Sunday morning in Nan's room

Dear Friends and Family,

Its about 8:45 here in sunny Concord, Nan's breakfast tray was just brought in and Cream of Wheat is the main feature. Nan is eating and appears to be enjoying doing so. She has her little carton of milk working and is wondering why they insist on coffee when she has repeatedly ask for tea, oh well. Pam Whitted is waking in her little cot bed, she came last evening, took me to dinner and spent the night with Nan. Over the years she has done this many times and what an act of kindness it is. Nan had a so so night with a tiny episode of vomiting and was sort of restless. I did my normal panic attack thing at 4 am, I wake and every bad thing and every undone thing comes at me like I was standing on a freeway. Nan's current unresolved leaking situation has me pretty upset. I feel like we are dealing with a potential time bomb. So far the situation has remained stable with a constant flow of urine out the incision wound, minimal fevers, excellent output from the nephrostomy tubes, good food intake, weight up to 114 again today. So we wait and wait.

Yesterday afternoon we were a bit lonely, sort of hoped to see someone and then someone very special arrived, Dolly drove down from Calestoga and spent several hours with us. Our time together was wonderful in every way. We were able to catch up with Dollys life and she shared many inspiring thoughts with us. She brought a little book with thoughts for each day that Nan can keep with her to read. When she left she prayed with us reminding us that God cares and is in control. Finally she had to head back to her home and we reluctantly let her go. But shortly later Pam called and was near. So a slow day turned out fine. I took a very special phone call from Emily. She and Loren had just spent a week in Victoria which is a lovely place to visit. She said that from the blog she could tell we were a bit lonely, we got to talk for a few minutes and then a call came in from Nikki. She had a wonderful day at the twins sale and sold many many items. Hearing from friends and family is always great.

I was so glad to be able to spend a day with Nan without worrying about running off to an appointment. We talked about everything we needed to talk about. Some of you know Nan really well, others less well. Nan is a strong person who thinks before she speaks and does not express her emotions all the time. She is careful and thoughtful, compassionate and very steady in her resolve. She approaches life in a very practical manner, always has and takes each day with faith and courage. I admire her, I admire her courage, I treasure time spent with her, love her smile, her soft skin, her beautiful blues, her blond tresses. Having lived with this beautiful woman for 36 years has been a wonderful experience. After a childhood of domestic stress and strain at times living with Nan has been a totally different experience. She has been an adult, no silly games, no pouting or tantrums, just solid honest steady day by day devotion and love. If Nan said it you could go to the bank on it. It is a refreshing experience to live with someone so honest and trustworthy, so true and loyal, so stunning and yet so faithful at the same time. Our family has been blessed daily with this wonderful woman. My only regrets come when I realize that I have not always appreciated her enough and have made her life difficult at times.

Boston sort of spoiled us, we were able to be together all day and all night if needed. Now we struggle with splitting our time between medical and business and its a very hard balance to achieve. Especially with owning a business where there is almost never a time when one could do a little more to make it work better. I'm grateful that Jean has been such a good help this past week and also grateful that Loree will be back to help this week. We have precious clients and we want to take care of their needs too.

Right now Nan is teaching Pam how to play Gin Rummy, Sharon you may get a call for rules!! Nan's voice is strong, her mind clear and sharp, no more Antivan inspired mental vacations. She rests when she can but right now competition is in the air. I'm about to start working on an appraisal since Nan is sort of occupied at the moment. She has had her blood thinner shot, zophram, breakfast, TPN is running, antiobiotic is going in.

I know I always end the emails with a request for prayer. Actually I feel like I should begin the bog with a request, put one in the middle and then the end also. I so want God to heal Nan. I have always heard that one is not tested beyond what one can handle. Our experience since early spring certainly means we should be about to the limit. My hearts desire is that God will either directly heal Nan or arrange events so she can receive the care she needs from someone who knows what they are doing. We long for the day when Nan can move about freely, have enough strength to be able to fly places she wants to go, to be able to visit other GISTers again bringing cheer like Irene does us, regain her health, play with Keanna and watch her dance classes, school programs. Neither of us has given up on the dream of recovery. So this day is another day in the process of getting better. And today we get to see Nikki and Keanna, yea!!

Once again we have been blessed by our friends and good care here at the hospital. Nan can be reached at 925 682 8200 room 3123.

Please keep Nan in your prayers today. Actually please and thank you.

love

tim and nan and pam

ps Pam is catching on very fast at this game! They have only had to call Sharon once for the rules!