My brother, Kevin:(

HollyCatheryn

New member
I totally concur with the other people who've posted, but I thought this might make our point perfectly clear. The clinic I used to go to (for years) went through a period when we had no CF specialist, we had a pediatric gastrointerologist who saw us. During those several years 3 of my friends had to have G-tubes put in, ports and were in and out of the hospital constantly. One ended up on the transplant list. Another had all of one lung removed and a lobe of the other. We were just pre-teens. Then we got a CF specialist. The one on the list got healthy and came off, we all gained weight, were in the hospital less often. Several were able to have their G-tubes taken out. It makes a huge difference. We were all sick when we were seen by someone who only knew part of the picture and had a read a few articles on CF. When we got someone who only treated CF and had had years of training to do just that, we all got better. Anytime someone, even someone you trust, recommends a drastic procedure,  you should get at least one other opinion from someone not in practice with that person - so they are not inclined to agree just to cover each other. Hope you brother can get the help he needs and get well. PS, my daughter has sees a GP, but when he suspected she had serious gut disease, he referred her to a specialist for diagnosis. I asked if he could perform the test and he said he didn't feel confortable getting into something that specific and wasn't equipped properly. That is what your brother should be hearing from his doc. It is especially suspicious that this doc discouraged him openly from investigating and taking responsibility.
 

anonymous

New member
Pam,
I'm so glad that you are going to go to the KU Medical Center. I have heard a lot of good about the CF program there. His Dr may also be a Dr at the KU Med Center, but not necessarily at the CF Clinic? They cover a whole realm of specialty's there (cancer, CF, etc). If he's a Dr at the CF Clinic, I'll be very surprised.
Thanks for the update and keep us posted<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

redeemedchild

New member
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Hi,first, to clarify...my brother has a J tube, not a G tube. They bypassed his stomach  and pancreas, the tube goes directly into his lower intestine, they said to keep his stomach and pancreas from working at all, to give it a rest??? For a year???? This doc sounds more and more like a quack...grrr<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">I am driving to kansas today to see my bro and get my mom<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">.  I hope they get him in the clinic soon.God bless and thanks for all of the info and prayers!<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">pam</FONT>
 

anonymous

New member
i don't mean to sound selfish but i am so jealous of you for having your brother for so long. my brother died 2 weeks ago, he was 19 and i don't think i ever saw him well.
i guess if you're brother is old (in cf terms) then it is more than likely that he won't get better.
 

anonymous

New member
While I am deeply sympathetic about you loosing your 19 year old brother, I totally disagree w/ what you said about Pam's brother. My opinion is that with the PROPER treatment, he can bounce back to a certain point & then go from there. <img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">
 

anonymous

New member
i have seen very VERY sick people bounce back from the edge; what a disheartening thing to say that he wont!!!!

whilst he is fighting and living and doing his treatment there is always hope! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> hang on in there <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 

kybert

New member
ive never come across so many bitter people on here who are jealous of more healthier peoples situations. and most of the time these folks cant even put a name to their posts. how dare you say pams brother is 'doomed'. like the people above, i too have seen people bounce back from being very sick. just because your brother died at 19 doesnt mean everyone should give up once they pass that age.

pam, im puzzled as to why they would think giving his stomach and pancreas a break would benefit him. do they think it will go away if they stop him from eating? he will still have cf and stomach problems. is he going to refuse any treatment from these weirdos until he sees the clinic?
 

anonymous

New member
In defense of the poster whose brother died two weeks ago at 19 - while NO that doesn't mean that Pam's brother won't bounce back fine and YES she does sound bitter, she is GRIEVING. We all need to read each post in the context it's written. As she said, she is jealous. Jealousy includes bitterness. Two weeks is a <b>very</b> recent death and as such, is still very painful and fresh. Plus, from the sound of her message, I get the impression that she is young herself- probably within a few years either way of his age.

Pam, I agree with everyone else - getting your brother into a cf clinic is his best chance for leading a healthy, less painful life. Please keep us updated.

To the poster whose brother recently died. I'm very sorry for your loss. I know there is nothing I can say that will ease your pain.
MEL
 

kybert

New member
well good on you then, mel. i dont care if that poster is happy, sad, grieving or completely psychotic. you do not say those kinds of things, fullstop, especially to someone like pam who is looking for some kind of hope. would you like it if someone walked up to you and said 'ha ha youre gonna die' even if you werent? no.
 

redeemedchild

New member
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Hi Everybody,I hope this finds the rest of you well, and I pray my brother would be as well as you all seem to be soon.I went to Kansas and saw my Kevin this past weekend. He is not well at all.  He has filed a request to get his medical records and is waiting for them to make an appt at the cf clinic.  I drove 600 miles after I got off work Friday morning and spent fri night, saturday, and drove back home on sunday.  It was very short and very painful.  Kevin has pretty much given up. He has agreed to go to the clinic, just to shut me up I think.  But he and apparently Angela seem to think he will not get better.  I am so afraid I have seen my brother for the last time<img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">Kevin is on alot of meds, thorozine, for one. It makes him incoherrant.  He falls asleep in mid sentence.  I hope and pray the cf clinic can help him.</FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>For the poster who just recently lost her brother:</STRONG>I am so very sorry for your loss.  I pray the Lord calms and comforts your aching heart as only He can do. You will be in my prayers.  I don't know what else to say...I will keep you all updated if and when Kevin makes it to the clinic.God bless,<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">pam</FONT></FONT>
 

Sami

New member
I really don't know what to say to make you feel any better. I just hope you and your family don't give up hope and stick by your brother. My whole family has been reading your post's and we all are praying for your brother and family. hang in there
 

Diane

New member
Hi Pam, dont give up hope for your brother, people with cf can bounce back from some horrible conditions. Ill keep your brother in my prayers<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">
~Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia
 

anonymous

New member
I would just like to give you some hope. Everyone is saying that alot of cfers can bounce back from tough situations and I want to share a story with you. On another board this dear man was sick all summer long with pnuemonia, then all of a sudden started to get liver failure. Everyone even the doctors were thinking he was about to leave this earth. Then the night they thought he wouldn't make it through he started to get better. Every day he improved litle by little. Still they thought he wasn't going to make it and it was a fluke. So they prepared him to go hom so he could pass away at home. But still while in the hospital he improved. he was able to come off some meds, pain medication and the vent so he could talk. He made the discion himself to go ahead and stay in the hospital since he was contiually getting better. As of last week he was able to go home. He is doing alot better. The doctors are very optomistic so is he. He is still a bit weak but he is still improving. So don't give up hope. I know several stories where a cfer had come close to death and even doctors had given up and for a miraculous reason they recovered and are still around to talk about it months even years later.
Your in my thoughts and prayers,
Amanda
 

redeemedchild

New member
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>((((((((All)))))))))thanks for the encouragement & the prayers<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">God bless,pam</FONT>
 

KidRage

New member
people with cf are sooo strong its really unreal ive been to the point where my fev1 was down to 9% i had doctors and nurses in my room all night long because i shoulda died but didnt. its amazing what a strong mind can do!!

never give up cause once you doubt yourself youve lost<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 

anonymous

New member
Pam, Kevin & Family,
I wish you all the love, support and health in the world. I have followed you and had wished I would hear from you again. I would love to know how the family is dealing with Kevin’s illness.....I really don’t mean to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, however, I could feel the pain in your writing. I know how heartbreaking it can be to watch a loved one be so ill. Wishing you, Kevin & family all the best. You’re in my prayers.

Dorothy
23 yrs young w/CF
<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">
 

redeemedchild

New member
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Hi,I spoke to Kevin yesterday. He is so sick. <img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0"> He did finally get his medical records and has sent them to the cf clinic. How long does it take to get in after that?  I am praying that the clinic will accept him (apparently there is a chance they might not?) and that it will be the thing that brings him back.  I know that cf isn't curable, but I just want him to be able to live a somewhat normal life at least to get that stupid j tube out and eat something without getting sick.He just seems like he has given up.  My MoM is going back up there in a week or so.  Hopefully that will help lift his spirits.Thanks for the concern.  I check here almost every night to keep up with yall.My Prayers are with you all too.God bless,<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">pam</FONT>
 

redeemedchild

New member
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000ff>Thank you so much for your thoughts and your prayers. I am sure people are sick of hearing me ask for prayers for Kevin...but he needs the prayers.  I know they make a difference.  Here, I know you all know what we are going through.  God bless,<img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">Pam</FONT>
 
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