First Week Finished

Our first full week of school, post-surgery, is done, and it was wonderful and difficult. The wonderful part had to do with students and teachers who were so happy to have T back. Surprisingly, many of our students did not think he would ever be able to return. Their prior experience with cancer had one ending: loss. There were lots of tears, big hugs, and loud expressions of joy. T's office door was covered with blue bulletin board paper, littered with notes from students, brightly welcoming him home. He was also the grateful recipient of a yummy chocolate cake and beautiful cherry pie! Have I mentioned that I don't bake much?


This week was also spirit week, the week of homecoming, and all the extra activities made daily life a bit more difficult. Monday was tiring but not too bad, however Tuesday, T decided that the website had to be updated (he's the webmaster) so worked for hours getting that done. Not smart. His left wrist throbbed with pain for days afterward; lesson learned. Returning home for lunch and a brief rest helped T get through the rest of the week. 


I think the highlight of his week may have been returning to his bible class, Misseo Dei, each afternoon. Among the group are students who sincerely desire to know God more deeply, and others who acknowledge, quite frankly, that He has very little place in their lives. There are a lot of prayers ascending for these students! 


Friday night was the homecoming game, and T felt he just had to be there, even if only for a short while. We went just as the first half was ending, stayed for the coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen, then returned home after the team took the field for the second half. It was good for T to be there but left him with more pain. My mother asked me why the doctors didn't give him pain pills... ahem, they did. However, narcotics and T don't mix well, so he has only taken three pills since mid-September's surgery. Basically he relies on Tylenol, not really taking that too often because he doesn't want to kill his liver. Sigh... I do understand his thinking, but it is difficult to watch him deal with the constant pain. 


Sleeping has been a trick. He created a nest of pillows (six of them) that surround him and prop his arm in just the right position. Staying asleep all night doesn't actually happen, but he's never been a strong sleeper. We painted our bedroom Brown Teepee to create a dark, cave-like space, hoping to help him sleep deeper. It helps some but not enough, especially now.


So, week one is behind us. He is stronger but still in pain. He is definitely exhibiting more mobility, especially in his face. And I have learned to ask before I try to do something for him. It may take him longer to do it himself, but he'd rather try regardless. Thanks for your continued prayers on his behalf. He certainly does need them so please don't quit!

And some more

It has been a whirlwind of a week. Once we got home, T had a bit of let-down, or major fatigue hit, or something like that. His temperature was low, and he was just exhausted. I think the twelve hours without rest on Monday afternoon/evening had something to do with that. Each day he has grown a bit stronger, but he realizes that he is not up to his normal pace and probably won't be for a while. He's ready to do more, however. Today he ran some errands, including chasing down some more medical supplies for bandaging his wounds. We don't have the same goodies here in Oly that we were able to buy in Houston, but he was able to find some others that will suffice.


The big news, the good news, is that the pathology report is finally complete, and all is clear. The doctors have said there should be no more surgery and no additional radiation. We are so relieved! T had maximum radiation back in 2004 and it would be tricky to go there again. The fact that he doesn't have to is just such a relief; I can't begin to tell you what a weight has been lifted from my mind and heart!


I know many have wanted more updates but really, this was the last big piece for our saga. We are hoping to put this behind us and move on with our lives. I've been back in the classroom since Wednesday, and Terry hopes to go back next week. We are so grateful for your support and prayer. Thank you for traveling this road with us over the past several weeks. We know how fortunate we are; we have witnessed those who have had far more serious outcomes. We are so blessed to have experienced healing yet again. God bless you all!

Home!

It's 11 PM in Oly and we are home. Had a completely uneventful trip, including an entire row to ourselves, thanks to a lady who move back a couple rows... and got a row to herself! We had the strength and stamina needed. T thought he needed to be the one to put his roller-board into the over-head bin; hopefully he didn't pop anything. He had to swing it up there. It was a sight! T's younger brother was there to pick us up, even had a cooler of milk, eggs, and fruit for us. So sweet! Even though it's 11 here, it feels like 1 AM - Texas time. I will say this: 58* is easier to handle than 97*! I love NW weather! Thanks for praying us home!

Once more from Texas

This is it. We have been in Texas since September 12th, and it's time to go home. Actually, I think it's past time to go home! We have been here for fourteen days, and so much has transpired. So much more happened than we ever expected, but the peace and assurance that God has provided remains steadfast in our hearts and lives. We are so thankful for that presence that allows us to count on One greater than ourselves.

As we travel tomorrow, please pray for strength and stamina. We are not leaving until 6:40 PM, Texas time, and won’t get home until 9:14 PM, Washington time. It will be a long day, a long evening. As strong as he has become, T tends to fade after three hours of activity. So please, pray us home! I’ll stay in touch via this blog from time to time, but the main activity is drawing to a close. At lease we hope it is! Thank you for your support and prayers. We couldn’t have handled this gracefully without you! Bless you!

Whatever, to the 10th power

I have always had a tough time with math, but I do understand the concept of exponents. The best example I have found recently is my dear hubby and his determination to heal and get stronger. His strength and abilities are mounting exponentially. When Scott was here, he encouraged me to let his dad do whatever he could for himself. Brian said the same thing when I talked to him on the phone, so I’ve had my sons’ voices in my ear as I have really tried (sometimes unsuccessfully) to hold back and let T accomplish a variety of tasks with one hand. As I look him over, he’s pretty battered. There’s the right side of his face with lots of stitches, the left arm in a splint, and the right leg quite wounded. Part of me wants to wait on him at all times, but that wouldn’t help him recover. Just the way he walked for hours while in the hospital, so he has done his best to take care of himself. I’m still allowed to hold the hair dryer in place while he fixes his hair. Yes, that was humorous sarcasm. ☺

Today was a big one. We decided to go out to lunch for a change, and T drove the car! One eye, one hand, one sore leg, but he can still maneuver a vehicle far better than I can.

Next, I dropped him at MD Anderson and came back to the hotel to finish grading papers. Now before you think I’m a terrible wife, he went there for a haircut. MDA has a free salon for their patients, and T was looking quite shaggy. While at the salon, he also got a shave, explaining to the lady helping him that he had forgotten the charge cord for his electric razor. Just so happened, she had an extra one and gave it to him. So sweet! His hair is pretty short but that may be a good thing. Hopefully he’ll be healed up before it’s time for another cut.

After I picked him up, we headed to the mall to look at slippers that were on sale at JCP. You may remember that his previous pair fell victim to the great blood blister! Beside that, they were at least ten years old and needed to be replaced. We didn’t find what we wanted but did some walking so it wasn’t wasted. Arriving back at the hotel, we rested for a bit, then T went out for a walk around the neighborhood – by himself.

Monday is going to be a long day but we will get through it. Being confined for four + hours on the plane is not going to be easy, but arriving home will be a sweet reward. And then, look out – it’s going to be hard to make the man pace himself. But that’s the guy I married, and I am so thankful for his determination and commitment to doing whatever it takes to get on with his life.

Appointments

We made our way to the medical center early this morning for another appointment with reconstructive surgery. This time we went prepared with a list of questions and needed supplies. T has three basic wounds that we care for, and the supplies we had wouldn’t get us through the weekend. Our questions were answered, supplies were ordered, and we were done. After a quick stop at the gift shop to get a thank-you card and deliver it to our favorite Dr. E (who was in surgery), we came back to the hotel for a bit of a rest. I can see T regaining strength day-by-day, but it’s going to take a while to get back to normal. Having the splint on his arm is also a real encumbrance, making everyday tasks more time consuming. But none of that is a big concern for us; we just try to take it as it comes.

It is easier to take things as they come now that we are a week past surgery. Honestly, we had moments of grave concern (even fear on my part) before surgery. Some of the potential outcomes were difficult to accept. Although T was also uneasy about the degree of surgery involved, he didn’t demonstrate the anxiety that I was feeling. Sorting it all out, committing what we couldn’t control, resting in the peace that God gave us took time and our focused attention, but the Lord was faithful and not only brought us through this physically but helped us to deal with our moments of weakness and normal human emotion. We’re not superhuman, just ordinary people doing our best to walk the road laid out before us, grateful to not be walking it alone.

One of the things we have really tried to do is encourage those around us facing similar fears. We’ve had our scheduled appointments with doctors, nurses, and therapists, and we’ve had a few divine appointments with people whose names we don’t even know. I had one of those this evening. It always seems to begin in the elevator. Makes sense, stuck in a little box like that, either we look at the walls and the floor, or someone speaks. Guess who’s the talker? Yeah, I’m guilty on that one.

I met a man from Independence, MO whose wife has been dealing with health issues for over a decade. They had received some really goofy care in KC until they got to KC Research hospital, where an honest doctor told them that he was simply not qualified to help her, nor did he believe anyone in that hospital was capable. With his encouragement, they came to MD Anderson. Now out of the elevator, standing in the hotel lobby, the man shared her story in detail. About 30 minutes later, he asked about my husband. I gave the brief version of our story, mentioning our amazing doctor, a tiny Iranian powerhouse who pursues the minutiae of everything. His head popped up, and he asked her name. When I gave him Dr. E’s name, he told me that she had operated on his wife just that morning. There was my cue! I gave him chapter and verse as to why he could be thankful. We chatted for a few more minutes, spoke of faith and hope, and discovered that we shared many spiritual commonalities. When we parted, he thanked me profusely for taking the time to chat.

These are the moments that make this awful experience worthwhile. I mean, frankly, I hate the fact that my wonderful husband has had to deal with all this stuff. I would never choose this for anyone in my family. But we do believe that we are called to make a difference in the world, and in order to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients, someone has to have cancer. I know, I know, it’s a terribly simplistic idea, but these encounters with discouraged people, seeing their spirits lifted, it helps us to make some sense of it all. In the same way that seeing the intricacies of the human skull reaffirms our faith in a divine creator, sharing with and encouraging needy people confirms our belief that none of this is just a series of random events. There is purpose to our lives.

Regardless of what one believes, we should all try to make life a little better for others, right? According to scripture, both Old and New Testaments, those who follow the Lord are called to share His good news and lighten the load of others. The opportunities are right in front of us; we just have to accept the divine appointments.

A bit of this and that...

There are many things that just work here in Houston, especially for people with medical issues. First of all, the medical facilities themselves are unlike anything we have ever seen in the world. There is something like 50 different medical buildings downtown – I mean big, multi-storied, multi-building facilities. The fact that US News & World Report has listed MD Anderson as the number one cancer hospital again, well, that is not lost on us either. It is a place of remarkable care, although we have seen things that are simply beyond explanation, especially small suffering children.

Then take into account the hotels and extended stay complexes that serve those who are in these medical facilities, and you begin to see just how amazing this community has become. They know whom they are serving and aim to do the best job possible. We can personally put in a plug for the Comfort Suites Reliant/Medical Center Hotel located quite close to Reliant Stadium. Mr. Patel runs this place very well. It is so clean, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to meet the needs of his guests. One afternoon I returned to the hotel to try to rest a bit. I stopped at the counter to extend our reservation, and Mr. Patel came out to inquire about T and told me that he was ready to provide whatever special help we needed, just say the word. He is a wonderful man! His hotel also offers a medical rate that is half the cost of many of the hotels in the area. He has such a good heart!

There’s a lot to see around here. I can tell T is feeling better because he’s surfing the web to see what we can visit. He’s especially irritated to know he missed the annual Gun and Knife show on the 17th and 18th. He’s such a hoot!

Today we had a doctor appointment with the primary surgeon, and he is as pleased with T’s progress as everyone else has been. Pathology is not yet completed on the section removed so we don’t have anything definitive on that as yet. We are praying that it will all be negative, as we would really like to avoid further radiation, if possible.

After the appointment, we went to Physical Therapy where a team of two created a splint for T’s left arm, protecting the underside of his forearm and his wrist area (flap site). That took a while. He was instructed to wear this splint when he sleeps so he doesn’t do anything inadvertently that would harm the flap. He was also told to wear it when he does anything active, but he could take it off to sit on the couch. I wanted to laugh out loud! The only couch sitting he does is if he has a pile of books he’s reading, something he does enjoy a lot.

We are heading out to run a few errands. T’s energy level is returning, slowly but surely. Actually, it’s more exponential – doubled day-to-day. He is still not allowed to lift anything and that infuriates him. I brought a case of water up to our room, and he had to go on ahead of me, couldn’t stand to think that I would do that while he stood by and watched. I could see his jawbone protrude as he clenched his teeth over that one!

Tomorrow we head back to see Dr. S. He is fast becoming one of our favorites. We still need to write out a list of our questions; we always forget when we’re sitting there. Bless you all, dear friends, for your prayers and good wishes. We are grateful people who have enjoyed the presence of God during a time of suffering. It is amazing how He shows up, and all that He will do for us if we let Him. Until tomorrow.

Watch out for the door!

I am tired tonight but joyfully so. We had an interesting day at the Center for Reconstructive Surgery - also known as plastic surgery. Gotta love the new nomenclature! We were planning to stop at the beauty salon to get T's hair washed but at the last minute, he remembered that he wasn't supposed to stretch his neck too much. So we canceled. Good call because that no excess stretching directive was reiterated this afternoon! The surgeon used some veins in T's neck to keep the imported flap alive. Dr. S is a real character. I can't remember what T said to get the doctor to respond the way he did, but it was something about the drain in his arm. I think T asked if it was coming out today or not, and the doctor replied, "Oh yes, we'll tie it to the door, slam it, and run like crazy!" We knew we had a kindred spirit in Dr. S. We started laughing and honestly, it just got better and better.

The drain was removed, without the use of the door. Then the doctor removed the heavy cast from T's arm, the flap donor site. I was surprised by the extent of the scar - not the flap scar - but the long cut that went from the inside of his wrist almost up to the inside of his elbow. It must have had something to do with that drain. We will need to treat and bandage this, plus wrap it with an ace bandage. It appears that this is something he will be doing for the next several weeks.

The next step was to remove the bandage on his thigh and check out the site of the skin graft donation. Dr. S wasn't all that happy with the way it had been bandaged and proceeded undo everything, add a different kind of pad, plus a certain kind of cream - silver something. As he showed me what to do, I remarked that it was like frosting a cake, and he agreed. After putting the pad over the wound, it also needs to be wrapped with an ace bandage.

I asked about cleaning all these wounds, and the doctor informed me that T could take care of this himself in the shower! Yay! He is also allowed to shave, as long as he uses an electric razor - something about his numb face and a blade not being a good combination.

Tonight we'll go to sleep knowing that all is healing well. We have an appointment with Dr. M, the head and neck surgeon. He was the guy who removed the cancer and surrounding tissue. Thursday we'll go back to see Dr. S and find out all the limitations that may be facing us. We will rest over the weekend, try to see a Dr. E (our original surgeon) on Monday morning, and fly out Monday evening. We are thanking the Lord for the strength he provides as we walk through each day of appointments. He is so faithful to provide peace and healing. Now, to rest.

Blissful Rest

The first night in the hotel went so well. I had a hard time going to sleep and staying asleep at first. I think that's because I became used to being awakened every hour or so. Terry had a good night as well. I was able to get our breakfast from the breakfast room this morning and now the laundry is running. We hadn't planned to stay this long so I am very grateful that this hotel has a washer and dryer! 


We will head out to the plastic surgery appointment about noon today. The appointment isn't until 3 o'clock but MD Anderson has a beauty shop that is free for their patients. We want to get T's hair washed properly, something we don't have the facility of doing here. The shower head is fixed with no wand. 


This afternoon's appointment is a big deal. This is where we will learn the limitations of T's mobility (or not). We will see the arm wound for the first time and hopefully get the drain removed and receive some answers about the rest of the wounds that are still in recovery. Please help us pray for good results.


Our return to Seattle is fixed for Monday evening the 26th, and dear friends, Sam and Carmen Harrison, have volunteered to help us with that process. I am so grateful for our extended family of God that literally encircles the globe! Blessings on you all.

At the hotel

It's about 10 o'clock here in Texas, but I decided I would write one quick post just to let everyone know that T is doing well. The cast on his left arm is driving him crazy, and he's a little concerned what his arm is going to look like once it's off, but all in all, he is really doing well. Tomorrow afternoon we'll see the plastic surgeon and have (supposedly) the cast and the drain removed. I think this is a pretty sure thing, but I've learned to always expect the unexpected. 

We did learn we won't be able to return until Monday, but that probably works out for the best. The trip back should be pretty interesting. T is not allowed to lift anything with his left hand and no more than five pounds with his right. That has him pretty concerned but I think I have figured out how to make everything work for us. Yeah, I have a plan - I know, no one is surprised by that. 

So, we are ready to crash. The idea of sleeping without interruption (unless we choose to wake ourselves for whatever reason) is pretty appealing. Have a great night all. Oh how grateful we are for the prayer cover! Blessings!

Too Much?

I think T went at it too hard yesterday. I tried to calculate how much he walked and I think he was pushing three hours or so. He is exhausted today. Of course, part of that could be from the giant blood blister explosion yesterday. That took the starch right out of him! The doctor is supposed to be in soon to give us some final direction. Looks like we may head to the hotel tomorrow. I really think getting some extended rest without IV hook-ups and nurses taking vitals every two hours will help the healing process. Keep us in your prayers as we transition to the next steps in this process. Blessings on you all.

Let The River Run

T has had quite a day! First I washed his hair with a shower cap shampoo thingy. It was amazing. The nurse gave me this really cool, thick shower cap, which had been kept warm in a heater, that had product all through the inside lining. I put it on T's head and massaged his head for 2-3 minutes. He really liked that part; afterward I took it off and toweled his hair dry. And it was clean! Amazing product - and believe me, his hair was a good test, like wire from all that yellow surgery stuff!


Next, T decided that he was going to be the marathoner today. Good grief, he walked and walked and walked. He's a rock star with the nurses. However, it did lead to one tiny problem, hence the Carly Simon title. This whole plastic surgery process has been about taking skin from one place and putting it somewhere else. After the section of tissue and skin (plus tumor) was removed from below his eye socket, a flap (skin with blood vessels) was taken from his left arm to fill that in. Then skin was taken from his right thigh to cover the flap wound. Imagine a cheese cutter, the hand-held kind that you pass through the cheese to lift off a thin slice, that's kind of what they did to him. To cover this wound they used something called Tegaderm Film. It's a cross between saran wrap and contact paper. It allows something similar to a blood blister to form underneath, a really big thick blood blister, like 2" x 5"! With all T's walking, this blister started to pool toward the bottom of the film, until this afternoon when he set out to walk yet again... and the big blister burst. Oh well, he needed new slippers anyway. I'm talking a river, right by the nurses station! They cleaned it up and added more film, only to have it happen again. I got him into bed to rest this evening, and thought I should check it and sure enough, the nurse had to add yet some more. He has at least five sections stuck on him and I don't think he's done with it.  Boy, is it going to be fun taking that all off!


Tonight he's tired, as he should be after walking for miles all day. The nurse pulled the IVs (happy, happy, joy, joy!) and tomorrow someone will remove at least one drain, possibly two. Little by little, we're getting there. We are thankful for your encouragement and prayers as we go through this process. Bless you!

Sunday Morning Worship

No, we didn't go to church. The nurses (3 of them) came in at 4:30 this morning to do their routine and with bright lights and lots of conversation, T was wide awake. It was time for a bit of worship, so we opened the computer and played the Talley Trio. It was a lovely moment. After a short snooze, we got up and started walking. I walk beside T, holding up his arm that is in a cast. He can't wear a sling because of the drain in the side of his face/neck. Walking this obstacle course is quite a challenge, but T likes to tease me as well. I try to match his steps; if he starts on the right foot, I do too. Every once in a while he will shuffle his feet to get me off rhythm. Sometimes he'll start taking mincing little steps or big long strides. It makes him laugh to see me try to keep up. What a guy! Somehow we got three pod laps and five hallway laps done early this morning.


Right now the nurse is here again to give him the daily shot in his belly. Nice, right? That's to help prevent blood clots. It's a process that I don't enjoy watching. Shudder. Another thing that is funny to experience is the different doctors countermanding each others' orders. The head and neck people cancel things, and the plastic people put them back. Right now we're rooting for the head and neck people. They give us the best time table for getting out of here! Plus once we're out of the hospital, no more belly shots!


I will have some errands to run today while T naps. I haven't been out of the hospital since Friday, and I know T would love to go. He pretends he's going to escape each time we walk. There are so many places we would rather be right now. We're thinking of our kids in France as they worship today, praying the Lord will bless their ministry. Also, our lovely Kassie heads off to KC today for sister duty. Jenny gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Sept. 5th then found herself in ICU, fighting for her life. We are all so thankful for God's healing power in her and for the love her big sister has, to fly back there and stay for a week of home care. Scott will be Mr. Mom all week, something he does quite well actually.


We hope you can find a place to worship today. As we have studied the intricacy of the skull this week, we have wondered how people are able to believe that we all started as pond scum. My goodness, there is just no way. The only answer is the presence of that Holy Creator, and we worship Him today.

New Room

Terry was moved out of advanced recovery into a room on the 11th floor that specializes in care for Head and Neck cancer patients. We got up here about 3:30 or so, a bit later than expected. On the wall is a white board that the staff uses to communicate to patients, and I thought it would be a good thing if we communicated back. First I put up my cell phone number. Just doing that lets them know that I expect to be called if anything happens while I am out, which isn't often. Then I thought I would list the things he does such as how many laps walking around the pod or the long hallway and how long he sits in a chair. Basically, anything that he does, they want to document.  The nurse came in and told us that he is way ahead of normal patients. They have no idea how much he wants to be out of here! 

We still have the friendly pole to drag around but little by little, things are being removed. He now takes pain meds by mouth rather than drip and they have eliminated some other items. All I know is that he's gone from six to eight bags on the pole down to two. Nice work in a short amount of time. We know that part of this is due to his own determination, but a big part is due to the strength he receives from the Lord and the community of believers who have his back. Thank you all!

Irritants along the way

There are two things that rather irritate T during the recovery process. The first is the IV pole. We have to admit, the pole is a great invention. Imagine having to deal with all these bags and recording instruments in some other way. Having one needle stick and a multi-receiver for all the tubes is great too. But T has a few goals on his white board, and number four is to walk. He started walking yesterday morning. Getting ready for the walk is quite a process involving a Colton Cape, our personal creation which takes a hospital gown, puts it around the back, and ties it at the neck. This creates modesty for the backside, something hospital gowns are notoriously lacking. Next are the slippy socks which keep T from winding up on the floor. Finally we unplug the master electrical cord attached to the IV pole on wheels, wind all the tubes up into T's hand, and set out for the walk. We are in Pod B so have the nursing station in the center with about 15 rooms encircling it. There are tables, blanket shelving, extra chairs, the occasional janitorial cart, and a variety of other items scattered around the station half-walls. This is the obstacle course that T travels several times a day. It's one thing to walk with the pole and quite another to take it to the loo, as you might imagine.

The second irritation is the cast. T has a hard cast on his left arm from his elbow to his fingers. This was on him when he came out of the operating room. I guess it protects the area from which the flap was taken. It needs to be above T's heart to avoid the tingling feeling. I'm not sure T has ever had a cast before; if he did it was before he was sixteen since he's been a part of my life since then. Always sympathetic of students in casts prior to this experience, T is going to be downright indulgent now. He really does not like that thing!

But it is like he said, these things are a nuisance. And that's okay - God is all over this and us. We are aware of His protection through this process and are thankful for those who stand in the gap to pray us through. Bless you all!

A Crooked Little Smile

It looks like T may be left with a slightly altered smile. When the nerve was clipped to be tested by pathology, it caused numbness to the upper right of his face. The good news is this includes his teeth on the upper right jaw so as long as he contains any cavities to that part of his mouth, he'll never need a shot at the dentist. Nice, right? In addition to clipping the nerve, there was quite a bit of cutting on this side of his face, which may have resulted in some weakness. Once the drains are removed and as he heals, some strength may return, or it may not. I think we'll all become accustomed to a new smile, knowing that renewed life comes with it.  Another possible casualty has to do with his left thumb. He noticed some numbness there post surgery so I asked the plastic surgeon's PA about it when he stopped by this afternoon. Evidently taking the flap from that part of the forearm sometimes results in some numbness. T used to refer to himself as numbskull after his first surgery. Now we'll have to come up with something new! So far everyone who has come by has been very pleased with T's progress. He is a strong man, and we are thanking the Lord for him today.

The day after

What a night! No problems but it was funny how everyone who came in this morning asked how we slept. I mean... really? We had the nurse in every hour, turned on a light, and took this little machine thingy - like a doplar or something, and listened for the blood flow in T's flap. We'd just get settled and there she was again. Sweet lady, East Indian I believe. Very kind and gentle. This morning's nurse, I believe from the Philippines... we call her Ms. Srgt. Major! Nice lady but definitely has her adgenda and goes for it!


So today, T will manage his pain (check), sit in a chair (check, been there for a couple hours), walk (check) made several laps around the pod, and eat a liquid diet (this morning), and he just enjoyed an omelette and some fruit. Scott has been wonderful, best negotiator with Ms. Srgt. Major that one could ever find. He took this morning's duty and allowed me to get back to the hotel for a short rest and a shower.


So I am headed back to the hospital now. God is giving strength and direction for all of us and we are grateful!

Out of surgery

T is out of surgery, coming awake and we should be able to see him in about an hour. He will have some hospital stay but not ICU. The doctors are all VERY happy with what they have seen and done. Thanking God for his grace!

Mid-day report

It looks like we have the big plastic surgery going on. I am not positive, but I know that they took a flap from T's forearm (left) and are using it to mend the wound created by the surgery. The fellow is closing the arm wound while the plastic surgeon is using the microscope to attach blood vessels. This results in a hospital stay of some length. I think I am dealing with this much better since I know there is no evidence of cancer in that nerve. The sacrifice will involve some time but not with dread about what is to follow. 

All around us are people who are hearing less than happy news. One could ask the question, why does one family get good news while another leaves the room sobbing? We try to share hope through our discussions as so many listen in to what is said. Earlier today, we met a family of ladies, waiting on dad/husband who is having surgery, and had a praise session over God's goodness in the midst of these types of situations. Then my friend, Carmen, came and had lunch with us, and stayed for the initial afternoon report. A short time ago, we chatted with an older lady who is a first grade teacher. I guess she has some real rowdies this year, while I was able to know that my sub would have a wonderful time with my students. That brings joy.

Just moments ago, our dear Dr. Esmaeli came to visit with us. She believes that we have received the best results possible, even with the forearm flap that had to be done. We will still need to wait on an ultimate pathology report for that entire section to determine whether he needs radiation or not, but they do know that the immediate area was clean. The best news is that in spite of the need to take a bit of the infra-orbital nerve for testing, T's smile will be intact. He was concerned about that (because of the grandkids) and I guess I was too. 

The road ahead is not without difficulty. There will be a recovery time for this flap; it needs to have good blood flow. He needs to be up, walking and eating before they consider releasing him from the hospital. However, knowing him as I do, he'll push himself so he can go home and get back to his family and students. Throughout the day, I have been aware of the prayer power surrounding us. Your love, faithfulness, and support are so encouraging. Thank you for being the family of God for us in this time. We feel so blessed!

Good News!

Dr. Myers just came out to see us with good news. He removed the nodule (that's what he called it) and some surrounding tissue and had clean margins all around. He snipped a piece of that nerve and it had no cancer. Nor was anything attached to the bone. So round one is done. The neurosurgeon is off the case, the head and neck surgeon is done, and the plastic surgeon is at work repairing the hole that was created. This will take time but it's all good news. Thank you Lord and thank you God's warriors for praying!

And it begins

Scott got in about 8 o'clock last night and we hit the BBQ place next door. That may have been what kept him awake most of the night!


We arrived at the hospital this morning at 5:15 - way early, even for my hubby. Got him all checked in and ready for all the doctor visits: four of them! There was only one small hiccup. Last time (7 years ago) we designated our younger son, Brian, for any blood transfusions. Scott and I have the same type, and Brian and his dad have the same. I told the nurse that we filled out a new form yesterday but she couldn't find it, so we waited for that to be redone. We had to change it - Brian's in France! 


So now we wait... about 10-12 hours is their prediction, depending on what actually happens in that surgical room. I'll get back to you later.

Tomorrow's Surgery

We learned today that T's surgery will be the first one Thursday morning. We will check in at 5:15 in the morning. Yeah... Surgery is a couple hours (or less) later. They still really don't know what they are going to find and basically presented us with four scenarios. I won't go into the details but for those who are praying for us, please pray for the least invasive possibility. We know the nodule has to come out. We know the doctor is going to take a piece of nerve in order to rule out any cancer, even if he doesn't see that it is involved. This is going to result in numbness in his cheek, upper right lip, and possibly part of his nose. It all depends how much has to be taken. So pray for the least amount of surgery possible. The initial surgery should take about two hours - it's the plastic surgery that could take an additional eight hours or more. 


Now for some good news: our older son, Scott, is coming tonight. After hearing what we face tomorrow, I think our sons started talking to each other and decided that mom shouldn't be here alone for this initial ordeal. Bless his heart, he canceled a ton of stuff to be with us for two days, then he'll fly home to become Mr. Mom while his wife heads to KC to help her sister hopefully come home from the hospital, after having very serious complications post-childbirth.  Brian emailed and offered to come once Scott leaves, but he lives in France! Hopefully there will be no reason for that kind of sacrifice! I can't express how grateful I am to my boys for their care. I know the Lord would help me get through this but to have their support is just amazing! 


So please pray for the easiest result possible. God bless you!

The Unexpected

Somehow the unexpected is never the news you want to hear and that was the case for us today. We learned a lot, more than we have understood about this cancer until now. We learned that the biopsy caused our doctor to really scrutinize the MRI, and knowing where the biopsy was taken, she was able to find the cancer on the scan, small, but located on the infra-orbital nerve. It's not a good thing when cancer cells land on nerves; they are like super-highways for those nasty little cells. We learned that this surgery is more difficult than the last one because of the transfer of a live graft from T's arm (or thigh or back or side) and the delicacy of that process, hooking up all those little blood vessels and such. We learned that he will have an unexpected hospital stay of several days (last time was over-night) because of that skin/tissue graft. We learned that there are a list of possibilities, none of which we want to happen, but we have to be prepared. Lastly, we learned we can't go home as soon as we thought, which is a bummer. We will have to extend our stay by several days. 


All that said, we know we are dealing with the most experienced physicians in the world when it comes to this kind of thing. A few might need to work on their people-skills, but right now we are more interested in their brilliance than their personalities. 

We spent some time with dear friends, Sam and Carmen, tonight and were able to laugh and enjoy a lovely meal together. We know that wherever we go, God's people are there to stand, shoulder-to-shoulder, through the trials. It's always fun to have God's people beside you in the good times, but the cherished times are when the difficulties, doubts, and uncertainties of being a part of the human race rise to the surface and these warriors show up to be a part of the battle. 

We are learning new levels of trust, with each other and with God. As T expressed his concern and prayed for our students today, we are vitally aware that there are people in place who will stand in the gap and do what needs to be done until we can return. We are praying that our students will rise up in this situation, that they will pray and commit themselves to being the people God has designed them to be. Just by doing this, they will make everyone's life at school a joy.


We have had another glimpse into the fragility of our earthly bodies and are glad to realize that we get new ones some day that will never decay or experience disease. We know God is not surprised by anything we heard today, even if we were, but He is ready to walk with us through each part and be our Healer. So we trust in Him.

Welcome to Texas!

That's what the guy at the car rental said, right after he told us it got up to 110* in Houston today. Oh my word! We cranked up the a/c and rolled down the highway. T knows his way around this city so well. I should never argue with him over which freeway to take, because he is always right on this one! The road systems in this city are incredible... spider webs of over-passes, five or six-lanes on all the freeways, and still everyone wants to drive in two lanes. Slightly crazy stuff. 

We rolled into our hotel, Comfort Suites, which provides a special rate for medical patients, at about 7 o'clock tonight. This is a great little hotel, good hot breakfast (or cold if you prefer), AND it's a non-smoking hotel. When we first came here years ago, the second floor was the "only" smoking floor. Someone on our floor (the third) was caught smoking and there was a $250 fine for that! Wow! The owner/manager was so concerned about all the medical people that he ultimately decided to eliminate the possibility to smoke at all in this hotel. It is now totally smoke-free. There are so many medical patients in this hotel that they also provide free shuttle service to the multiple hospitals. I noticed, however, that most people who signed up on the list for tomorrow are headed to MD Anderson, the number one cancer hospital in the world! This is a research hospital, and they want the weird stuff. We're glad they do because it sure is hard to find anyone who has any experience with T's special brand. These people were the answer to our prayers seven years ago. What was surprising was when the doctor at our HMO sent us back here. We had heard that our group liked to do their own stuff, to save money, but no one in the group had ever seen this kind of thing, so the doctor himself did the referral. Nice. 

So here we are, and all the fun begins tomorrow, although it's light compared to Wednesday where we begin at 8 o'clock in the morning and go from one doctor to the next, basically non-stop. But it's okay. The Lord is all over this (as my husband assures me repeatedly) and none of it caught Him by surprise. Thanks for praying!

Friday Blessings

While sitting at my desk Friday morning working on "stuff" for the day, the ASB officers filed into my office and asked if it was okay to say a prayer for me before leaving for surgery. Each of them offered a prayer that absolutely blessed my heart. They handed me a card, signed with a personal note from each of them, along with a gift from the ASB. It was all I could do to maintain composure. 

The student body came together on Friday afternoon to close the school day with student-led devotions. At the conclusion of the devotional, led by one of our chaplains, the ASB president announced to the student body that their principal would be gone for a few days due to cancer sugery. They asked me to come out onto the basketball court where they prayed for me....again.

What a blessing to be part of this kind of educational environment. With such Spirit-led leadership from our students, of course there is a spiritual battle raging on all fronts. We do not fear....God is all over it!

Just thought I'd share some of what went on this past Friday.....pretty awesome send-off.

Terry

Graciousness

Sometimes it doesn't matter how hard a person works, the pile simply doesn't diminish. That's kind of what it has felt like for us these days. We leave Oly on Monday for Houston; T has tests Tuesday, consults Wednesday, and surgery Thursday. We are hoping to be back home by the following Wednesday, but we'll see how it all comes together. We keep attacking the work, hoping to have everything ready, but keep finding one more thing... you know how that goes. 

Last week was the first week of school, and this week it's game on! When we think that the doctors originally scheduled all these medical things for 9.1 - shudder... that would not have been a good thing! Every evening we've crawled home, exhausted. But Tuesday I noticed that T was different, still tired but not quite so burdened. As he drove home (we loaned our pick-up to a friend so have one car these days) he handed me an envelope. Inside was a gift from his teachers and a card. 


I can't begin to tell you what that did for us. I take care of the bookkeeping stuff so I get concerned about things that T doesn't even know about - it's better that way. The gift takes care of some medical stuff - like right now! Wow! God's people rock! But more than the gift, the words of love, prayer, and encouragement in that card meant everything to my husband. I can't begin to tell you how much he loves and respects his teachers. They are not just good teachers; they are excellence personified! And the words they shared were so kind, so caring and totally lifted my husband's heart. When it comes to caring for his teachers, my hubby will do whatever it takes. If someone needs something and he can find it, they'll have it the same day. He would turn himself inside out for them because he absolutely believes they are the best. Times are tough these days. Public schools have been hit with this economy but so have the private schools. Students have chosen other options because the money just isn't available for them to continue. Classes have been cut - it's tough! But in the midst of their own stress and difficulties, NCHS teachers reached out to my husband and shared their hearts and resources. I am so overwhelmed with their goodness! And I am praying for them, that God will not only supply their needs, some of which are massive, but that He will pour His abundance on them in such a way that they will be shocked by His provision. 


As we leave for Houston on Monday, we know we don't go alone. The Lord goes before us, and God's people will pray us through, especially a select group of His saints who dedicate their lives to serving Him and some special students at NCHS in Lacey, WA. May blessings, abundant blessings be theirs!

Vacation's Over!

The doctor is back from vacation and things have started popping up on the appointment calendar. We now have a date to head to Houston: September 12th. Pray for clarity and skill for the surgeons, as well as peace and wisdom for us as we move toward this surgery and  make decisions for whatever follows.

Today during staff meeting at school, many of T's teachers took the time to intentionally assure us of their prayers. They are such a wonderful group of quality educators and are truly committed to Christ and each other. We believe that God is at work, even in this kind of situation... maybe especially in this kind of situation. He knows where we are and what we need, so we rest in Him, trust Him for the unknowns (and there seem to be plenty of those!), and delight in the knowledge that He is not surprised by any of this. 

Now to finish the planning for our substitute teachers... bless them!

Life and string

Nothing quite like being at the end of the string... the yo-yo string. We are still waiting for definite dates for our Houston trip and surgery. It has been September 1, then the 15th, then the 22nd, then back to 15... hope we find out in time to get flight plans made!

In all of this, we are trying to be sure we're ready for school and well prepared for those who will take our places for the couple of weeks that we will be gone. Both of us are teaching as well as T working the admin responsibilities. He chose this year to teach a Bible class that will provide concurrent university credit. Of course he did... never fails right? This whole thing can get rather crazy, trying to figure out what is the right thing to do and exactly when to do it. Through this process, we have reconnected with people from our past, people who are suffering far more than we, who have traveled this road repeatedly, people who find themselves in rather dire circumstances. It is a specific society of maimed citizens who have been cut, poisoned, burned - to be cured. A society of the truly needy. Citizens who understand each other completely. And we have so much to learn from them and maybe an opportunity to help as well.

Among my readings each morning is an Irish Jesuit web-site: Sacred Space. My daughter-in-law's younger sister mentioned it in her blog several years ago and it has become a real go-to place for me. This week, the writer refers to what Jesus is doing as he heals and what he learns from those to whom He ministers, like this:

"... most movingly, Jesus’s own human consciousness is challenged and stretched by a complete outsider, the courageous Canaanite woman, whose little daughter is tormented by a devil. In his human consciousness, he learns from her something he had not fully grasped before - about the expansion of his ministry beyond the confines of Israel. As a result of her courage, after his initial hesitation he reaches out to her, and cures her little child. ‘You have great faith’, he says to her in utter admiration (Matthew 15:28). So, in my prayer of quiet, let me think of the strangers, the ‘different’ people I have encountered, who have perhaps challenged my faith perspective, and called me to look at things in a new way. Perhaps, in some of those meetings, God was especially coming to me, calling to me, expanding the horizons of my heart." 

And so we think of the people we have encountered and pray that the Lord will be close to them. May He bring comfort and blessing, healing and wholeness. May He allow all of them to know Him more deeply and realize how very much He loves them. May they be blessed and healed, inside and out.

The Best Medicine

Our two sons gave us the best medicine last week. The younger son lives in France with his beautiful little family. Last weekend, our daughter-in-law's brother was married, so her family all converged on Chicago for the wedding. We were also invited, and thanks to the older son who travels a lot with his work, we were able to be there too. Although it was just a long weekend, spending those few days with our kids and the two grandchildren was such a blessing. Our last time together was during Christmas break.  We laughed so hard and smiled so much that our jaws hurt! And that's a good thing!


Today T worked on getting the PET scan results to our Houston doctor. Our medical team here had faxed them but they didn't arrive at the Houston clinic. It is possible that the fax number they were given was actually for the doctor's university office but T decided to fax them again just to be sure. After chatting with the nurse today (Dr. E is on vacation) we learned that the surgery will probably be later in September than what we initially thought. It's difficult to get all the proper people lined up and ready to demonstrate their gifts at the same time. So we're waiting - because that's the next step - surgery. We are really quite hopeful that this is a tiny, totally isolated batch of cells, so small that maybe the biopsy got all of them. Oh wouldn't that be nice! But even if not...


Oswald Chambers hit it on the head again in last Friday's reading: "When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable.  If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him." 
That's who we want to be, totally confident in God's sovereign ability to deal with this moment in our lives. We want the Lord, not this trial, to define us throughout our lives, but especially now. So we rest... in Him.

PET results

The PET scan results were posted on T's web account and talk about confusing! No mention of cancer that he could see. This could be a good thing, or it could be that it's hiding, or it could be that we don't have the whole picture. I've decided that I'm going to let the medical people figure it out because my little brain just cannot seem to keep up with this roller coaster ride!


Yesterday, Dr. E's nurse called and she must have said I don't know at least four times. We prefer when doctors and nurses know - but we will deal with the don't knows for now.


Tomorrow we fly to Chicago to spend a long weekend with our children from France. We cannot wait to see them, to focus our attention on adorable red-headed, high-energy, little beings who make us laugh like crazy. Laughter is good for the soul, and we plan to get some soul care with this much-loved little family.


Please keep praying with us for God to be glorified... in what we think we know and what we're sure we don't know.

Another Test

It was a good thing my hubby called radiology and chatted their ears off the other day. He kind of talked them into reserving a spot for him on Tuesday's appointment calendar so when the properly worded/formed order came in for his scan, there was a time-frame reserved for him. He received the call Monday morning that he would have a PET scan on Tuesday afternoon, the only day of the week that this can be done within our network. Our beloved Houston doctor really wanted this test done ahead of September's surgery. I say September because that's about all we know right now. We're hoping for some time around the middle of the month; we'll see what she is able to work out. Anyway... if you have nothing to pray about on Tuesday afternoon around 2 - 4 o'clock (Pacific Time), you could pray for T as he goes through this scan with all kinds of dyes/contrasts pumped into his body. "Consider it all joy..."

Complexities

Sometimes being thorough breeds a bit of fear. I'm in the process of committing and recommitting our situation to the Lord. Yesterday, while I drove to Panera to have lunch with friends from Arkansas, T called MD Anderson to double check the PET scan order. Surgery was originally scheduled for September 1st - the second day of school - which could be difficult given the complexity of this year. MDA is in the process of trying to get it all rescheduled for September 15th. As T was talking with Dr. E.'s assistant, he learned that the reason it is so difficult is due to all the doctors who will be on stand-by during this surgery, including a neurologist. The reason for all the stand-by people is because T's doctor is the most thorough person on the face of the earth. I am convinced of this! But as the assistant listed the various specialists, I felt my heart racing a bit faster and a bit of pounding in my head. T didn't look so hot either.


We are well aware that T's case is exceptional, rare, difficult. And I guess we could deal with this better if we were the only two people involved. But we have children and grandchildren, students and colleagues, and we don't want to cause pain or become burden to any of them. We served as missionaries for our church for 25 years and once a missionary, always a missionary. Wherever we go, we believe that God has called us to be His voice. The method God the Father used to communicate His love and plan for salvation to the world was to send Jesus, God Himself in human form, into the world among other human beings. We believe that one method He uses to communicate His love for people in cancer centers is to send His people into those centers, sick and needy but willing to be His voice. So we go and we really want to go without worry or fear. And that's what we are praying. We go - to face whatever - but those left behind... oh Lord, please help them.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Yesterday my relentless hubby contacted both doctors' offices to make sure someone called in the PET scan order. Last night, he received messages from both and they are on it! One of them should be able to make this happen! A good thing.

As life goes on, T is keeping very busy. We learned the last time around that it makes good sense to work hard; sleep comes easier that way. In May, my brother painted our house. We're so glad he did that job! Once finished, he left almost four gallons of paint so we could paint the shed. We took care of that last weekend and worked on several other projects as well.  One of the projects was the bench at the top of our backyard hill. My mother gave it to us last summer; it had been sitting under a tarp in her carport. T took it apart and I painted it with the leftover house paint. We use what we have these days. On beautiful, sunny, summer mornings like today, T will take his coffee up to the top of the world (that's my name for that spot) and soak in the beauty of God's creation. 

Here's the hillside:

Here's the bench up closer:

 

And here's the view from the top of the world:

 

This morning, as T sat drinking his coffee and gazing at the tall firs that surround our home, he noticed a tiny bird at the top of a little branch in a huge tree, surrounded by taller trees. At that moment, the Lord whispered into his heart and mind, "Remember, should that sparrow fall, I will know it. I know you. I know where you are, and I am here with you." As T recounted that moment to me, my eyes filled with tears. We know we are not alone. He will never leave us, never ignore us. Emails have come from around the world, reassuring us of prayers and support. We are so thankful; we are so blessed. For His eye is on the sparrow and we know He watches us as well.

Being Pro-Active

We've been waiting for a phone call from our HMO to set an appointment for T's PET scan. When nothing came in today's mail and there was no phone call, my man called them... and found out that radiology has not received an order yet. It has to come from either the Houston doctor (who we are pretty sure is on vacation) or the Oly doctor (who may do it... we'll see) and it happens here only on Tuesdays. T talked someone into reserving a spot for him and will be calling our Oly doctor in the morning to see if he would call in the scan order. Oh the hoops and red tape and stuff... But we learned the last time around: the patient must take charge of his own medical care. That is, until we're in Houston, then that amazing doctor takes over and I mean to tell you, stuff gets done! So pray that we'll get the order for the scan in time to have it done next Tuesday.

Waiting

Does anyone else enjoy waiting as much as I don't? I am really quite an impatient person! Right now I'm waiting for the cable company to call so I can present my alternative 'deal' and get them to lower the bill. My husband is waiting for the HMO to call and schedule a PET scan... which means I'm waiting on that too. Here's what Oswald Chambers says about waiting:

“. . . tarry . . . until . . .” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.

Sulking, feeling sorry, do what we are told? Okay, okay... I get it!

Clouds

Well, the word is out. It was posted on the international prayer line for our church so my guess is it will travel quickly. Today the HMO office called and approved the PET scan. That's good news. They had it happening in Houston rather than Olympia so T changed that detail and should get an appointment call soon.


Someone was asking me how my husband is doing. He's doing great! We had no idea this cancer had returned. Every test was negative... except that biopsy. Oh how I wish it was a mistake. Regardless, it has had no physical effect on his ability to function. I think it does mess with his mind from time to time. He goes to work every day and then comes home and works some more. The man's a machine... always has been. Well... not really a machine, he just has a very high energy level and works long and hard. 


I stopped by the school today to have lunch with him. It was a beautiful sunny day and I wanted him to get outside so I knew having lunch with him would make that happen. While I was there, he mentioned today's devotional from Oswald Chambers. T has read and reread OC so many times, I'm sure he's lost count. Today's devotional really spoke to us. It was about clouds. It's a completely different way of looking at suffering. Not sure what we need to unlearn but we're going to try to do it fast!

Beginning the process

We have heard that it is not always easy to deal with the insurance we now have. We were originally self-insured through the church, then had a Blue Cross plan here in WA, and now the HMO type plan. Fortunately our plan allows for outside network providers. We'll see how it all works out.


Yesterday my husband's primary care physician called and the two of them talked for about 30 minutes about process. First T went over his history, both past and recent, bringing Dr. L up to speed. Then the doc told him how to go about ordering the next test that our Houston doctor would like him to have. Hopefully they won't fuss about it. When T worked in the Caribbean, one of the professors he dealt with called him relentless; I have a feeling that quality will be essential now.


After their conversation was done, we tried to put it behind us, went to Seattle to celebrate our 38th anniversary. Had dinner at the Bahama Breeze. Haven't been there since Miami days. We must have a label stamped on our foreheads that says "Grandparents: love kids!" because we always seem to be put next to the table with little kids who get somewhat out of control. Last night we had a dad with three little ones beside us. T was just cracking up at the youngest, the true drama queen of their family. It was actually a good diversion.


Pray for us as we endeavor to keep our minds focused on the power, grace, and love of Christ. We need to be determined to do what needs to be done and keep moving forward. It's not always as easy to do as it should be. One step at a time, that's where we're living.

Unexpected

Seven years ago... that holy number... we learned that my husband had cancer. It resulted in the loss of his right eye as well as the surrounding orbit. For five years after, we faithfully went through all the stuff that has to happen with this type of diagnosis: six weeks of radiation, quarterly visits and testing, annual visits, and the final visit two years ago. We truly believed we were done with this stuff. Two days ago we learned that we are not finished. A lump of scar tissue right below the eye socket had some tiny cells behind it that were declared to be adenocarcinoma. I hate that word. And so we begin again - a PET scan should happen soon with surgery later this month.


My husband's father had a phrase he used again and again: He knows my name. He is Jesus. My father-in-law lived in awe that God Almighty knew his name. This phrase is something that sticks with us all yet today, six years after his death.  We are so important to the Lord that He knows each of us individually. Tommy Walker's song says it well:


I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

So we rest in the knowledge that God knows; He loves us and he will never leave us. And we begin to walk the path that He has placed before us, trusting him to carry us when we cannot move. We don't know the path ahead but He does. We've got our walking sticks for the hike. Here we go....