Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Journey Continues, At Home!, Quick update on Dr. visit

Yesterday's 2:30 pm appointment was another hurry up and get there to wait.  LOL  After about an hour of wondering if they had forgot we had been placed in a room one of the fellows came in.  She asked several questions and then as she was leaving she said well the Dr. will be in after we get your blood work.  We looked at each other then ask her, you mean we still haven't got the blood work back from Monday.  She got a funny look on her face then said you didn't have blood work today.  Richard told her, no they told us at the front desk that blood work wasn't ordered.

The PA came in really quick after that and told us that the blood work from Monday all was very good except for the potassium and that Richard would need to do blood work before we left the building.  If that still is high then he will be started on meds for that.  That would put him up to 11 meds a day most of which he takes twice a day and one he takes three times a day.  We finally left the city close to five after they took eight viles of blood from Richard.

He did talk the PA into filling out his release to go back to work but the Dr. busted that.  I heard her talking loudly in the hall and knew it wasn't going to go through.  The PA came back in with the paper and said Dr. busted you. LOL

Sometimes it is hard to wait.  We want things right now if not sooner.  We want things on our terms but sometimes it is good to be still and wait.  Sometimes it is to allow your body to heal.  Sometimes it is so you don't end up doing something you shouldn't and sometimes it is so you can hear that Still Small Voice speaking to you.  Today might be a good day to wait, be still and listen!


Proverbs 8:34 NIV

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Journey Continues: A look back at woe, despair and something else!

This journey that my husband has been traveling has been an adventure sparked with hope, love and prayers.  Even though I have not felt the pain of cancer, chemo and transplants, I have shared my husband's pain and despair.  This has affected every member of our immediate family. But every step of the way we have felt the prayers and love of our Christian friends as they have went to their knees on our behalf. 

I have been thinking back to the first twenty-four hours that Richard spent in ICU.  This was a stressful time that Richard does not really remember.  I seem to be able to remember each second and sometimes in slow motion.  Around four that morning a nurse came to get me and told me they were going to have to put my husband on the ventilator and made the remark that he hoped that Richard would make it through the procedure.  We walked very fast through the hall, down to the ICU unit but each second seemed like hours as time froze.  I got to see him for about 30 seconds then they booted me back to the waiting room.  I was sweating but I was cold as I sat and prayed for my husband, not sure what to expect.  I looked up and seen the Dr. coming toward me with sad eyes.  She sat down and told me that Richard's prognosis was not good and I might want to call the children.  I was full of much woe and despair as the Dr. cried with me and hugged me.  I told her that I wanted to pray before calling the children and she left me sitting there.  I sat there and talked to my Almighty God and finally told Him that I knew He was in control, that Richard was His not mine.  That is when I felt something else.  It was the peace of God flooding my soul and a knowing that we would be OK.

Richard does not really remember this part of the night.  He was struggling to breathe, his lungs completely full of fluids.  His kidneys had shut down and they had him sedated and paralyzed with drugs.  He told me that even though he doesn't remember the pain and the struggle of that night he remembers that God took him to the mountain top.  He remembers that God told him that He was not finished with him yet but that Richard needed to rest for awhile.  He said after that he just felt peace.  The peace of resting in God's Hand.

God's Hand is what got our family through this time of woe and despair and also the triumph of bringing Richard home.  There could be more trials and triumphs as we finish this journey but we know that with God we will not finish it alone!!!

Jeremiah 29:11-12

New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Journey Continues, At Home!, Dr. visit

Yesterday was the first Dr. visit for Richard after being discharged last Thursday, and though we have had to go for blood work several times this was the first time coming face to face with that person in the white coat.

Richard had his work release in hand and started bargaining the second he got a glimpse of that white coat coming in the door.  He had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Holter this visit and she more or less said, "NO WAY!!!!!"   First she said she would not even consider til 100 days after transplant, then she went down to 90.  After much bickering she finally told Richard that she would consider half days after 60 days but only if counts are right and she thinks he is able to handle it.  She said if she even considered him working before that time she would be negligent.

Once the bargaining was finished she examined Richard and said he is doing good, though not good enough to go to work.  She said that he definitely received a good bone marrow.  She even called it robust.  It is one that will recognize something that should not be there.  Our hope and prayer is that it has recognized any rouge cancer cells and deleted them!!!

Counts are good!!  Creatintine counts are down to 2. something and they are changing his meds.  He will be doing blood work again tomorrow morning.  This time they will draw the blood from a deep vein.  They will changed meds as needed according to his counts.

The visit ended with the Dr. hugging Richard.  I think she forgot to tell him to behave but I guess that is my job. LOL


but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Journey Continues, At Home!

For those of you who are my friend on facebook then you might know that I was able to bring Richard home.  We made it home by about 7:30pm Thursday evening, June 16th,  and my very tired husband walked through the front door of our home.  He was jubilant but weaker then he would admit. The next day we made a trip back to Oklahoma City for blood work but we were back home by eleven.  By noon we had the news that counts were still good and to continue meds as directed.

Thursday night, after talking I did find out that Richard knew more about ICU then I thought he did and I will write about that another day.  There is about five days that he doesn't remember but he does know WHO brought him through those days.  We spent time in prayer and thanksgiving to our AWESOME GOD!!

Now he is already saying he is going start pushing to get back to work.  I don't think the DR. will go for it this week and if Richard happens to read this, he will know that I think he is not quite ready just yet!!  I am just the wife though. LOL

God is good all the time and he did grant a wish.  Richard is home for Father's Day and I have the banana pudding made and in the fridge.  I have the chicken cooking to go in the casserole and the ingredients waiting to be put together.

I don't know about my husband but this is one Father's Day that I will never forget!!

Welcome home my precious husband!!!


Deuteronomy 10:21

New International Version (NIV)
21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Journey Continues, Day + 27 or Day 34

Tomorrow will mark Richard's fifth week in OU Medical and his 28 day birthday of receiving his new immune system.  We are so thankful to the donors who so willing give to others.  The good news is his new system is working.

He spent nine days in ICU and I think that this new immune system helped him through that time.  His white counts and anc counts have stayed good.  Now if his kidney counts would have done the same thing.  They have been very high but the Dr. did say he thought they were heading in the right direction now.  His potassium levels were so high they gave him medicines that caused stomach distress so he did have a rough day today.  Spent lots of time in the bathroom.  I am hoping he will be able to rest tonight.

If his counts keep moving like they have he could be home in time for Father's Day!!   Now that would be a great present!!

Ephesians 5:20

New International Version (NIV)
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Journey Continues, Day +21 or Day 28

This last week has been a stormy week but with calm now on the horizon this part of a song by  Matt Redman summarizes how I have made it through.

And I will fear no evil
for my God is with me'
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh, no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
in every high and every low
Lord, You never let go of me.
Matt Redman


Last Tuesday was a much different day then this Tuesday.  I had been told it might be a good idea to call the children and the Dr.s were not giving much hope for recovery.  Richard does not know this yet but I will tell him when he is well and home.  He was on the ventilator with 100% oxygen, a feeding tube, kidneys shut down and all kinds of meds going in him.  Yes I was upset but God kept me from letting fear overcome and has been with me every step and He will never let go of me.

Richard is now completely off of all machines including the dialysis and if he can keep his output going he will not have to go back on it.  Yesterday his output was increasing as the day went by.  We are hoping for a room soon to get out of intensive care.  His blood counts have been great.  The donor's immune system is now working and helping Richard fight.

Richard is still weak but pushing.   He would like to push right on out those doors and get home.  Maybe this week???

Thanks for the prayers and please send out prayers for two families that lost loved ones yesterday in ICU.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

The Journey Continues, + Day 18

Richard has had a very rough week but is getting better a step at a time.  He is now on an oxygen mask at 40% oxygen and made it through the night that way.  The night before he had to go on the bpap because it helped him with the breathing.  He has been off of the ventilator since Wednesday. They have said that when they get his breathing stable there is the possibility of moving to a room.  The dialysis is getting rid of the fluids but he still has swelling.  They had to turn the rate that the fluids are being taken off down because of his blood pressure.  This morning they did start him back on meds to keep the blood pressure up.  He has so many tubes going into him that even the nurses are having a hard to figuring out what tube is going where. 

Yesterday he was able to drink water and ate about 10 little bites of applesauce.  The nurse this morning said that when he can eat more the feeding tube will come out.  Hopefully he will be able to eat more each time.

Richard had been on medicines that kept him sedated and paralyzed and they took him off those meds on Wednesday.  It took til yesterday to get it out of his system.  He was very surprised when the preacher told him it was Friday.  He thought it was Tuesday.  He can't believe that he has lost three days and he can't remember any of it.

Thursday he was sleeping and woke up suddenly and ask me where did that striped lady go.  I ask him where the striped lady had been and he said, "Well she was just right here talking to me and I need to see her."  I told him that if I saw her I would send her in and he said ok and went back to sleep.

They have one remote for the whole unit where he is and Thursday when he finally felt like watching T.V., he insisted on having a remote and kept after them til he has the remote in his room.  He doesn't really remember that or that fact that there is only one remote. He is also now telling them to let him go off of certain meds and to take the tubes out so he can go home.

I know he is feeling better.  He is still very sick but just the fact that he is getting very stubborn again and insisting on getting his way tells me that he is heading in the right direction.  I am praying that he keeps heading that way!


Thanks so much for all the prayers!!!!!


“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11 NIV