Just another hurdle....

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” Philipians 4:6-7
Another scripture to remind me that we are to present our requests to God.  So here I am with today's request!  I know that God hears all of our requests...big and small ...and while today's request may seem 'small' it's very important to me.  Today is just another hurdle to jump in our bumpy journey.  Dad goes to see the neurosurgeon this afternoon to have those pesky, yet industrial sized, staples removed from his head.  It's amazing to me that 1) they use staples to hold the all important scalp together, 2) that they don't rust and 3) that dad wouldn't just let one of us girls use our handy dandy staple remover to yank those puppies out!   LOL...   In all fairness, I don't blame him...we are hardly handy with tools!  So as he prepares to have a more highly qualified person take care of the matter, I pray that the doctor's hands will be guided by God's own hands.  I pray that his handiwork will be swift and painless and that the incision will have fully healed!   Amen...

Giving Thanks......

Peace that passeth understanding….. This phrase has brought new meaning to me in the last few weeks.  Every day is a new day that seems to bring new challenges, concerns and worries but God has blessed me with a sense of peace that I cannot begin to explain.  This is a gift that I am truly thankful for…and how appropriate during the season where everyone is giving thanks for their many blessings!

So as we move closer to Thanksgiving here are things that I find myself thankful for…..

·         Most thankful to my God who hears and answers prayers!

·         Thankful for my FAMILY!  Family has always been priority in my life.  I consider myself so blessed to have such wonderful and loving parents, sister, husband, sons, nephew, brother in-law (old and new, lol) and the numerous others that make up our extended family. 

·         Thankful for another holiday to share with my loved ones!

·         Thankful for the friends who have reached out with warm and encouraging words of support during this time and thankful to those who are not sure what to say or do but offer up their prayers for my family anyway.

·         I am thankful for our jobs that help provide our shelter, transportation, food, etc.  I am often quick to complain about the commute or on the job shenanigans but I realize it is foolish to take for granted a job that helps to support my family.  So the next time a car cuts me off on the  highway I am going to pray that the driver is fortunate enough to be driving to his/her own job!

·         I am so very thankful for my husband!  I probably don’t tell him as often as I should but he is my knight in shining armor.  I love him!  I love he cares and provides for his family. I love the father he is to our boys.

·         So thankful for my two boys!  Even in their teen years they are a blessing and they are a reminder to me every day that love knows no bounds.

·         New to be thankful for this year….. Health Insurance! 

·         Thankful for good nurses!  I have a newfound respect for nurses and the jobs that they do!  A good nurse can make a big difference to a patient….AND to their families!  Especially the ones that do it with such a cheerful and giving attitude.  J

·         I am thankful for the Patient Care Tech’s who took the time to smile and speak with dad when they HAD to wake him up in the middle of the night for vital signs, etc.  It makes for a much more pleasant experience when you are woken up by someone with a warm personality than a Chilly Millie!

·         Thankful and oh so grateful to get to bring my daddy home from the hospital last night!  Home to where he belongs, home to sit on his patio, home to nap in his recliner, home to a decent hot shower and home to do whatever he so chooses at the time he chooses without restraints of IV’s and IV pole!  Thankful for no more hospital food!!

Yes, as I celebrate Thanksgiving with my family this year I will be counting our many blessings.  I will be taking in every precious moment of time spent together.... whether it’s the posing for the traditional family pics, fighting over drumsticks,  preparation and clean-up, sharing memories of Thanksgivings past or finagling for a place on the couch.  It will be a year to remember and a year to be forever THANKFUL  for!

Tour de Harris Hospital

Dejavu is the feeling I had when bringing dad back through the hospital doors yesterday morning. Bless his heart he only had a dew days 'reprieve' since he was discharged. The notable difference this time was his ability to walk himself through the doors--from the parking garage no less--rather traveling here via ambulance. We got to skip the whole ER nonsense this time! What we didn't get to skip was the sky high pile of paperwork it requires to get you a room in this joint. Seriously a name stamp is looking like a nifty Christmas gift idea about now! After practicing his penmanship for a while we were able to go directly to his new digs.....Harris 704. Again he amble there all on his own. No wheelchair for my Popeye pops! Based on the looks we received upon arrival I would bet most of their 'guests' have transportation to the floor. We were welcomed by a great nurse and the morning wad off to a good start. Shortly afterwards his new oncologist doctor came in to fill us in on his game plan. Yikes! Our expected 2-3 day stay has now turned into a week...not good for my dear old dad who loves to sit on his back patio throughout the day! Then the day takes another dip as he explains the treatment plans. We had already heard most of this on Friday but to hear it again was like another kick to the gut. I've said it before and it bears repeating CANCER SUCKS! And now quiet frankly the treatment sucks! This morning is surgery to put in two ports. I would give anything to trade places and go through this for my dad. It's not fair that he has to fight this battle twice! I know he is strong and I know that HE, my heavenly father, is in control and has got this...but I still feel selfish for wanting my dad to endure what is sure to be a bumpy road! I pray that God pave a smooth surface for this journey and provide plenty of rest areas along the way!

Where do I start?

Where to start?  At the beginning I suppose...so here goes!   The purpose of this blog is to provide a glimpse into the new journey my family finds itself taking and chronicle the ups and downs along the way. 

To begin I am sharing...okay stealing,  some of the summary that Amy Lou (my little sis) included on her blog with just a few changes to include my personal perspective.

Last Friday began a journey that no one in our family was prepared to take.  For a while now, my Dad’s health has been declining.  We have been keeping watch, encouraging him to eat more, go for walks and try to regain some strength. He ordered an exercise bike last week. Amy made a deal with him that when he could walk on the treadmill for a mile and bike for 30 minutes she would take him and Mom to the Hill Country for a little vacation.  That deal is still very much in place.  Back to the journey… Sunday, October 30 was a turning point.  Dad seemed to have all the signs of a stroke.  He had an appointment with the doctor to set a surgery date on Wednesday.  Thursday was an appointment with his primary doctor to check out the other symptoms that continued to concern us.  That led us to a cardiologist, which led us back to Dad’s primary care, which led us to an MRI, which led to the emergency room, the 6^th floor, surgical waiting room, Neuro ICU, and ending on the 5^th floor.   Quite the journey.

We have been down this road before.  Dad was diagnosed in 2006 with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  During that phase of our life, our family witnessed a miracle.  After one chemo treatment, Dad suffered a strangulated hernia.  While normally that would be an easy repair, if you suffer this after one round of chemo, your body has no defense mechanism against infection.  A miracle was the only way out.  We believed and received. Dad made it through surgery, and he made it through 5 more chemo treatments into remission.  Our faith was strengthened!

Journey’s like these don’t come without your moments of doubt and worry and fear.  It’s human nature.  On Dad’s first journey I  was driving to the hospital talking to my best friend.  Our conversation centered around the fact that prayer was the only thing I needed at the time and we both acknowledged that prayer works and that we would continue to pray for good results.  Just as I was ending the conversation and taking the exit for the hospital I came upon a van with a bright homemade colored poster board which was taped to the outside with the message “Prayer Works”.  This “sign” came at a time when fear and worry had taken over.  After sharing that encounter with the family, we claimed it and believed it.   Last Saturday, I was  in the waiting room taking some phone calls from family members and was unable to sit still.  A cleaning crew member who was vacuuming around her noticed my uneasiness and stopped with his cleaning and spoke to me.  His name was LaVon and this is what he said “when I get anxious my God tells me to be still, don’t worry, I am here and ALL things are possible.” As he turned to go he looked back and told me “not to worry…that HE has got this…HE’s Got this!” 

Dad has since been released from the hospital.  Today we visited with the oncologist to learn the details of his biopsy results and determine what course of treatment we will be following.  Our doctor referred us to one of his partners who specializes in central nervous system lymphomas.  Long story short this cancer is not operable nor is it cureable but it is treatable.  Dad will be admitted back to the hospital on Monday to begin agressive treatment.  I will keep the faith and keep believing for our second miracle...but the kick in the stomach and lump in the throat that came upon hearing all the details will not soon be forgotten. 

So for now we pull back the ropes, tighten up the laces and slip on the gloves as we get ready for our next fight!  My dad is strong, my family is strong and my God is stronger! 

The song below continues to provide me strength and inspiration along with the words of encouragment and support from family and friends.  Words cannot express my gratitude...

I meet with You and my soul sings out
As Your word throws doubt far away
I sing to You and my heart cries holyHallelujah, Father, You’re near
My hope is in You Lord, all the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song, and I sing
My hope is in You alone
I wait for You and my soul finds rest
In my selfishness You show me grace
I worship You and my heart cries glory
Hallelujah, Father, You’re here
I will wait on You, You are my refuge
I will wait on You, You are my refuge
My hope is in You Lord, all the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
The peace that passes understanding is my song, and I sing
My hope is in You alone
My hope is in You alone
My hope is in You alone

The journey continues....