Michael McKittrick

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What started in Mike’s lower leg was a pain that got increasingly more painful and turned out to be a blood clot.  Over the spring Mike’s heart rate continued to go in and out of AFIB and was being controlled with medication.   After being put on blood thinners and several days later, Mike suffered a minor stroke on Mother’s Day weekend (5/14).  This stroke luckily was minor with no long term or lasting side effects, except that his right leg would give out on him with little notice.  He began using a scooter to get around the house along with physical therapy to help figure out his leg.  

 

On Father’s Day weekend 6/16 Mike suffered a second stroke and was transported to Sutter General while his heart was in AFIB.  This stroke was mainly in his blurred peripheral vision but his leg seemed to resolve itself.   Because they were not able to control the heart rate as easily as before, a CT of the chest was ordered by the neurologist.   This CT found a mass hidden behind the heart located within his right lung.  His right lung was filled with fluid and they were able to drain the lung (750ml).  With the lung being free of fluid and able to breathe much better (testing was done on the fluid to test for cancer), Mike was sent home while waiting for the result.  All the family including all 7 grandkids came for a “McKittrick Family Dinner” and prayed for some positive result but also preparing for the worse. 

 

On Thursday 6/29 Mike along with Sue, Todd, Sean and Kelly went to see his primary doctor, where he was told that they were able to obtain enough tissue to determine that it was our worse fear and was cancer.  We were told that is Stage 4 lung cancer.

 

While waiting for the meeting with the Oncologist Mike became confused one morning and we feared another stroke.  He was taken to Mercy General (his oncologist Dr Shihabi is within Mercy’s network).  Working on controlling his heart rate, severe neck pain, diabetes, pneumonia and now the lung cancer, they had their hands full.  We were able to meet with the Oncologist last Thursday at the hospital.  He confirmed the diagnosis of Stage 4 lung cancer.  The mass is inoperable due to its location and there are also several areas in his chest that the cancer has spread.  The mass is pressing against his heart which has been most likely the cause of his AFIB over the past few months and the two strokes.  The prognosis is not good, a matter of months without treatment. But with Chemo and possibly some other therapies, he could possible get to a year or more. 

 

Mike was adamant that his family including his sisters and his children and of course, Sue would make all decisions going forward but he owed it to himself and his friends and family to go “I want to go 3 rounds with chemo." 

 

Todd, Sean & Kelly, along with Patsy and Maureen have been taking the team approach and rotating needs for both Mike and Sue.  More to come in the coming days and we appreciate all the love and prayers.

 

The McKittrick’s