Another day of baby steps toward recovery

Dear Loved Ones,

Its late so I'll be short, perhaps. Just back from the airport where Marilyn's plane was delayed hours in Chicago. But she is here and Nan stayed awake to see her. Pam came over and stayed with Nan during the time I was gone. She is so helpful and positive, she helped Nan a lot while I was gone. So all I had to do when I got home was make sure Marilyn's room was the right temperature, prepare TPN for Nan, give her Adavan, give her hydration ( blood work tomorrow and we need all the help we can with creatin levels), pump her system one more time and say good night. She and Marilyn talked for a few but since Marilyn lives in the eastern time zone she was pretty tired and worn out from the flight and delays.

Nikki and Keanna came this evening when Mom woke from a long nap upstairs and Nan enjoyed seeing Keanna and hearing all the latest news. Keanna proudly showed her her new Jelly shoes that can even get wet!!

Nan woke early briefly and then went back to sleep for hours. She decided to get up and try the chair and while she was in the chair Art and Connie came to visit. I grabbed Art to help me put in the instant water heater since the last one dumped water all over the cabinet and Connie talked to Nan for a bit. It was great to see them both and they look really good. Retirement is working well for them yet they are always busy with projects and people. I carry good thoughts of their visit with me for days and it was so very good to see them as they are about to go on a road trip which will take them away for several days.

My prayer is focused on dealing with the blockage and the tumor growth, they may be related, no one knows at this point. And I intend to see if someone can figure it out and explore ways to solve it. Nan and I had some rough moments this morning just thinking of the issues she faces which are so serious. And today was the first day in weeks that nan could read her emails. Jim the wiz tech and good friend that keeps our computers working has returned the little laptop we got so nan could have it on her lap without it crushing her lap. It works great and while she was reading message she came across one very sad and disturbing. Our close friends Kathy and Herb Flom are coping with advancing GIST. Herb has many tumors that cannot be operated on due to where they are in his body. He has been on a new trial in Las Vegas which has not been working for him, while he was there he developed blockage and an emergency surgery had to be performed. His life was in danger for hours and they worked and tried to keep his blood pressure up and the bleeding down. He made it through and is determined to attend his daughters graduation this coming weekend. Reading all the news really hit Nan hard as just a year ago she had terrible blockage and in two hours was in surgery. Art and Connie came at just the right time to help us move on from the bad news about Herb.

After ARt and Connie left Nan got up from her chair, walked to the 3 steps, did them and then walked to the stairchair, then walked to her bed upstairs. She settled in and after some Adavan she slept like a little baby for hours only waking about 7:20. She has had lots of pain but I sense it is less than a couple days ago.

So now its bed time and you know what we know, not much but we do know to be grateful for the blessings we experience. This morning the line coming out of her stomach was plugged and would not allow anything to pass. nan was beginning to sort of panic dreading the vomiting again and we did not know what we could do to unplug the line. We tried over and over to no avail, so I prayed for God's help and immediately I felt the urge to turn up the vacuum for just a second or two and we both watched as slowly fluid began to move up the line, so slow that we could hardly tell. Then suddenly it broke loose and nearly a half of canister of fluids came rushing out. Thank you Lord, timing was really good that time indeed.

Terry the nurse comes at 8 am to do blood draw, that is just 7 hours away from now so I'll say good night and lets pray that this week the blockage will be history like the nausea is history.



We appreciate you, your input, your prayers and your friendship and love.



Love



tim and nan