Thursday, March 19, 2009

March 19, 2009

We just wanted to share a couple of miracles that we have had the past couple of days. Mom's oxygen continues improve and there are periods of time when she takes off her mask. Her strength also seems to be improving slightly. The last few nights she has been able to sleep about 5-6 hours, which is about 5 times as much has she has been sleeping. Dad has made made mom's comfort his number one priority and bought her a new lazy boy chair along with a big screen TV. Cute, funny dad. We are so grateful for these small miracles that have brought us much hope.

March 16, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
I guess it's time for another update. Mom came home last Wednesday. We were worried about keeping her oxygen level high with the equipment that we had, but it seems that things are stable. A nurse comes in every day to check her everyday and her oxygen level has been above 90. Jenny came down on Wednesday and put her student teaching on hold. She has been taking care of my mom 24 hours a day ever since. She will need to finish up her student teaching, but the university seems to be working well with her. Another piece of exciting news is that John was able to come home. My dad believes that the Lord sent him home. He is here until Tuesday (the 24th) and after that he will return and finish up the remaining four months of his mission. The timing for him actually works out really well because he just had surgery on his arm and was holding back his companion anyway. His presence has been wonderful and uplifting. Yesterday, we met as a family and he was able to give my mom a blessing. Nathan gave my dad a much needed blessing as well. It was a beautiful day and my mom had more energy and looked better than she has since she came home from the hospital. She is still not sleeping at night and has very little appetite. There are a few other concerns that we have, but we are just taking it a day at a time. We still have much hope and are praying for a miracle. We actually had a small miracle this morning - she was able to walk around the bed this morning. Many of you have asked what you can do. Your prayers are very much needed and appreciated. My mom is in need of constant care, but we as family and taking care of her needs for now. We will let you know if there is ever a need for others to come in and be with her. We still need to limit visitors as it wears it her out to talk to people. Her energy needs to be saved for recovery purposes and and so she is able to talk her boys when they get home from school. Thanks for all your love.

March 10, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

We were finally able to talk to all of the doctors today. Unfortunately, the news was not good. After she was admitted into the hospital, they found blood clots in her lungs, near her heart and in her legs. She is also not able to breath on her own at all. We were hoping that they would be able to surgical remove some of the tissue and blood clots in her lungs so that she would be able to breath better. However, because of her unstable condition, the doctors did not think that she would be able to survive through such an ordeal. Chemotherapy is also not an option, the cancer is too far advanced and has reached too many places in her body. She will be coming home tomorrow and under the care of home health hospice. The oncologist that spoke to us was very good to my parents. He said that even though there was nothing more the medical world could do for her, she could go home and put this in the hands of the Lord. That is what we plan to do. We haven't given up hope; there are alternative methods that we are going to try. We are still praying for a miracle. My dad wants you all especially pray for strength, peace and wisdom. Please continue your faith and courage. Thank you for all the love, service and prayers that have been rendered on our behalf. I know that many of you will want to visit my mom at home, we will let you know when she has the strength to have visitors. I'll continue to send emails to keep you updated. Thank you again for all you have done.

March 7, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
My mom would like everyone to know how much she has appreciated the prayers of so many in her behalf. We are all grateful for all the love and support that we have felt these past few weeks. The good news is that our first prayer has been answered. Thursday and Friday night, she was able to sleep - something she hasn't been able to do very well for the past 6 weeks. Unfortunately, I do not think she will get much sleep tonight because she is back in the hospital with all kinds of wires surrounding her. She has been home all week, but her breathing has been more and more difficult. This morning it was so bad that my dad took her to the emergency room. Her oxygen level was down to 60 and she was listed in critical condition. She is now in the intensive care unit at the Intermountain Medical Center. For most of the day she was on a forced air respirator. She is still on 100 oxygen, but she is able to talk through this ventilator that she is on now. Even with the oxygen, it is still difficult for her to breath and talking for more than a few minutes causes her oxygen level to drop below where it should be. The doctors attempted to drain some of the fluid that has built up so that my mom could breathe easier; however, it was unsuccessful and they have had to put in another tube through her back. The fluid is not draining very fast and so she has not had much relief so far. In other news, she had her PET-CT scan on Friday and we are awaiting to see what the results of the scan are. First, we need to deal with her not being able to breathe - surgery may be a possiblility. Hopefully we will know what course of action to take within the next few days. Sorry if this seems a little scattered, it's pretty late and I don't really understand it all myself.
Thanks again for your prayers and support.

March 4, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
First of all I want to thank you for all the support that we have felt for everyone. Sunday was a special day as we know that many were united in fast and prayer for my mom. There is nothing new to report as far as what we know about the cancer. We appreciate everyone for respecting her wishes not to call or visit. This is not because she doesn't want to hear from you! She is extremely weak and occasionally nauseous. She also isn't sleeping well. Even though she is on oxygen, even getting up to go the bathroom makes her winded. She also has to limit the amount of talking that she does because that also makes her winded and wears her out - this is why she can't have a lot of phone calls. Even though she can't take phone calls, she still needs to know of your love and support. Some of you have written her, but if you haven't - please take the time to write her a note or email her. We are printing up everything she receives and putting it in a notebook for her to have and look over. She appreciates notes so much already and it has been amazing to me how uplifting and comforting even little messages are to all of us. The notes will be a strength to her and our family for the next several months. Please pray that she will be able to get the rest she needs to gain strength so she can be on the road to recovery.

February 28, 2009

To our dear family and friends,

The doctor received the pathology test results from the fluid that was drained earlier this week. The diagnosis is not good. She is suffering from the advanced stages of adenocarcinoma in her right lung and it has also touched some of the surrounding organs, including her heart. The doctor said it is a slower growing type of cancer and that the scar tissue indicates that it has been present for months, maybe even a year or more. Here is one link among over 3 million on adenocarcinoma: http://www.hopkinsm edicine.org/ health_informati on_library/ index.html? ArticleID= 84229. The doctor has recommended a P.E.T. – CT scan that should provide more details about how serious this case is. We will keep you posted on:

We send you this information now because we would like you to join us in fasting and prayer this fast Sunday. Our faith is in Jesus Christ and his promise to guide us, not only in troubled times but always. Pray that Norene and I will be blessed with inspiration and guidance to know his will and the courage and stamina to follow it. As we, and all of us, do that, then I know that peace will come to our hearts regardless of where that path may lead.

Thank you for your love and prayers. Norene should be coming home Sunday, then we have some time to determine God’s will concerning more tests and treatment.

We love you!
Wayne, Norene and family