2-6-02

Wrecks

1-21-02

Hello Everyone,

I had a lovely visit with Dale on Sunday, January 20th.Ý He was resting comfortably and was in good spirits. ÝHe is eating well and he retains his sense of humor.Ý He so appreciates all your thoughts and prayers, calls and visits.Ý Sometimes things do get a bit overwhelming so I hope you will understand if he asks you to put off your visit or call another time.Ý He is so fortunate to have so many wonderful people who care about him, but he tires easily.

Thank you all for your energy and love.Ý Dale, Gail and the whole family appreciate it.

Love,

Deb
 

1-3-02

Dale is resting at home in his hospital bed.  I saw him today (January 3, 2002) and he looked good.   He has been admitted to Hospice Care.  They come out to the home and make sure he is not in pain, etc.

There is a marvelous article by John Nova Lomax about the nightclub Dale had (with Rex Bell) in the seventies, The Old Quarter, in this week's Houston Press.   I hope the link below works for all of you so you can read it.

Dale joins us in wishing everyone a Happy New Year.  We are so grateful for all of your good thoughts and prayers.   Please keep them up.

Peace,
Deb

The good news is that Dale was discharged from the hospital today  (December 25, 2001).  They are bringing a hospital bed into the home to accommodate him.  I saw him yesterday and he had been able to sit up for several hours and he didn't seem to be in much pain.   I hope he can stay out of pain now that he's home.

He certainly has his good days and his bad days.  We have been blessed with a couple of good days but they followed some very bad days.  When Dale feels bad we all feel bad ,  when Dale feels good we all feel better.

Gail is absolutely phenomenal.  I don't know how she is coping as well as she is.   In addition to what's going on with Dale she is also dealing with the house on Wildwood Way that flooded during Allison.  She is a woman of rare strength.

Dale's friends, too, are amazing.   I don't know what we'd do without your love and support.

We all want to thank you for thoughts and prayers and ask you to continue them in this extraordinarily difficult time.  As always, I will keep you posted.

Love,

Deb

12-18-01

This morning, December 18, 2001, Dale began experiencing a lot of pain in his hip and was unable to walk, even with the walker.  Gail took him to the Emergency Room at MD Anderson and they took x-rays and ran tests and 10-12 hours later decided to admit him.  I am conveying what my sister told me, so I may be unclear on some of the details.

Apparently, while the x-ray did reveal a fracture in his pelvic area, that is no big deal.  What is more concerning is the fact that the bones in his hip/pelvis area are so weakened by the lesions that by trying to stand up his weight could cause his hip socket to break.  He is not a candidate for surgery to correct this, so the only option is to admit him for complete bed rest and some radiation treatments.  The hope is that the radiation will shrink the lesions which would lessen his pain.  The doctor says it's possible his bone would grow back.  Radiation treatments weaken his already weak immune system, however, so he will beat greater risk from infection.  They may want to limit his visitors.

Dale hates being in the hospital but, unfortunately, there is no other choice.  MD Anderson is very good about pain management, so I am hopeful that he is resting comfortably.  He is very, very sick.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Deb

12-17-01
 

Thought I'd touch base with everyone. Ý Dale got some different pain medication so he is a little more comfortable now. ÝHis hip is really bothering him and he has to use a walker to get around.
 ÝHe tires easily. But his spirits are good. Ý He is in the process of getting a cable modem but is having some technical difficulties. Ý He and Gail are so thankful for all of you, as am I.

Please keep Dale (and Gail) in your thoughts and prayers and I, as always, will keep you posted.

Love,

Deb

Hello all,

My dear brother has decided not to proceed with chemo.  His oncologist gives the chemo roughly a 10%-15% chance of being effective and it will make him feel terrible.  He hates the thought of going in the hospital and would rather enjoy whatever time God will give him.  He is going to try some alternative medicine.  So he hasn't given up fighting,  he's just changing his weapons.

While I can CERTAINLY understand and respect his decision, it makes me unbearably sad.

But I spoke with him late this afternoon (12/7) and he sounded great.  His hip has been giving him a lot of trouble and he had had a bad night and the morning wasn't so hot either, but he was feeling a little better when I spoke with him.

Gail is hanging in there with him every step of the way.  This isn't easy on her.
Please keep them both in your thoughts and prayers, somehow now more than ever.

Love,

Deb

12-3-01

It has been a relatively good week for Dale.  He has pain in his hip constantly, sometimes it is not as bad as at others, but it is always there.  But for the most part, he has felt pretty OK.   He has had quite a few visitors which he seems to have enjoyed.

The plan is to start chemo again in three days, on December 5th.  I know it will make him feel lousy again and I dread it for that reason.   But on the other hand the cancer needs to be dealt with as well.   Keep those thoughts and prayers coming!

Love,

Deb

11-25-01

Hello everyone,

I'm Debbie Soffar Paras, Dale's sister.  Dale has forwarded all your e-mail addresses to me to add to my mailing list of "Dale's Fans" whereby I can update you on what is happening with him as he fights against the cancer that has invaded his body.  That way, you're kept posted on his progress and you can send your thoughts and prayers accordingly.  I'm a strong believer in the Power of Prayer and Dale really needs it now.  Being on this list may also reduce your phone bill. :).

I know that I know a lot of y'all out there but your e-mail addresses are just so doggone cute that sometimes I can't figure out who you are.  But you love Dale and that's enough for me.

He's had a couple of pretty good days.  Gail took him to the emergency room at MD Anderson both Wednesday night and Thursday (Thanksgiving) night because he spiked a temperature both nights and what with his depressed immune system, she felt it was better to be safe and have him checked out.  They sent him home both nights, the second night they put him on a maintenance dose of antibiotics "just in case" but the feeling is that he is experiencing what is called 'tumor fever'.

My family was so thankful that he was able to join us for Thanksgiving dinner, even if he did have to go to the ER hardly an hour after he left us.  But I saw him yesterday, November 23, and he looked better than he did on Thanksgiving Day and he sounded better, too.  My mother and sister saw him today and he was still feeling pretty good.  We are taking it one day at a time, so this is as good as we can hope for.

Before he went to the ER he was going to start chemo again this coming Tuesday, November 27 but I don't know if that is still the plan or not.  I will keep you posted.

In the meantime, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. ÝI'll be in touch.

Love,

Deb