Posts by Bryan Rodriguez77

Kenneth Wilson6 said:Friends, my mother passed away on March 16, 2014—exactly 16 months after her surgery back on November 19, 2012.
From late February until she passed, everything moved fast, despite all the interventions we tried, including the Dex, Mannitol, and medical care...
First, she lost feeling on her left side, then her speech became labored, followed by difficulty breathing, and she eventually slipped into a coma shortly before passing. Contrary to what we were told, she didn't seem to be in any pain.
I want to thank you all once more (and I hope no new members have to join this group).
Angela Wright, a special thank you to you for everything you’ve shared with us. Personally, your experience helped me navigate my own journey a bit more smoothly. Thank you so much.
I wish you all the very best, and I hope no one else ever has to walk through this hell.
Best regards,

My deepest condolences....

Does anyone know what this means? LYMPH NODES: 24 lymph nodes, 1 tumor metastasis...
My dad just had surgery for colon cancer, and this was the pathology report we got: adenocarcinoma of the rectum, Dukes C, pT3N1a.

My dad had his drain removed today... then he hit a really high fever of 102.2 this evening. Is that a bad sign?
Anyway, he says he feels fine otherwise. We're still waiting on the pathology report, but he thinks his blood markers look okay. Does anyone know anything about this? He mentioned his sister, who works on the unit, suggested the fever might just be a reaction to having the drain pulled. Could that actually be a thing?

Angela Wright said:Now that he’s out of the hospital, we’re waiting on the pathology report to see what we're actually dealing with. That should take about ten days. Once those results are in, we'll head to an oncologist if necessary, and if treatment is needed, it would likely start about three or four weeks after the procedure.
Given the size and the fact that there aren't any nearby metastases, there's a good chance it was something benign or at least low-grade.
In any case, things are looking positive for now, in layman's terms.

Thanks for the support... Dad is doing great, for the most part. He’s been up and walking for two days now since the surgery, and today I managed to change his bag with some help and advice from the nurses. Hopefully, he’s finally realized what he’s actually in for...

Well, here I am again... My dad just had surgery to remove a tumor. The doctor says it was a massive 9 cm mass. Interestingly, the other specialist didn't find anything during the follow-up colonoscopy or even when he performed the initial surgery... I'm honestly not sure if that's a good thing or a bad sign. Regardless, the procedure went well, and now we’re just waiting for him to recover. Does anyone have experience with what happens once they get discharged from the hospital? When should we reach out to the oncologist? Also, how long does it typically take to get the pathology results back? And is there any chance this could turn out to be benign?

Has anyone here had any experience with Dr. Patlj or Dr. Kolovrat over at the Mayo Clinic? What was your experience like?

Angela Wright said:Actually, getting the surgery done sooner rather than later is pretty critical. If he had opted for the procedure earlier, someone else likely would have performed it just as well; unfortunately, these types of surgeries are becoming very common nowadays. This bleeding he’s experiencing might not even be directly tied to the cancer itself. It could just be hemorrhoids that flared up due to diarrhea.
I don't have any personal experience with Dr. Miller, but I haven't heard anything negative about him—quite the opposite, actually.
The recovery process and the overall outcome are highly individual. It depends on the patient's general health, how invasive the surgery needs to be (whether he'll need a colostomy bag or not, how much of the bowel is removed, and how quickly things start moving again), and his general post-op state, like how he handles anesthesia.
Once the surgery is over, there's usually a window of about three weeks to a month before oncology treatment begins. During that time, they'll have the pathology report back on the removed tissue. That will confirm the exact type of colon cancer, its grade, and the stage, which dictates the next steps in the treatment plan.
So, first comes the surgery. Let's just hope the cancer hasn't spread to any metastases yet.

He'll need a colostomy, and there's probably a 90% chance he'll have it for life... the doctor mentioned they'll likely remove about 12-15 inches of the bowel because the last colonoscopy showed significant widening... we aren't from this area, so I was mainly wondering when he might be able to come home... thank you so much for the answers and the help...

Angela Wright said:So he got the diagnosis three weeks ago? When is his surgery scheduled? Dr. Miller is an excellent surgeon. What specifically are you looking to find out?

We got the diagnosis on February 19th. We're hoping he can head into the hospital this Friday, March 7th... everything is still very new and a bit overwhelming for us. He actually feels great—eating well and looks fine. But honestly, the bloody diarrhea is what's worrying us most. He could have gone with another doctor already, but he refused and is insisting on Dr. Miller. We've read all the glowing reviews about him, but I'm wondering if anyone here has had any personal experience with his work. Also, does anyone know how long the hospital recovery usually lasts after this kind of procedure, and what the next steps look like?

My dad was just diagnosed with colon cancer. He has one tumor at the entrance of the colon and another much smaller one near the top. He's been dealing with bloody stools for about two months now. Has anyone here dealt with something similar or have any insight? Is it actually worth staying home and waiting for surgery?
We were told things won't change much over the next three weeks, but he has to undergo surgery within that window. Does anyone happen to know Dr. Leonard Patlj? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

mellowridge66 said:Honestly, I think the key is just making sure you're on the same page with whoever you hire. I heard the same thing about The Joker being great, but then a friend told me she went to a wedding where they played and nobody was even dancing—just some random, mediocre songs. It really comes down to the contract and what you actually agree on. Plus, it depends on your guests, and let's face it, you can't please everyone anyway!

Exactly, clear communication is vital, whether you're dealing with the musicians or any other vendor for the big day.
Look, I'm speaking purely from my own experience here: I was incredibly happy with them, and I haven't heard a single person complain. In fact, the feedback has been nothing but praise.
It's tough to satisfy every single person in the room, so maybe they weren't everyone's cup of tea, but since she asked, I wanted to give my honest take. 🙂

Kevin Smith7 said:It would be great to see them perform at weddings, but since they don't have a website with videos, it's hard to make a call.

Everyone keeps raving about Quattro and Elvis Presley, but they are booked solid. It would be wonderful if people on this forum could share their experiences with different bands. At the end of the day, what matters most is that the musicians love what they do and bring that passion to the stage. So, if anyone else has suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks!

👋 I can personally recommend a group I hired last summer; they played for my friend's wedding right after mine, and they were absolutely phenomenal.
I'm talking about The Joker—I truly can't say enough good things about them, and they are worth every single penny. If I had to choose again, I’d pick them in a heartbeat.
The only catch is that they are also incredibly busy; I managed to snag them just by putting down a deposit early.

casualhawk16 said:Payment terms? Like, does cash not fly with them? 🤷

I honestly can’t quite follow her—my friend settled up in cash, but she was rambling on about something called a wire transfer.🤷
If you ever find yourself in downtown Chicago, stop by and take a look. They have such an overwhelming selection that it’s almost a headache to choose—it's exactly like browsing online, just in person.

casualhawk16 said:velvetwalker742,
I know all about Vigus... they carry them over at Kroger too, but honestly, compared to Dobar Partner, their pricing is just straight-up insulting. That specific strip of tape I need for my project at $13 runs me about 50m, but at Vigus, it’s $1.25/meter. And get this—you can't even buy the whole roll to snag a bulk discount... they force you to buy it by the meter... I'm not having any of that!
So, does OS have a relationship with Dobar Partner, or are they strictly Vigus? Is that location at the old Walmart? 🤷

They have a Dobar Partner located at the old Walmart, and they carry quite a variety... though I'm not entirely sure what their payment terms are like.

casualhawk16 said:Wait, does Dobry Partner actually have a location in Indianapolis?? Whereabouts?

It's right there, in the spot where the old Walmart used to be. 😉

I absolutely love this movie; I could watch it over and over again...
It’s a wonderful story, and the cast is fantastic—especially Tom Hanks, who is easily one of my favorite actors. 😍

northernhound39 said:Ladies, where are you planning to pick up your cakes and desserts? What's the verdict on Kitty's baking?

We actually grabbed ours from Grandma's Hollow... their cookies are fantastic. I highly recommend them; we sampled some at a local fair and were extremely impressed with the quality.

We’ve heard suggestions from every direction regarding rings, just like we have for wedding dresses and suits. Personally, though, the distance makes choosing a dress a bit of a headache due to all the necessary alterations and fittings—so I’d probably pass, even if they are stunning and incredibly affordable.
As for the menswear and decor items (like table runners, lapels, bowties, napkins, etc.), you really can't go wrong. They are significantly more budget-friendly here in the States than what we find locally.

northernhound39 said:Mostly decor, though we did look at rings while we were there, but decided against it... We also checked out some suits, and I think we might end up getting them there since the quality compared quite well to what they offer in Indianapolis...

What made you change your mind about the rings? I’ve heard the prices are much lower than they are here, and the selection seems quite decent.
As for the suits, you really can't go wrong. For less than $333, you can pick up a fantastic full outfit including shoes, a shirt, a belt, and a tie.

Tyler Campbell59 said:Thanks, little butterfly. Jane already sent me her number, so I’ll look into it. Honestly, calling someone from so far away feels a bit daunting. 🤷The idea of them just being a no-show is what really unnerves me. 😲

Now, a quick question for the group: while browsing through some wedding halls in Indianapolis, I stumbled upon the zoo hotel and completely fell in love with their ballroom. It’s stunning, plus it has this view of the Mississippi 😍 (I have a massive soft spot for water and wildlife) and the zoo. ''The space exudes modern luxury, subtle details, and an incomparable elegance''—that description totally sold me. 😍 So, I'm looking for intel. If anyone has any firsthand experience with this place, I’d really appreciate the insight.

The zoo hotel is closed, so I'm not sure what will happen with weddings that were already booked, but the hall itself is gorgeous...
Have you thought about checking out the Hotel Indianapolis? I think they were at the fair recently, and if I remember correctly, it was around $93
per person for an all-inclusive package... at least, that's my impression.
It really depends on your guest count... I've toured quite a few venues, so if you want more info, just ask!😉

It’s truly beautiful 😉