Challenging Day

We have been so blessed with encouragement, prayers and support.  I opened up the front door this morning and there was a package from Amazon.  I was wracking my brain trying to remember what I ordered - but it was a surprise from a great friend from back where we used to live.  It was a book entitled "Plan B" - What to do when God doesn't show up the way you thought he would by Pete Wilson.  Thank you Frank W.  I actually read the first couple of chapters setting at the hosp. today.  You sent him to me just when I needed to hear it most! 

Another miserable night last night for R.  They set him up with a Morphine drip and he could push the little button every 10 minutes.  What were they thinking?  I think the pharmacist has never been in severe pain and had no clue that if you want the medication you have to stay awake to push the stupid button!!  Needless to say when he called me this morning - he had been up all night and to let me know the pain was still horrible -  I was quite upset and made it known that something had to change.  So after my arrival and a visit from our wonderful Oncology dr..... we got it switched - but it took until about 11:00 a.m.  So many dr.s and so many opinions on what should happen.  He is now on a stronger pain medication and they have "blasted" him twice today with a heavy dose to keep the pain level to where it's not as sharp - but it's still there.  He was sleeping peacefully when I left.  I hope he stays that way.   

It's been a very trying couple of days.  I thank my wonderful kids for being such a blessing to me.  My daughter - always thinking of me and checking on me - bringing me food - sending me little messages when she can't be there.  My son - always wiser beyond his years - thank you son for the messages and phone calls and always being available even though you are a little ways from here... thank you both for being so easy to love and communicate with - This is very hard on all of us - but we are going to get through all the trials placed before us and we'll come out on the other side better because of it. 

Pray for R to have a better day tomorrow.  No talk of how long we are going to be there this time at this point. 

Trials...

Yesterday there was just no time to write anything - We had quite an evening dealing with side effects from the drugs and intense pain that decided to show it's ugly self.  We had a horrible night last night.  We came very close to calling the EMS at midnight and I managed to get him settled down for about 3 hours and then he wanted to wait until morning......So today.....  Following R's Radiation treatment - we were sent to the ER to get the intense pain under control.  He's got several issues going on.  They opted to keep him following the evaluation from the Oncology Dr., The Neuro Dr., and the GI Dr.. It was a long day.  We were in the ER unit until 4:30 when a bed opened up for him. So he has a great suite in the Maternity/NeuroSurg Ward - nice big room and all the amenities of a place you have no desire to spend too much time in. 

They are keeping him for approx 2-4 days.  Pray for the pain to diminish. Pray for all of us as we continue to endure what is to come.  He's very miserable and it breaks my heart to see him in such pain and there is nothing you can do. 

It's 10:01 and way past my bedtime.  Keep up the prayers and don't forget to include your request for a miracle. 

#1 Radiation Treatment

R was tired today most of the day.  I think he had an energy surge yesterday which was probably too much.
We have to fit alot into a day.  Things that others take for granted - you quickly learn - that you need the help and you gladly let others help you.  I did get to work again today.  He pretty much makes me go and it's ok. I want to but not to say I don't worry alot about him when I'm not here.  I think he was a little agitated by my second phone call and I was only gone for 6 hours.  Maybe I will get better at not worrying so much. 

Anyone who has ever had Radiation Treatments or known someone who has had them - knows the markings are similar to a war zone.  It looks like a picture our 3 year old grandkids would draw with a purple marker.  It helps the team doing the treatment to get the most benefit from the treatment.  I wasn't allowed to go back with him - so he was on his own.  Thankfully they have a jigsaw puzzle set up in the waiting room and I had it all to myself.  The treatment went well - however when he wanted his back scratched - it was very tender on the target spots. So it must of done something today. 

Tomorrow will be a tough day for us.  We have two appointments back to back and I'm sure that will wear him out.  We ask for prayers for the unknown. We ask for prayers for a miracle.  We know we don't get if we don't ask.    

What happened to Monday....

I made it to work today for 1/2 day which felt really good.  A welcome change and I'm very grateful for the wonderful people I work with to make my schedule flexible and coping with the messed up days.  Hugs to all of you!!  You make my life much easier right now. 

R gets a call today from the Radiation location and they want to see him today at 2:30.... WE both LOVED the dr. out there we are seeing.  He was awesome!!  Long story short - they did his markings today and they will begin radiation therapy tomorrow.  This will last for 2.5 weeks.  5 days a week.  The radiation therapy will be to knock down the pain he's having.  It will only take about 20 minutes from walking in the door and back out.  The side effects are minimal. There are some - but it sounds like they are much more manageable than chemo.  Chemotherapy does not touch this cancer. 

We have no official report from Oncology today.  They are doing some further testing of stains and further research on the rare form of cancer this is. 

R is getting around the house very nicely today with his walker.  He pretty much has mastered getting into every room - I told him he was not to attempt the steps to go downstairs!!  However - there are two steps to get into the house and he managed those pretty well and he's had to do that several times now.  So I'm glad he's getting more mobile.  He just looks like he feels better. 

Pray for the Radiation to begin to make the pain more manageable for him.  Pray for continued healing from surgery.  Continue to pray for all of us - our kids and grandkids included. 

Where did the day go?  My day has been consumed with making sure R has what he needs.  I spend alot of time just checking to make sure he's doing ok.  He had a great night last night - slept really well.  (which means I got some good sleep too) He woke up at 6 a.m. - got his wonder drugs and fell back to sleep for another 2 hours. It's really the first good sleep he's had since surgery last Tuesday.  He didn't get much sleep in the hospital at all.   He did manage to get a shower which felt wonderful to him.  It was an ordeal - but we conquered.  He took a couple of walks around the house and set in the living room and talked with some company.  He laid down for some down time and then the pain in his hip became unbearable.  Sort of took the three steps forward earlier in the day and then he got moved backwards two steps.  He really had no appetite today.  I guess tomorrow I'll get him the wonderful nourshiment in a can and make him drink it. 

He really needs your prayers to get past the next few days - we know he's healing from the surgery - but the other complications that creep up are worse than the 4" war zone on his back.  Keep praying for the unknown that will surface very soon.  Your prayers, phone calls, emails, visits, encouragement all mean so much to us all. 

Home At Last

We got him home this afternoon.  He tolerated the ride and got inside just fine with the help of a walker.  The walker will be his best friend for a few days here until he can get around better.  He's pretty well worn out tonight.  The hosp gave me the scrips he needs to take at home - so being Christmas Day - I discovered there is only one CVS and one Walgreens store open with the pharmacy being open too.  And I had to tackle both of them to get everything we needed.  I am learning alot about high power drugs - it takes God's signature to get the drugstore to release it.  I've got him on my side so it went better than I thought.

He is searching for the most comfortable place to be propped up like his hospital bed - right now I think I counted 6 pillows behind him to get him comfortable.  It's working for now. If it doesn't work we may have to move a hospital bed into our house.   Hopefully he will continue to improve and get around better and by moving around he might loosen up enough to get the pain subsiding in other areas than his back.  Pray for a good night for us tonight.  I'm trying to be a good nurse - but i'm nervous sometimes.  Time for me to pass the med tray.  Keep praying for the unknown which will be here soon.  I'm very nervous about that as well.
But we have to know - the entire reason for his surgery was to get answers.   No matter what - we'll move forward in full force and hit it head on. 

LLLLLLLoooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg Days

His day started off nice with a visit from a couple guys from work.  He enjoyed talking to you two!!  Thank you for coming to see him.  We enjoyed the visits we had today from friends and family.  Our oldest grandaughter knew how to get to Grandpa's room even though it's quite tricky in the roundabouts. 

They ended up keeping him in the hospital tonight.  We both decided that it would be best.  He did get up in the chair this morning for about 1.5 hours and later took a walk with the physical therapist. And another walk after I came home tonight.  He was pretty tired tonight.  He's making progress little by little as the days go by here.  We are planning on coming home tomorrow morning (hopefully).  Should be a little tricky getting him here - but we'll be ok once we are in the house.  The occupational therapist gave us some hints on getting in and out of the car and into the house.  It's those things we all take for granted that he has to be so careful about.  

We hope everyone has a blessed Christmas tomorrow.  We sidelined Christmas when our lives got thrown a curve ball.  So, for us it will be a different sort of day. Pray for our safety in getting home and getting him settled.  Pray that the upcoming days are filled with healing for him.  Pray hard for the unknown coming our way. 

   

They days are just filtering in from one to another.  The last 23 days seem like a big blur.  Yesterday I had Christmas with our kids and our 4 grandchildren - so our son could get home ahead of the snow storm heading his direction down south.  That was a very odd day.  Nothing was normal about it.  The grandkids had a ton of fun.....and I think to myself..... if we could all be so happy and carefree about everything.......how life could be so different.   We all have to carry so much!! 

Randy has been moved to yet another room as of last night at 8:00 ish.  At least they didn't have to switch his bed like the first move.  He continues to be in a great amount of pain.  The "wonder drugs" continue to bring on their side effects in full force.  There is a chance he may come home today.  As much as I want him to come home - I just don't know if he's ready.  Each day has gotten a little better...but then he hasn't been up and moving at all.  Today they hope to get him up.  So we shall see what the day brings.

Your prayers, encouragement, and support is very needed!!!  Thank you for everything that everyone has done for us.  We can never thank you enough. 

Made it through another one...

The ICU unit is the greatest!!  The nurses are super nice and very attentive and patient.  He remains there as of when I left tonight mainly because there is no room for him in a regular room. He can stay there for all I care - it's a great room.  The hospital is full which they say is rare so close to Christmas.  He had a tolerable day.  It wasn't great - but it wasn't horrible.  He didn't sleep last night hardly at all - Dr. gave him a sleep aid for tonight - so hopefully he can sleep.  He is laying flat on his back for yet another day.  His entire bed tilts so he can raise up.  I spent the whole day with him.  He managed to sneek in a nap or two now and then...that is when he wasn't watching a marathon of NCIS.

He ate decently today.  The pain was managable with his back. The newest issue he is having is numbness in his right leg now.  He had numbness and a burning sensation in his left leg prior to the sugery.  That is all steming from the cancer no doubt since it choose to house itself in his central nervous system. 

They will attempt to get him up probably on friday........and send us home on Saturday.  I pray that he heals in a decent amount of time so we can move forward with a plan of treatment.  We still don't have the pathology report back and it more than likely won't be available until Monday or Tuesday.  Seems like forever - but at least we know it's coming now. 

I need to get recharged!!  Good Night!! 

  

The Day Is Done

Surgery was 4 hours long today.  I was getting quite antsy the last 1/2 hour because I knew the longer he was in there - the more invasive it was going to be.  And my suspicions were correct.  The surgeon removed a portion of his spinal column (about 4 inches) and was hoping to have a tumor there so he could get a biopsy without going into the cord. Well there was no tumor present outside the spinal cord so he had to cut the cord and go in.  When in there - he saw multiple tumors - he had to move some of those tumors to get to the largest mass for the biopsy.  He was able to obtain the needed biopsy.  We now have to have the pathologist do the official analysis.  The surgeon mentioned that this is a very rare cancer if his suspicions are correct.  But like he said..... cancer is not his forte' and he would not comment any further.   

Since the surgery was the more invasive he is in ICU tonight and all day tomorrow.  They will move him to a regular room possibly tomorrow night (wednesday).  He will be in most likely until Saturday.  In hospital terms that is just another day even though it's Christmas - so we'll go with that.  He was in intense pain following surgery.  He had settled down with several doses of Morphine by the time they kicked me out.  Pray for his pain to be tolerable and for the report to be back soon so we can move on to the next step following recovery from surgery.  Your prayers were most appreciated today.  You aren't done yet....