Pastor Jim Simpson

Dad, Pastor Jim, P.J., Papa.  This is what most of his friends and family call my Dad, Jim Simpson.  Dad had back surgery in February 2016 for a bulging disc in South Carolina.   Mom and Dad are "snow birds" and like to enjoy some of the winter at their house in Garden City.  The surgery had complications and his Mother died in March.  They came home and Dad didn't get better.  The back was infected and he still had a lot of stomach and back pain. 

After the pain and losing 60 pounds, the Dr.'s in Indianapolis (where they have retired) finally ordered some tests.  On Christmas Eve they found a tumor on the pancreas.  They determined it was cancer, and they would start chemo right away.  They put a stent in so he could eat, but the pain got worse.  They put 2 other stents in, and  an undetermined medicine during this procedure caused him to have Rhabdo, which causes your muscles to break down rapidly and can be fatal.   Dad was in a lot of pain and couldn't walk.  This put him in the hospital for a few days to get him well enough to walk.  Because of this, Dad can't have the chemo because he is too weak.  New plan is to get strong enough to have Whipple Surgery, a very major surgery to remove the tumor and start chemo afterwards. 

Dad is still weak and has nurses and Physical Therapy to their house.  Yesterday he had a feeding tube entered through his nose because he doesn't eat and has no appetite.  The Dr.'s are still hopeful that he can have the surgery in 3 weeks.

Thank you for all of your prayers, Kristen (Simpson) Lemley