These words were a consistent theme for me while I was in the ICU at St. Vincents' 6 weeks ago. Jeanah knew that I wasn't being hateful, but just expressing how much I disliked being hooked up to all the IV's and being SO tired and WEAK. She also said I sounded like my little niece, May, who has down's syndrome and often says this when she greatly dislikes something.
Well, my sister, Beth, took a turn for the worse last week on Christmas eve she went through three CODE BLUES at Salem Hospital before her frail body finally wasn't able to do what she willed it to do. She went to be with Jesus early Christmas morning. We suppose that Home is a good place to be on Christmas morning.
Mom said one of the last phrases she uttered was "I hate it!" because she was in such pain and annoyed by all the tubes, gizmos and wing dings hooked up to her.
The Memorial Celebration is at 2:00 Thursday December 30 at Salem Heights Church, Salem, Oregon. We expect many people, so come early if you come...
We are encouraged that she is in the BEST place and that we will see her again in the twinkling of an eye! I (still) HATE IT!! There has been much wailing and crying in our household these last few days. Please pray for peace for my mom and dad as they struggle through this intensely difficult pain. Beth's departure leaves a hole that we will not be able to fill. Praise God He has given us the victory over death and its sting! Well done, Beth, good and faithful servant!!
Peace be with you!
Victor
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Fantasy Football
So, six weeks ago one of my first memories after the double-dip surgery was telling my loving wife Jeanah that "I must play Steven Jackson" in Fantasy Football and that there was a special Thursday night game and we need to check if any of my players are playing, etc.
She dutifully got her laptop and brought it to me, but of course through my drugged eyes, I couldn't even tell her how to make the change. I just was able to tell her to "play Steven Jackson" and so she did...I lost anyway...
These days, I'm getting stronger every day it seems and am able to sit up and work from home for up to 2 - 3 hour stints at a time with a nap in between of course. My pain is rarely over a two on a scale of one to ten. I am down to 1-2 pain meds per day with Tylenol as a supplement.
The incision on my lower belly is healing nicely and the three extra belly buttons I had are almost a memory. The only "bad" side effect I still am dealing with is some continued fluid drainage out my backside. Before the surgery, I had wrongly assumed that part of my anatomy would be sown shut. I guess they let it heal from the inside out and this is part of the side effect of that.
The pain meds make me uncontrollably weepy and emotional...and I sometimes wear a feminine pad (?TMI?) to keep my pants clean so Jeanah says I now know how half the world feels a quarter of the time.
The next medical thing for me is on 12/31, a PT scan to confirm there are no hot spots in my body after surgery. After that, we will meet again with Dr. Chang, the oncologist to discuss if we will be doing Chemotherapy or not. Right now it seems to be 60/40, but it's a tough decision. Please pray for wisdom and peace in this decision.
On another note, my lil sis, Beth, just had open heart surgery to replace a very badly calcified heart valve. The surgeon said afterward that he hardly sees how any blood was getting pumped out at all. I've visited her in Salem Hospital several times this week and she is improving with each visit. The bummer is that our family will not be celebrating Christmas all together for the first time in 35 years!
Jeanah and I will be in Salem for Christmas with her family and will spend time in the Hospital with my family as well.
We praise God for the blessing of His Son in this season and for all the blessings He heaps upon us daily!
Merry Christmas!!
She dutifully got her laptop and brought it to me, but of course through my drugged eyes, I couldn't even tell her how to make the change. I just was able to tell her to "play Steven Jackson" and so she did...I lost anyway...
These days, I'm getting stronger every day it seems and am able to sit up and work from home for up to 2 - 3 hour stints at a time with a nap in between of course. My pain is rarely over a two on a scale of one to ten. I am down to 1-2 pain meds per day with Tylenol as a supplement.
The incision on my lower belly is healing nicely and the three extra belly buttons I had are almost a memory. The only "bad" side effect I still am dealing with is some continued fluid drainage out my backside. Before the surgery, I had wrongly assumed that part of my anatomy would be sown shut. I guess they let it heal from the inside out and this is part of the side effect of that.
The pain meds make me uncontrollably weepy and emotional...and I sometimes wear a feminine pad (?TMI?) to keep my pants clean so Jeanah says I now know how half the world feels a quarter of the time.
The next medical thing for me is on 12/31, a PT scan to confirm there are no hot spots in my body after surgery. After that, we will meet again with Dr. Chang, the oncologist to discuss if we will be doing Chemotherapy or not. Right now it seems to be 60/40, but it's a tough decision. Please pray for wisdom and peace in this decision.
On another note, my lil sis, Beth, just had open heart surgery to replace a very badly calcified heart valve. The surgeon said afterward that he hardly sees how any blood was getting pumped out at all. I've visited her in Salem Hospital several times this week and she is improving with each visit. The bummer is that our family will not be celebrating Christmas all together for the first time in 35 years!
Jeanah and I will be in Salem for Christmas with her family and will spend time in the Hospital with my family as well.
We praise God for the blessing of His Son in this season and for all the blessings He heaps upon us daily!
Merry Christmas!!
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