Last Saturday I went to go see my friend in the hospital. She was still in "progressive care". When I walked in I could tell she was not well. Her breakfast tray was untouched and by the door instead of by her bed. She was struggling when she inhaled, and her abdomen was huge. Her skin was very discolored and she would not respond to me. She could mumble yes or no, but could not lift her head or keep her eyes open. I was there for about an hour, called her family and told them I was worried. Finally the doctor came in to do his rounds.
He said she had looked bad on Friday night, but looked worse now. He agreed something needed to be done and he called her other doctors. They decided to do dialysis again and to draw some of the fluid off of her abdomen again. They continually have to do both.
I left to take my husband lunch, and came back in an hour. Her bed was there and her room was spotless. She was no longer assigned that room and they had moved her to CV ICU (Cardio vascular ICU). They have now increased her to daily dialysis and more frequent drawing of fluid off of her abdomen. The last round of fluid they took off of her abdomen showed cancer cells in the fluid. They still do not know why her kidneys are fully failed. The renal doctor seems to have hope that the kidneys will again function at some point. The other two doctors are very doubtful.
She is now alert again, and can talk. The toxins that build up make her sick, but then she fights back after dialysis. She realizes the prognosis is bad, but more than anything, she hopes her kidneys will start to function again so that she can at least go home for a little while.
Our friend called tonight and the doctor shared that she has germ cell ovarian cancer and obviously a removal of a very large melon sized tumor. We have known it was ovarian cancer, but never really knew what type or what to call it. The research I have done on germ cell with such a large tumor is scary. If only her kidneys would start functioning, we would feel like her body might be strong enough to fight. My ex husband survived cancer after chemo and radiation. I have seen it work... but we need kidneys.
Her family has moved her belongings into storage because she can no longer work. Miracles can happen. We are praying for the best but trying to prepare for the long road ahead. The balance of hope mixed with reality weighs heavy on the minds of all of us who love and care about her.
If anyone knows of anyone who has had full kidney / renal failure after the removal of a tumor, and has any insight, please let me know.
Thank you all and I am sorry to be so down.