wanted to have the endoscopy done.  So, after another long day, we know this:  David will be having the endoscopy today as soon as the gastroenterology group can look at his scans and get us on their schedule.  Dr. Laudi believes the cancer started in David's esophagus and stomach.  After we get the results of that test, we will discuss our options again. 

Until we know more, I ask that you please keep David and me  in your prayers.  I will update again tonight when I get home from the hospital.  I don't know at this point how long David will be in the hospital.  If you would like to visit you might contact Mercy Hospital to see if he is still admitted if I have not updated this site.  Thank you for all the calls and prayers we have been getting.  I know the prayer chains are going on not only here in Minnesota, but also in Georgia and Florida where David's brother and sister live.

Cindy