DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Man---more family health problems.

So my grandfather, 88, got a toe amputated the other day. His third toe removed. He has half of his other foot removed too.

I was amputated because, just like the other toes, it started to rot off. It basically started as a small wound that just would not heal. It grew and grew and had to be cut off.

Now the doctors are wanting to amputate his entire lower leg. They say he has some awful infection that stretches up his leg. And it smells horrific. Looks horrific.

He is not exactly the picture of health so his odds of survival are pretty low either way I think. I looked up amputations in the elderly online and found some studies that all point towards really bad results. One had 50% of patients dying within 6 months of the operation.

But if he doesn't get this taken care of his foot will continue to rot away and there is a possibility that the infections could enter his bloodstream and cause some serious problems.

He hasn't decided on surgery yet---but whatever he does we are thinking that he may have to be put in a nursing home cause the burden of caring for him will be too great for our family. We have been feeding him and whatnot the past two years----but once he can't move around himself its probably gonna be the end of his stay at our residence.

Pretty crappy situation for him. Gotta go to work, but I will fill in some more when I get home tonight.

To make matters worse, one of my cousins has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer. He had a portion removed in an effort to get well---but I guess recently they found a bunch of cancer in his lymph nodes and said he has stage 3 cancer whatever that means.

Its weird too cuz the guy has always been really religious---never smoked or drank, and now at 40 he's been diagnosed with cancer and its very serious.

Really been a tough time for most of our family with all these health problems.

Sorry to hear that Tyler. My best to your family.

Prayers are on the way for both of them and the family Tyler.

Tyler...if we could only protect those we love from life's toughest challenges...but all we can do is support, encourage and pray for our loved ones.

You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers...

Sorry to hear that Tyler. Hang in there.