Journal entry by Christina Thompson —
His appointment with Princess Margaret went good. He seen Dr. Butler. The Doctor agrees with Ron's Oncologist (Dr. Knight) about Ron doing targeted therapy. He also put Ron on a list for a clinical trial his team will be doing. He does not know when it will open though.
Ron plans on talking with Dr. Knight about medically assisted death at their next appointment. I think I've mentioned this in a previous update, but I can't remember. Sorry if I have.
Physio (PT) and Occupational (OT) therapists continue to come out to try and work with Ron. They haven't been able to get him moving most days. He just does not have the energy.
Ron was going to do targeted therapy to try and prolong his life and improve his symptoms, but he is now thinking about declining any more treatment. We talked with his Pain and Symptom Management Doctor (Dr. Russek) this morning and she explained that targeted therapy has a significant chance of making his symptoms worse, and the therapy itself may not work, so Ron could still suffer in the end. Ron knows I will support whichever he decides, no matter how much my heart will break.
Dr. Russek has offered to try and relieve some of Ron's symptoms through medication until Ron makes his decision. She also informed us today that Ron's prescriptions will be covered by Ontario Drug Benefit through the LHIN! This is nice to know because I've been purchasing his medication. They are looking in to this for me because it's a benefit of the program.
I've talked with Ron several times since he came home about his decision to be at home and not in a Hospice centre. Ron is very adamant he wants to be at home. We have people coming in every day to work with us: nurses, PSWs, doctors, social worker, ect. He said the medical support is no different at a Hospice centre than what they provide for people in their own homes.
Ron can talk on the phone for a short period of time. It just depends on the time of day. Late mornings, early afternoons, and mid evenings seem to be the times his speech is not as slurred. So, if you would like to talk to him, please call him!
That's all for now, thanks for checking in!
Ron plans on talking with Dr. Knight about medically assisted death at their next appointment. I think I've mentioned this in a previous update, but I can't remember. Sorry if I have.
Physio (PT) and Occupational (OT) therapists continue to come out to try and work with Ron. They haven't been able to get him moving most days. He just does not have the energy.
Ron was going to do targeted therapy to try and prolong his life and improve his symptoms, but he is now thinking about declining any more treatment. We talked with his Pain and Symptom Management Doctor (Dr. Russek) this morning and she explained that targeted therapy has a significant chance of making his symptoms worse, and the therapy itself may not work, so Ron could still suffer in the end. Ron knows I will support whichever he decides, no matter how much my heart will break.
Dr. Russek has offered to try and relieve some of Ron's symptoms through medication until Ron makes his decision. She also informed us today that Ron's prescriptions will be covered by Ontario Drug Benefit through the LHIN! This is nice to know because I've been purchasing his medication. They are looking in to this for me because it's a benefit of the program.
I've talked with Ron several times since he came home about his decision to be at home and not in a Hospice centre. Ron is very adamant he wants to be at home. We have people coming in every day to work with us: nurses, PSWs, doctors, social worker, ect. He said the medical support is no different at a Hospice centre than what they provide for people in their own homes.
Ron can talk on the phone for a short period of time. It just depends on the time of day. Late mornings, early afternoons, and mid evenings seem to be the times his speech is not as slurred. So, if you would like to talk to him, please call him!
That's all for now, thanks for checking in!
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