Little help for a military guy...

boomer135 · New User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 6

In may07 my Dad was diag with ES , T-3.....He had an Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy in June07, also the cancer spread to one of eleven lymph nodes.

Well here is my situation....I am active duty military. I submitted a "Humantarian assignment" Which would move me to a military base near my Dad (40) miles...

Here is the letter my Dr wrote for me:

[b]This letter is to verify that Michael S. Fatone, is the sole caretaker for
his father, Louis Fatone. Mr. Fatone was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in
May 2007. He underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy on 6/28/07
performed by Dr. Richard C. Karl at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa,
Florida. This surgery required a thoracoabdominal incision, the insertion of
two chest tubes, and a feeding jejunostomy. Mr. Fatone was hospitalized for
ten days and is currently recovering at home. His postoperative care
requires assistance with activities of daily living, as well as
transportation for follow-up medical care to continue his treatment with
Moffitt Cancer Center, and his oncologist. The final pathology from Mr.
Faton's surgery revealed a moderate to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma
arising in the background of Barretts esophagus, with metastatic disease to
one of eleven lymph nodes. Current treatment for Mr Fatone's prognosis is
being obsereved by Dr Karl and his team at Moffit Cancer Center.

Michael's role of caretaker for his father will be critical, as Mr. Fatone
has no immediate family who resides close to his residence. It will be
nessarry for Michael to provide nutrition support, transportation, and
physical assistance, for his Father as a cancer patient.

If further documentation or information is needed, please do not hesitate to
contact our office[/b]

I recieved this today from the assignment dept.

[b] Our review of the documentation provided revealed no definitive time line in regards to life expectancy. Please have SSgt Fatone contact his father's oncologist and obtain a statement on official letterhead that indicates life expectancy in regards to patients in similar circumstances.[/b]

So yes i will contact the doc, but he told me he couldn't give me one last time, somethimes these go quick and somethimes you could have 5 years....what do you think?

brainman

Hi SSgt Fatone, I am so sorry to hear about your father's cancer and your problems with getting reassigned closer to him. I was a Chaplain (Cpt) in the Army Reserves for 8 years (including the first Gulf War) so I understand how difficult it must be do deal with your responsibility to care for your father, deal with his doctors, and get through the military's red tape.

I also understand the doctor... it is hard if not impossible to predict you long your father has to live. I think the doctor does not really understand that the military does not need an exact prognosis for your father. All they need from his oncologist is a letter stating that, while he is unable to specify a length of time, your father will need you to care for him for an indeterminate length of time due to his cancer. The doctor will probably have to document specific services your father will need and that you will provide for him. Also, you will have to document that you are the only one that can provide this care for him.

Got luck and I will keep you and your father in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

boomer135 · New User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 6

that was done in the last letter but they are now asking for a life expectancy on other patients with the same issues... I will contact the Doc tomorrow and ask for a letter with worst case senerio's and maybe that will clear things up with the assignment center...

boomer135 · New User Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 6

well it got approved! I will be moving to a base close to my dad...whew what a relief....I can now be close to my Dad and fight this together!

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