Jack Vantrease

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

Some of our members are former Coyotes so I thought I would post this here also in case they didn't know. Coach Jack Vantrease is currently in MD Anderson for surgery. Please, please, please say an extra prayer for Jack. Like I said on my facebook account.....lots and lots of young teenage boys wouldn't be where they are today without the guidance of Jack Vantease and his strong arm (literally...lol).

Here is the official report from yesterday:

Quote:

Jack went into surgery around 5:30 this afternoon at M.D. Anderson for removal of a tumor on the right frontal lobe of his brain. The surgery is expected to last about 4 hours. After time in the Recovery Room, he will go to ICU. They expect that he will be able to get up and walk some tomorrow.

After 5 or 6 days to recover from the brain surgery, he will have additional surgery to remove a lesion that is "on or behind" his left lung.

At this time Sue has requested prayers only. She does not want anyone in Houston with her. She will be contacting Amy with updates. We will send along information

Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:54 am

Jack was one of my coaches at Barwise the first year it opened. I still have bruises on my behind from his high top football shoes. He and Sue are great people.

Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 132

Does anyone have an update?

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

No. The last I heard he recovered from the brain surgery like a champ and was having a lump removed on the backside of his lung. I haven't heard any updates since then.

I will see what I can find out.

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:34 am

Update on Jack. Sue and Jack came back from Houston Friday so he could have his chemo and radiation here. Around 2 a.m. Sat morning she took him to Kell West ER with 102 temp. He was transferred to URHC, probably ICU, where he is now. His kidneys were not functioning properly and he was having trouble breathing. The report is no cancer in the GI tract, but "hotspots" in ribs, hip, back and on liver. The docs maintain that the mass in the lungs is benign. Let's all pray harder.

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:53 pm

Jack is still in URHC, but his kidneys are working now and he is off the ventilator and breathing on his own. He's not out of the woods yet and will need to get a lot better before he is strong enough for any further treatment such as radiation or chemo or surgery. Keep praying.

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

Thanks for the updates Doc. Keep 'em coming!

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:22 pm

Jack's condition is not good tonight according to Nicole. Haven't talked with Sue in a day or so. Jusr continue to keep him in your prayers.

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

Update as of this morning is that he is still not doing well at all. Please keep him in your prayers.

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:34 pm

The cancer has spread and is very aggressive. They were preparing Jack to go home today under Hospice Care. Sue said it can be any day. He is in a lot of pain,especially in his abdominal area, but they are keeping him sedated with morphine.

All the kids are here and will be here for as long as Sue needs them. She is holding up pretty well, but it's really hard as you can imagine. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

WOW! The report I got was much better than that one. His kidneys had started functioning again and was doing better. They were getting him healthy enough to start the Chemo.

OMG! I will make some calls later today.

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 6:18 am

I received this email from Marilyn Carper at about 4:00 PM yesterday. She had been at the hospital and sent this out to several of us that were close to either Sue, Jack or both. Jack's granddaughter had sent me a message earlier stating that he had had a severe downturn. I'd like to talk to Sue today but I know she is probably exhausted and emotionally drained from the past few weeks. I'll try to contact Nicole sometime this morning. What is so upsetting to me is that Brenda and I ran into Sue and Jack just a few weeks ago at Sam's before all of this began. I think I commented that he looked great. Then, only a few days after that, he was in Houston for surgery. Since then it has been a series of ups and downs. The last time I actually visited with Sue was October 14th. At that time everything looked great. Cancer is a sneaky disease.
Check you message Mom. Will send you one shortly.

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:32 pm

Jack was moved to Hospice this morning. Please include Sue in your prayers as well as Jack.

Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:05 am

I've not gotten any further information in regard to Jack and have not wanted to call Sue. Hospice is only allowing family in to see him. Last I heard was that he was being kept sedated in order to control his pain and that his time was very limited. Will be back if I get any additonal updates.

Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 5419

Doc, That was the last update I had too.