Hello All!
I hope everyone has had a good Christmas. Our family had what seemed like a very busy one. Mom and Dad celebrated on Christmas day with friends, while Jared and I travelled with our kids to Brandon to spend a few days with my family. It was a good trip, although we were hesitant to go with Dad being so sick. However, we are very thankful that nothing happened while we were away, and despite what we were told could happen, Dad made it through Christmas! Praise the Lord!
However, with the praise, there is also some bad news. We got a call on Boxing Day from Mom telling us that the nurse thought Dad might be getting pneumonia. It's a common problem amongst patients who have to spend so much time in bed - they aren't able to be up and about enough to get any fluid out of their lungs, and so it settles in and turns into pneumonia. Mom was instructed to turn Dad every two hours from side to side to help his lungs drain and the nurse returned on Saturday (the 27th) to check on how Dad was doing. Thankfully, the tiny rattle that had been in his chest on Friday was gone, and so far, there are no more signs of pneumonia. But, with Dad being almost completely confined to bed, the threat is still there, and I'm sure it will only increase the longer he is confined to bed. He is also starting to develop a few bed sores, which I'm sure will not be comfortable for him. I'm not sure what they can to do remedy that, short of changing his position every few hours. So please continue to keep him (and the rest of us) in your prayers.
I also want to take a moment to mention the art show that is being planned on behalf of Dad. Steve Bell briefly mentioned it in the comments section - He, along with a bunch of Dad's close friends have planned an exhibition featuring his two latest series of paintings here in Winnipeg at the end of January/beginning of February. We are all very excited for it, and more info can be found on the website: www.folkerts.ca. I know they've been doing a lot of updates on the site the last few days, so please continue to keep checking it for info!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Steady Decline
Hello everyone,
Just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for the continued support and prayers. Words can't begin to express how grateful we are for the outpouring of love that has been shown to our family over these last few months. And we're going to continue to need that support as Dad continues to decline.
Starting today palliative home care workers will be at the house from 8:30 am till 4:30 pm seven days a week. The overnight care also continues 7 nights a week. It's an adjustment to have someone else in the house for so much of the day, but I know Mom really appreciates the extra set of hands when they need to get Dad up out of bed, or help him shift positions. He got a new hospital bed last week, one with a support bar on the top for him to help pull himself up when he needs to. Although, his strength is continuing to wane, and so he can only use it about 50% of the time. He also got permanent ports put into his left arm and thigh yesterday so that Mom doesn't have to try to get him to swallow pills anymore. She was shown yesterday how to administer liquid medication through the ports, and gets the pleasure of doing that a few times each day. In another life, she would have made a great nurse!
Despite Dad's decline in health, though, we still have many things to be thankful for. The nurses have told us that patients with this sort of illness often become very irate and rude towards the end, lashing out at family or friends and even swearing at them. Thankfully, we have not seen that in Dad at all. While he sometimes gets annoyed at the constant regime of pills (which will be alleviated now with the ports), he is still very much the gentle, loving man that he has always been. We've even seen hints of his sense of humor still, which is such a blessing. We are also very thankful that he is still able to remain at home, where we are free to visit with him as often as we like and don't have to brave the cold weather every time we want to see him. He's also not in any sort of pain, which is a huge relief for all of us.
However, there is still the reality hanging over all of our heads that Dad is not getting any better. He is slowly declining and unfortunately, there is nothing we can do for him, short of keeping him comfortable. As Christmas draws near, we're all finding it a little difficult to be our usual cheerful selves. Christmas is normally such a happy time - a time for celebration. But our journey this year seems to be taking us down a different path - one of sorrow and of loss. It's so hard to find the joy of the season when we are slowly losing one we love so much. But, thankfully, there is One who loves us even more than we love Dad. Jesus Christ, who came as a baby at Christmas, to one day die on the cross to save us all - He gives us the hope and the strength that we need to keep going forward. Knowing that Dad walked so closely with Him brings a small measure of comfort and the peace of knowing that Dad will join Him in Heaven.
And so we continue to ask for your prayers. Prayers for strength, and of peace and of God's love and comfort. We need to feel those things so desperately right now. Pray also that what will most likely be our last few weeks with Dad would be good weeks for our family - that we would continue to love and support each other in our hurt and our grief. And please continue to pray for Dad - that he would continue to be comfortable and without pain at home. And that he, too, would feel God's love during this time.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
No Signs of Improvement
Well, unfortunately, as the days and weeks go by, we continue to see Dad's health declining. Some days are better than others, but as time passes, he is slowly spending more and more time in bed. At the recommendation of the palliative care nurse, Dad is now undergoing palliative care at home. Mom has home care workers coming from 8:30 to 4:30 seven days a week, and overnight care is being provided 7 nights a week. We have decided as a family that we would like Dad to be at home for as long as possible. It allows us to spend the most amount of time possible with him, which is what we've been focusing on these last few weeks. We're so very grateful that he is still able to be at home and especially grateful for the days that he is feeling up to sitting at the table with us for meals. We don't want to take any of this time for granted, so we've been doing our best to make the most of the situation and spend as much quality time with Dad as we can.
We've also been enjoying visits from family and friends. Some days it feels like the visitors never stop - I'm sure even more so for Mom and the other kids, since it's their house! But it brings a welcome relief to see those that we love continuing to come and visit and spend time not only with the family, but visiting with Dad as well. We know he enjoys these visits very much, even when he doesn't always have the energy for long conversations.
Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers. There is a great likelihood that this Christmas will be the last one that we get to spend with Dad, so your prayers for us during the holidays are greatly appreciated.
We've also been enjoying visits from family and friends. Some days it feels like the visitors never stop - I'm sure even more so for Mom and the other kids, since it's their house! But it brings a welcome relief to see those that we love continuing to come and visit and spend time not only with the family, but visiting with Dad as well. We know he enjoys these visits very much, even when he doesn't always have the energy for long conversations.
Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers. There is a great likelihood that this Christmas will be the last one that we get to spend with Dad, so your prayers for us during the holidays are greatly appreciated.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
MRI Update
Well, we finally got the results from the MRI. Mom and Dad, along with Jared, Janis, Jesse, and Grandma Folkerts (Gerald's mom) met with the team of oncologists and nurses on Friday afternoon around 1 pm. The news was not what we were hoping for, but based on how Dad has been feeling, it was what we expected. The tumor, unfortunately, showed no signs of responding to the radiation and chemo. There is some increased swelling around the tumor since Dad was first diagnosed, but otherwise there has been no change. The other unfortunate news is that because Dad has been feeling so tired as of late that another round of chemotherapy is not an option right now.
Hearing this, while it was not a shock, has not been easy. It's been a very emotional weekend for all of us, and because the news was not as good as we were hoping, we decided to have our Christmas celebration early this year. Jared and I and the kids went to Mom and Dad's for supper last night (Saturday) and we ate a nice meal together and opened all of our gifts. It was a bit surreal to be celebrating so early, but we wanted to do it on a night while Dad was feeling fairly energetic, and it was a very good evening spent together as a family.
This most recent news has left us wondering where do we go from here? I don't know that we necessarily have an answer. We just continue to take things one day at a time. To give Mom a bit of a break, Home Care has been set up for Dad, and there are now workers coming a few times a week during the day, and also 6 nights a week overnights (11 pm - 7 am) to help care for Dad. Mom's been enjoying getting a full nights sleep now that they are coming overnights! The rest of us are still busy with the daily grind of school, homework, and caring for the kids. I think all of us are looking forward to Christmas break and the chance to unwind a little.
And above all else, we continue to trust in our Heavenly Father. We know that He is here with us, holding us all in His tender loving hands, offering the comfort and solace we so desperately seek.
Hearing this, while it was not a shock, has not been easy. It's been a very emotional weekend for all of us, and because the news was not as good as we were hoping, we decided to have our Christmas celebration early this year. Jared and I and the kids went to Mom and Dad's for supper last night (Saturday) and we ate a nice meal together and opened all of our gifts. It was a bit surreal to be celebrating so early, but we wanted to do it on a night while Dad was feeling fairly energetic, and it was a very good evening spent together as a family.
This most recent news has left us wondering where do we go from here? I don't know that we necessarily have an answer. We just continue to take things one day at a time. To give Mom a bit of a break, Home Care has been set up for Dad, and there are now workers coming a few times a week during the day, and also 6 nights a week overnights (11 pm - 7 am) to help care for Dad. Mom's been enjoying getting a full nights sleep now that they are coming overnights! The rest of us are still busy with the daily grind of school, homework, and caring for the kids. I think all of us are looking forward to Christmas break and the chance to unwind a little.
And above all else, we continue to trust in our Heavenly Father. We know that He is here with us, holding us all in His tender loving hands, offering the comfort and solace we so desperately seek.
Monday, December 1, 2008
A Lament from an old friend
An old professor of Dad's wrote this lament for him and posted it on his blog. We have asked his permission to share it here - it's beautiful in its honesty and fragility. Thank you, James Schaap! ~From all of us
He sat in the back, way in the back, left side. Didn’t say much either, but it was clear to me that he wasn’t dumb. He had this problem with getting work in on time—that I remember well. He was the kind of student who gives you headaches because you’ve got to bug him (or her) to stay tuned. But then, that was not an unfamiliar way of life to me.
Somehow, I got roped into sponsoring the soccer club that year, my very first year of college teaching. I don’t know how, because I knew nothing about soccer except that it was a game with astonishingly little scoring. It seemed to me an exercise in futility sometimes, but I’d been a coach before and I enjoyed the camaraderie cruising along in the van with the team.
This tall kid was one of them, quite talented too, a freshman who played a ton of soccer that year, even though he was one of the new kids on the block.
I don’t know if I had him as a student after that, but some kids you don’t lose sight of—probably because they don’t lose sight of you. This one I remembered, too.
He became a teacher, and an artist, a kid with exceptional talent with a brush and in other media as well, I suppose; and when I’d visit the place he and his wife had chosen to live, I’d run into him. He looked the artist, a pony tail shaped like an artist's brush halfway down his back from thick dark hair, hair to die for. He’d put on weight—never too much, but enough to square him up, so much so that he was an impressive physical specimen, a man with a presence. Even in a crowded room, you didn’t look past him.
And he did well as an artist, well enough to be noticed, well enough to have his work purchased and on display at a number of places and in collections, including here at his alma mater. That’s one, above—a rabbi sleeping on a bench, another man, the artist himself, walking away, leaving the scene--that one is his.
I saw him last weekend and couldn’t help but notice the half-dollar-sized spaces in that thick head of hair. He has brain cancer, and his chances are not at all good.
Twice, his singing group assembled in the front of big crowds, and all eight of them held forth beautifully; but he had obvious trouble holding up his share of the bass line. At times, he was behind a step or two—or just not with the program. But he stood there—sometimes sat—with his gang, and just seeing him up there was, to me and others, the kind of rich testimony that makes people wipe their eyes.
Twice, I saw his wife reach for hers, even though she tried stubbornly to fight the tears. And that's the picture I'm left with, his wife alone in a chair or pew, losing a battle with tears.
In little more than 12 hours I gave two talks, two speeches that had me scared spitless for more than a week. I wanted those speeches to go well, spent more than my share of worry wondering whether what I had prepared would move anyone.
What I didn’t imagine is that the story of the weekend was the story of a tall, skinny kid I had in class almost 35 years ago, a man who is now a 50-year-old man, in the prime of creative life, a pony-tailed painter and husband and father being taken slowly, painfully, from those he loves as nothing less than evil eats away at those very acute perceptions that made him an artist.
We’re not talking about a saint here. We’re not talking about someone whose life didn’t occasionally rush off in directions he hadn’t planned or later wished he’d not taken. He was as human as the rest of us.
As human as the rest of us. And now he’s facing death.
I wish I could write a thoughtful homily I could put in an inside pocket, close to my heart, something that would stanch the bleeding from my own soul.
I don’t like death.
Later today I face another class full of students. I’d like to tell them, if I could, that, quite honestly, nobody knows what life holds for them. I’d like to say a ton of things, but I won’t. Maybe one of those kids will be an artist too—who knows?
We’ll just go on. We’ll read a story about a father’s loves for his daughter, a father who talks to God. That’s what we’ll be doing. We’ll go on. As we always do.
Last night at a committee meeting, the chair extended sympathy to two members who, in the last while, lost two family members. Tonight I’ll go to a wake. Yesterday was Veteran’s Day. This country has only one doughboy left—107 years old—from the First World War. All the rest are in the earth, “one mighty sepulcher,” William Cullen Bryant once called it in a poem he wrote, as unlikely as it seems, when he 19.
It’s all around us, really, this mess. But we go on. Grab a Kleenex maybe, howl some.
But the human story—our need for love, God’s love—just keeps playing. Just keeps playing.
Not unlike soccer maybe, a game—or so it seems this morning—with not much scoring.
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Lament
He sat in the back, way in the back, left side. Didn’t say much either, but it was clear to me that he wasn’t dumb. He had this problem with getting work in on time—that I remember well. He was the kind of student who gives you headaches because you’ve got to bug him (or her) to stay tuned. But then, that was not an unfamiliar way of life to me.
Somehow, I got roped into sponsoring the soccer club that year, my very first year of college teaching. I don’t know how, because I knew nothing about soccer except that it was a game with astonishingly little scoring. It seemed to me an exercise in futility sometimes, but I’d been a coach before and I enjoyed the camaraderie cruising along in the van with the team.
This tall kid was one of them, quite talented too, a freshman who played a ton of soccer that year, even though he was one of the new kids on the block.
I don’t know if I had him as a student after that, but some kids you don’t lose sight of—probably because they don’t lose sight of you. This one I remembered, too.
He became a teacher, and an artist, a kid with exceptional talent with a brush and in other media as well, I suppose; and when I’d visit the place he and his wife had chosen to live, I’d run into him. He looked the artist, a pony tail shaped like an artist's brush halfway down his back from thick dark hair, hair to die for. He’d put on weight—never too much, but enough to square him up, so much so that he was an impressive physical specimen, a man with a presence. Even in a crowded room, you didn’t look past him.
And he did well as an artist, well enough to be noticed, well enough to have his work purchased and on display at a number of places and in collections, including here at his alma mater. That’s one, above—a rabbi sleeping on a bench, another man, the artist himself, walking away, leaving the scene--that one is his.
I saw him last weekend and couldn’t help but notice the half-dollar-sized spaces in that thick head of hair. He has brain cancer, and his chances are not at all good.
Twice, his singing group assembled in the front of big crowds, and all eight of them held forth beautifully; but he had obvious trouble holding up his share of the bass line. At times, he was behind a step or two—or just not with the program. But he stood there—sometimes sat—with his gang, and just seeing him up there was, to me and others, the kind of rich testimony that makes people wipe their eyes.
Twice, I saw his wife reach for hers, even though she tried stubbornly to fight the tears. And that's the picture I'm left with, his wife alone in a chair or pew, losing a battle with tears.
In little more than 12 hours I gave two talks, two speeches that had me scared spitless for more than a week. I wanted those speeches to go well, spent more than my share of worry wondering whether what I had prepared would move anyone.
What I didn’t imagine is that the story of the weekend was the story of a tall, skinny kid I had in class almost 35 years ago, a man who is now a 50-year-old man, in the prime of creative life, a pony-tailed painter and husband and father being taken slowly, painfully, from those he loves as nothing less than evil eats away at those very acute perceptions that made him an artist.
We’re not talking about a saint here. We’re not talking about someone whose life didn’t occasionally rush off in directions he hadn’t planned or later wished he’d not taken. He was as human as the rest of us.
As human as the rest of us. And now he’s facing death.
I wish I could write a thoughtful homily I could put in an inside pocket, close to my heart, something that would stanch the bleeding from my own soul.
I don’t like death.
Later today I face another class full of students. I’d like to tell them, if I could, that, quite honestly, nobody knows what life holds for them. I’d like to say a ton of things, but I won’t. Maybe one of those kids will be an artist too—who knows?
We’ll just go on. We’ll read a story about a father’s loves for his daughter, a father who talks to God. That’s what we’ll be doing. We’ll go on. As we always do.
Last night at a committee meeting, the chair extended sympathy to two members who, in the last while, lost two family members. Tonight I’ll go to a wake. Yesterday was Veteran’s Day. This country has only one doughboy left—107 years old—from the First World War. All the rest are in the earth, “one mighty sepulcher,” William Cullen Bryant once called it in a poem he wrote, as unlikely as it seems, when he 19.
It’s all around us, really, this mess. But we go on. Grab a Kleenex maybe, howl some.
But the human story—our need for love, God’s love—just keeps playing. Just keeps playing.
Not unlike soccer maybe, a game—or so it seems this morning—with not much scoring.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
MRI and recent updates
Hello All!
Been meaning to update all week - but the closer it gets to Christmas, the busier life seems to become, and it's hard to find the time to do all the 'extra' things I need to get done in a day! Thankfully Jared will be done school for the semester in a couple weeks and then he'll be able to help out around the house a bit more.
Anyway...Dad had his MRI on Friday. We haven't heard anything to the contrary, so I am assuming that it went well. I think we're all hoping this week goes by quickly, as we have to wait until this next Friday, Dec. 5th to get the results back. From this we will have a better idea of how Dad's tumor is doing and if it responded at all to his radiation and chemo treatments. We will also get news on a possible second round of treatment, which will most likely involve much heavier doses of chemo than the last time around. But until Friday, we don't know anything for sure.
I can tell you a few things that have been going on around Mom and Dad's house this last week, though. On Monday Mom had a hospital bed delivered for Dad. Because he has been sleeping so much, and because he is such a big guy and it's getting harder and harder for Mom to help him get up out of bed, she went ahead and ordered the hospital bed for him. It has been set up in the family room and so far, it seems to be working well, although I don't think Dad cares for being on the main floor much. But this is a lot better than having him collapse while walking up the stairs!
Mom has also had to install some other safety measures around the house, including rails on the toilet to help Dad get up. One of Mom's sisters and her husband visited earlier in the week and brought along four canes for Dad. They also have a walker and a wheelchair, so there is no shortage of ways to get him up and about when he needs it!
However, with the installation and arrival of all of these things, comes the realization that Dad is becoming increasingly ill. We were told after the first round of treatments that Dad would be almost back to his normal self for a few months, but unfortunately, that has yet to happen. While he has been feeling better the last few days than he has for the last few weeks - he's been awake and more alert than he had been - he is still not bouncing back from the first round of treatments like we thought he would. So, we continue to hope and pray for miracles of healing and of strength for Dad. And no matter what, we continue to believe that God is in control of this situation and that He continues to walk beside us down this bumpy gravel road.
Been meaning to update all week - but the closer it gets to Christmas, the busier life seems to become, and it's hard to find the time to do all the 'extra' things I need to get done in a day! Thankfully Jared will be done school for the semester in a couple weeks and then he'll be able to help out around the house a bit more.
Anyway...Dad had his MRI on Friday. We haven't heard anything to the contrary, so I am assuming that it went well. I think we're all hoping this week goes by quickly, as we have to wait until this next Friday, Dec. 5th to get the results back. From this we will have a better idea of how Dad's tumor is doing and if it responded at all to his radiation and chemo treatments. We will also get news on a possible second round of treatment, which will most likely involve much heavier doses of chemo than the last time around. But until Friday, we don't know anything for sure.
I can tell you a few things that have been going on around Mom and Dad's house this last week, though. On Monday Mom had a hospital bed delivered for Dad. Because he has been sleeping so much, and because he is such a big guy and it's getting harder and harder for Mom to help him get up out of bed, she went ahead and ordered the hospital bed for him. It has been set up in the family room and so far, it seems to be working well, although I don't think Dad cares for being on the main floor much. But this is a lot better than having him collapse while walking up the stairs!
Mom has also had to install some other safety measures around the house, including rails on the toilet to help Dad get up. One of Mom's sisters and her husband visited earlier in the week and brought along four canes for Dad. They also have a walker and a wheelchair, so there is no shortage of ways to get him up and about when he needs it!
However, with the installation and arrival of all of these things, comes the realization that Dad is becoming increasingly ill. We were told after the first round of treatments that Dad would be almost back to his normal self for a few months, but unfortunately, that has yet to happen. While he has been feeling better the last few days than he has for the last few weeks - he's been awake and more alert than he had been - he is still not bouncing back from the first round of treatments like we thought he would. So, we continue to hope and pray for miracles of healing and of strength for Dad. And no matter what, we continue to believe that God is in control of this situation and that He continues to walk beside us down this bumpy gravel road.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Disappointing News for Dad
Well, Mom and Dad were supposed to make a trip to Edmonton this upcoming weekend, and unfortunately, it has been called off. Dad's last board meeting at King's University College is this weekend, along with an art show that Dad really wanted to see, but he hasn't been feeling very well lately, and so the trip has been called off. He is very disappointed, but the doctor's (and Mom!) feel it is best that he not travel that far right now. He's been sleeping 18-20 hours a day the last few weeks, he's been throwing up, and his sense of balance continues to be off. He's also had a very mininal appetite, so between that, and the getting sick, we are starting to notice him losing some weight. Mom is also looking into getting Dad a cane to help with his balance. She looked at a few stores, but so far, none of them have sold canes that will be tall enough for Dad, so she will have to try a medical supply store.
It's so very hard to watch Dad going through all of this. Some days are better than others, but the bad days are especially tough. To see him struggle to do things that we all take for granted is not an easy thing to watch - things like changing the channel on the tv, or checking our email. Going through this ordeal just reaffirms how fragile life is, and reminds us that we need to cherish every moment we have with our family and friends. It's also a great reminder of how awesome and powerful our God is. That even in our weakness, we can still seek Him and He will be there for us. We sang the song in church on Sunday that I quoted on here a while back, "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. That song continues to provide us comfort and hope, knowing that God hasn't let us go throughout this whole journey. He continues to guide us and hold us in the palm of His loving Handm, providing the comfort we seek, and the strength to keep on going. I pray that we continue to feel His presence as the days go on and our journey continues.
It's so very hard to watch Dad going through all of this. Some days are better than others, but the bad days are especially tough. To see him struggle to do things that we all take for granted is not an easy thing to watch - things like changing the channel on the tv, or checking our email. Going through this ordeal just reaffirms how fragile life is, and reminds us that we need to cherish every moment we have with our family and friends. It's also a great reminder of how awesome and powerful our God is. That even in our weakness, we can still seek Him and He will be there for us. We sang the song in church on Sunday that I quoted on here a while back, "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. That song continues to provide us comfort and hope, knowing that God hasn't let us go throughout this whole journey. He continues to guide us and hold us in the palm of His loving Handm, providing the comfort we seek, and the strength to keep on going. I pray that we continue to feel His presence as the days go on and our journey continues.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
We Have a Date for the MRI!
Hello Everyone!
It feels like I haven't updated much on here lately, and I guess that's because there hasn't been a whole lot going on. Each day brings its own set of challenges, but for the most part, life has settled into a sort of routine. Especially for Jared and I, who are no longer living at home, life seems almost normal most days. Work and school continue, and we are constantly busy with the kids. Life at Mom and Dad's has been a little more hectic, though. Brendan is busy with school and volleball. Jesse is busy with work and coaching volleyball. Janis is busy with homework and school. And Mom is very busy with Dad. His energy levels have continued to decline, and it can take hours to get him up and out of bed in the morning. He has also been throwing up lately, which is an unfortunate side effect of his pills. And his cognition is not what it used to be.
We are hoping and praying, however, that we get good news after Dad's MRI. The date has finally been scheduled, and it will take place on November 28th. The follow up appointment where we get the results will take place on December 5th. No matter what we receive for news that day, we know that God is in control of this situation. Even when we don't understand it, or like what it may mean, we have to keep trusting in our Saviour that He knows what He's doing. It's hard some days to remember that, but I'm so very thankful we have Him to rely on through all this.
Thank you once again to everyone for your continued prayers and support. Words cannot express how much we love and appreciate each and every one of you!
Until next time...
Dana
It feels like I haven't updated much on here lately, and I guess that's because there hasn't been a whole lot going on. Each day brings its own set of challenges, but for the most part, life has settled into a sort of routine. Especially for Jared and I, who are no longer living at home, life seems almost normal most days. Work and school continue, and we are constantly busy with the kids. Life at Mom and Dad's has been a little more hectic, though. Brendan is busy with school and volleball. Jesse is busy with work and coaching volleyball. Janis is busy with homework and school. And Mom is very busy with Dad. His energy levels have continued to decline, and it can take hours to get him up and out of bed in the morning. He has also been throwing up lately, which is an unfortunate side effect of his pills. And his cognition is not what it used to be.
We are hoping and praying, however, that we get good news after Dad's MRI. The date has finally been scheduled, and it will take place on November 28th. The follow up appointment where we get the results will take place on December 5th. No matter what we receive for news that day, we know that God is in control of this situation. Even when we don't understand it, or like what it may mean, we have to keep trusting in our Saviour that He knows what He's doing. It's hard some days to remember that, but I'm so very thankful we have Him to rely on through all this.
Thank you once again to everyone for your continued prayers and support. Words cannot express how much we love and appreciate each and every one of you!
Until next time...
Dana
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Yet Another CT Scan....
Spoke with Mom about two hours ago, and they finally got Dad in for a CT scan late this morning. They got the results back and it showed significant swelling on Dad's brain, which explains the odd behaviour and major lack of energy he's had the last week or so. It also explains the dizzy spells he was having last night, and so they have now increased his steroid pills from 2 up to 4 a day. When I talked to Mom, Dad was just finishing up some lunch and then Jesse was going to be picking them up and bringing them home, so they should be there by now. I'm sure they are both resting this afternoon, as they both had a very short night of sleep last night.
Thank you all so much for your prayers! It was too early to tell anything else on the CT scan as far as how the tumor has responded to treatments, so we still have to wait another few weeks for the MRI to find out anything more. Here's hoping that the steroid pills help Dad regain some energy and that we have an uneventful couple of weeks while we wait for the MRI!
Thank you all so much for your prayers! It was too early to tell anything else on the CT scan as far as how the tumor has responded to treatments, so we still have to wait another few weeks for the MRI to find out anything more. Here's hoping that the steroid pills help Dad regain some energy and that we have an uneventful couple of weeks while we wait for the MRI!
Another Trip to the ER
Just wanted to let everyone know that Dad is at the hospital again. He was having some balance issues last night - getting dizzy and even falling down once. He had three episodes at home last night while getting ready for bed, so Mom called the on-call oncologist and they said to bring him in to the ER. He had another episode at the hospital, so they put him in a wheelchair and then they had to wait for a room to open up. Janis was with Mom and Dad and they sat in the ER waiting room until 5 am this morning. Janis came to our place (Jared and Dana's) to get some sleep once Mom and Dad were settled in and Mom and Dad were able to sleep for a few hours in the room. I just talked to Mom a few minutes ago, and the doctor was finally able to come in and see Dad. They are going to start him on an IV and get him some breakfast and then they want to do a CT scan to check on the swelling on his brain.
He had been in for bloodwork on Wednesday to check his levels, as they had upped the steroid pill earlier in the week. He seemed to be doing a bit better since they increased the pill to two a day, but it would appear now that there may still be significant amounts of swelling on his brain. Mom's going to call once they get the results of the CT scan (which will likely be in a few hours), so I'll post more once I get some more info. Until then, please keep on praying!
Sincerely,
Dana
He had been in for bloodwork on Wednesday to check his levels, as they had upped the steroid pill earlier in the week. He seemed to be doing a bit better since they increased the pill to two a day, but it would appear now that there may still be significant amounts of swelling on his brain. Mom's going to call once they get the results of the CT scan (which will likely be in a few hours), so I'll post more once I get some more info. Until then, please keep on praying!
Sincerely,
Dana
Thursday, October 23, 2008
It's All About Balance
Jared and I have used this phrase a lot, lately: "It's all about balance." Balancing school, kids, homework, time with family. The more I think about it, the more I realize that life itself is all about balance. And this is ringing very true for Dad as he goes through this gravel road journey as well. The difficulty right now is in finding the right balance of medication. I just spoke with Mom on the phone a few minutes ago and they are once again going to be increasing Dad's steroid pills back up to two pills a day. He's been a bit confused and having a hard time processing things this past week. And he's also been having headaches again. The symptoms point to swelling on the brain, so once again, the steroids need to be increased. Dad will have blook work on Wednesday next week so that they can check the levels and make sure everything is balanced once again.
The increased swelling also means that there is an increased risk of more seizures. Mom and Dad had been planning a trip to Iowa to visit Mom's family next weekend, but unfortunately because of how Dad has been feeling these last few days, they have revoked approval for the trip. Mom's parents aren't able to travel up here to visit due to their own health concerns, so even though it's best for Dad's health to stay close to home, I know that Mom was really looking forward to seeing her parents. We're not sure what this will mean for our possible family vacation, either. We won't be able to make the decision to go anywhere one way or the other until we have the results back from the MRI. So for now, we continue to wait, and continue to try to find the balance of living our lives and just sitting around waiting for news. It's hard to find that balance sometimes, and we ask for your continued prayers as we try to achieve this.
The increased swelling also means that there is an increased risk of more seizures. Mom and Dad had been planning a trip to Iowa to visit Mom's family next weekend, but unfortunately because of how Dad has been feeling these last few days, they have revoked approval for the trip. Mom's parents aren't able to travel up here to visit due to their own health concerns, so even though it's best for Dad's health to stay close to home, I know that Mom was really looking forward to seeing her parents. We're not sure what this will mean for our possible family vacation, either. We won't be able to make the decision to go anywhere one way or the other until we have the results back from the MRI. So for now, we continue to wait, and continue to try to find the balance of living our lives and just sitting around waiting for news. It's hard to find that balance sometimes, and we ask for your continued prayers as we try to achieve this.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
It's Finally Happened!
Well, it finally started happening this past week. Dad is losing his hair. I think Mom said it started on Thursday, and by Monday, when we celebrated Thanksgiving together at our place, Dad had a very large bald spot on the top of his head, and a smaller one on the right side. Both are from the radiation treatments, and we have been told that Dad will have permanent hair loss in these places. The rest of his hair is still in tact, though, so I think Dad's plan for now is to buy a hat of some sort so that he can keep the ponytail.
And today marks the last day of the radiation and chemo treatments! The next step is another MRI to see how well the tumor has responded to the 'cocktail' of drugs that Dad has been taking these last few weeks. It will be sometime in the next 4-6 weeks. Mom and Dad have heard it could be the week of November 10th, but they don't have a confirmed date yet. So at this point, it is a waiting game. Thankfully Dad is still feeling quite well, other than a decreased energy level. We've been talking about a family vacation together but are still deciding on a location and when will be the best time to go. Unfortunately, flights are very expensive, but travelling long distances with a toddler and a baby is never much fun, so we're still debating which will be the best course of action. But it is something fun that we can do together that we're all very much looking forward to.
And as always, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support throughout this time. We appreciate it more than words can say, and we ask that you continue to support us in prayer as we await this next MRI and whatever the results may tell us.
And today marks the last day of the radiation and chemo treatments! The next step is another MRI to see how well the tumor has responded to the 'cocktail' of drugs that Dad has been taking these last few weeks. It will be sometime in the next 4-6 weeks. Mom and Dad have heard it could be the week of November 10th, but they don't have a confirmed date yet. So at this point, it is a waiting game. Thankfully Dad is still feeling quite well, other than a decreased energy level. We've been talking about a family vacation together but are still deciding on a location and when will be the best time to go. Unfortunately, flights are very expensive, but travelling long distances with a toddler and a baby is never much fun, so we're still debating which will be the best course of action. But it is something fun that we can do together that we're all very much looking forward to.
And as always, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support throughout this time. We appreciate it more than words can say, and we ask that you continue to support us in prayer as we await this next MRI and whatever the results may tell us.
Friday, October 3, 2008
A Message from Gerald
Hello again! Just received this email from Dad and he has asked me to post on his behalf:
We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we went to church as a family this past Sunday morning. I was quite sure that I would be overcome by emotion and wouldn't be able to sing - turns out I was wrong...
On Wednesday night, Celebr8 had our first scheduled rehearsal since last spring. Singing songs like "Fly Away" and "When the Kingdom Comes" brought joy and strength to all of us in the circle. As much as everything has changed, it seems equally significant to experience, and celebrate, moments of normalcy.
Part of that normalcy is adjusting to new priorities and family activities; daily treatments at Cancer Care, the daily regimen of medication, intentional family times to ask every family member, "So, how are you doing?" It can be a challenge and often times difficult to determine the correct answer to that question.
The image I've used is that life seems as if it's being lived out in a little rubber dingy in a very large ocean. It's often difficult to determine if the dingy is riding the crest of the wave or if it is plummeting into the trough of the next wave.
Oddly enough, I believe that mostly I am riding on the crest of a wave and then, occasionally I realize that I have slipped into a Jonah-like valley of darkness and despair.
The words of Isaiah 41:10 continue to challenge me:
We have been overwhelmed by the many ways we have experienced love and suport from family and friends: hugs, cards, food, rides, telephone chats, visits, gift cards, etc.
Finally, and (I knew it was coming), I had to surrender my driver's license yesterday due to the full body seizures I experienced on September 12th. Being a passenger for the next year (especially during winter) may be a bit of a challenge for both Arlis and myself...apparenly I need to learn to bit my tongue before speaking!
Shalom and "sterkte" to all,
Gerald
We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we went to church as a family this past Sunday morning. I was quite sure that I would be overcome by emotion and wouldn't be able to sing - turns out I was wrong...
On Wednesday night, Celebr8 had our first scheduled rehearsal since last spring. Singing songs like "Fly Away" and "When the Kingdom Comes" brought joy and strength to all of us in the circle. As much as everything has changed, it seems equally significant to experience, and celebrate, moments of normalcy.
Part of that normalcy is adjusting to new priorities and family activities; daily treatments at Cancer Care, the daily regimen of medication, intentional family times to ask every family member, "So, how are you doing?" It can be a challenge and often times difficult to determine the correct answer to that question.
The image I've used is that life seems as if it's being lived out in a little rubber dingy in a very large ocean. It's often difficult to determine if the dingy is riding the crest of the wave or if it is plummeting into the trough of the next wave.
Oddly enough, I believe that mostly I am riding on the crest of a wave and then, occasionally I realize that I have slipped into a Jonah-like valley of darkness and despair.
The words of Isaiah 41:10 continue to challenge me:
"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
We have been overwhelmed by the many ways we have experienced love and suport from family and friends: hugs, cards, food, rides, telephone chats, visits, gift cards, etc.
Finally, and (I knew it was coming), I had to surrender my driver's license yesterday due to the full body seizures I experienced on September 12th. Being a passenger for the next year (especially during winter) may be a bit of a challenge for both Arlis and myself...apparenly I need to learn to bit my tongue before speaking!
Shalom and "sterkte" to all,
Gerald
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Sorry it's been so long!
Hello again, everyone!
I apologize for not updating sooner. It's been a busy week in our household and I haven't had much time on the computer at all. However, there haven't been too many changes over the last week or so, which is definitely good news.
Dad is now about half way through his treatment schedule. He's been going for radiation every Monday to Friday and has also been taking the oral chemotherapy 7 days a week, so we're nearing the end of Week 2. The first few radiation treatments took about half an hour, as everything needed to be explained, but now that Dad has been going for this long, he's only in the room about 10 or 15 minutes. Family has been able to go along and watch and Jared and I were there on Wednesday. It was a very cool experience. Dad lays down on a table and they place the 'helmet' over his face. It's clamped down onto the table and they line up the helmet using laser beams from the ceiling. Then everyone leaves the room and Dad is "zapped" three times for a couple minutes each time. The machine that emits the radiation is a lot larger than we thought it would be, and it rotates around whatever part of your body is being treated (in Dad's case, his head.) The table on the floor also rotates to accomodate whatever angle the treatment is coming from. It's very neat. There are computer moniters just outside the room and that's where visitors get to watch. If Dad needs out of the helmet at any time, all he has to do is wave a hand and they will come unlatch him. I asked him if he feels anything while the treatments are happening, and the only thing that he feels is a bit of pressure from the helmet on his face. Anyone who has clautrophobia would NOT like this sort of thing! You can also hear a whirring sound in the background while the radiation is happening, but besides that, it's a very quick and painless procedure.
Dad has also had some adjustments made to his medications in the last week. He had been on three steroid pills a day and three anti-seizure pills a day. However, he was having some slight tremors on his right side, and so they lowered the steriods to two a day and upped the anti-seizure medication to 4 pills a day. He goes for blood work at least once a week to check on how all the medications are working together and to make sure everything is staying balanced, and on Wednesday Dad mentioned that they had lowered the steriods down to one and a half pills a day. It seems like it's a bit of a fine art trying to balance out all the different levels of drugs that he's on, but thankfully there are very skilled people at HSC to take care of all that! And Mom has been doing an amazing job of keeping track of all of Dad's pills and which ones need to be taken with food, which ones without food, etc. etc.
Physically Dad is still doing really well. He still gets tired easily, but I don't think he has many complaints beyond that. No sign of any hair loss yet that we've heard of, so all in all, I think he's faring pretty well. Now it's just a waiting game until treatments are done and Dad has another MRI to see how well the tumor has responded to all of these drugs!!!
And finally, because my description won't do it justice, here are a few pictures from Dad's treament on Wednesday.
The computer screens that we watched on. The door to the room is to the right of these moniters and Dad is essentially on the other side of the wall behind the screens.
A view from inside the room.
The helmet! Jared said it reminded him of Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs.
I apologize for not updating sooner. It's been a busy week in our household and I haven't had much time on the computer at all. However, there haven't been too many changes over the last week or so, which is definitely good news.
Dad is now about half way through his treatment schedule. He's been going for radiation every Monday to Friday and has also been taking the oral chemotherapy 7 days a week, so we're nearing the end of Week 2. The first few radiation treatments took about half an hour, as everything needed to be explained, but now that Dad has been going for this long, he's only in the room about 10 or 15 minutes. Family has been able to go along and watch and Jared and I were there on Wednesday. It was a very cool experience. Dad lays down on a table and they place the 'helmet' over his face. It's clamped down onto the table and they line up the helmet using laser beams from the ceiling. Then everyone leaves the room and Dad is "zapped" three times for a couple minutes each time. The machine that emits the radiation is a lot larger than we thought it would be, and it rotates around whatever part of your body is being treated (in Dad's case, his head.) The table on the floor also rotates to accomodate whatever angle the treatment is coming from. It's very neat. There are computer moniters just outside the room and that's where visitors get to watch. If Dad needs out of the helmet at any time, all he has to do is wave a hand and they will come unlatch him. I asked him if he feels anything while the treatments are happening, and the only thing that he feels is a bit of pressure from the helmet on his face. Anyone who has clautrophobia would NOT like this sort of thing! You can also hear a whirring sound in the background while the radiation is happening, but besides that, it's a very quick and painless procedure.
Dad has also had some adjustments made to his medications in the last week. He had been on three steroid pills a day and three anti-seizure pills a day. However, he was having some slight tremors on his right side, and so they lowered the steriods to two a day and upped the anti-seizure medication to 4 pills a day. He goes for blood work at least once a week to check on how all the medications are working together and to make sure everything is staying balanced, and on Wednesday Dad mentioned that they had lowered the steriods down to one and a half pills a day. It seems like it's a bit of a fine art trying to balance out all the different levels of drugs that he's on, but thankfully there are very skilled people at HSC to take care of all that! And Mom has been doing an amazing job of keeping track of all of Dad's pills and which ones need to be taken with food, which ones without food, etc. etc.
Physically Dad is still doing really well. He still gets tired easily, but I don't think he has many complaints beyond that. No sign of any hair loss yet that we've heard of, so all in all, I think he's faring pretty well. Now it's just a waiting game until treatments are done and Dad has another MRI to see how well the tumor has responded to all of these drugs!!!
And finally, because my description won't do it justice, here are a few pictures from Dad's treament on Wednesday.
The computer screens that we watched on. The door to the room is to the right of these moniters and Dad is essentially on the other side of the wall behind the screens.
A view from inside the room.
The helmet! Jared said it reminded him of Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Treatments Have Begun!
Well, as the title says, Dad has started his treatments. He had his first one on Monday, and another again today. He'll be continuing radiation treatments Monday to Friday for the next few weeks, and will also be taking oral chemotherapy pills 7 days a week during this time. Treatments end on the 14th of October, but the side effects might last another few weeks after that. About 4-6 weeks after treatments are finished Dad will have another MRI done to check on the tumor's response to all the drugs. Hopefully it will be good news, but that's a long way off right now.
So far Dad hasn't had too bad of a reaction. He's been feeling a bit nauseous and food doesn't taste very appetizing to him anymore. But I think other than that, he is handling the medication pretty well. From what the doctors have said, though, it will only get worse, which is expected. Hopefully it's not too bad. For now we are all taking things one day at a time, and are constantly praying for healing, comfort and strength. It's so good to know that so many friends and family are praying right along with us.
So far Dad hasn't had too bad of a reaction. He's been feeling a bit nauseous and food doesn't taste very appetizing to him anymore. But I think other than that, he is handling the medication pretty well. From what the doctors have said, though, it will only get worse, which is expected. Hopefully it's not too bad. For now we are all taking things one day at a time, and are constantly praying for healing, comfort and strength. It's so good to know that so many friends and family are praying right along with us.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The 911 Update
We are home from the hospital, and thankfully, I have good news to report. Dad had three seizures earlier - two at home, the second of which was a grand mal seizure, and a third in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. But he is now recovering very nicely at the Health Sciences.
When we arrived, he was unable to speak, and had limited mobility. He could communicate with the doctors and nurses by squeezing their hands or pushing with his feet. They gave him some anti-seizure medication and did yet another CT scan around 8:15 pm. After a trip to KFC/Taco Bell for some food, we were able to get back in to see him and he was sitting up in bed and able to talk to all of us. The CT scan showed that everything was normal (as normal as can be with a tumor!), and that the swelling around the tumor has actually decreased a little since the last scan earlier in the week. They are keeping him overnight for observation and will be sending him home tomorrow morning. Mom is staying overnight with him in the hospital, so I'm sure it will be another long night for her, but we're all very thankful for the outcome of this evening. I don't think I need to say that it could have been a lot worse - we are very thankful that it was not!
We were able to get a bit more information from Mom tonight about Dad's treatments we well. There was fear earlier this evening that the seizures would interfere with treatment, but everything is a go for Monday. Dad will be doing radiation treatments five days a week (Monday to Friday) for 16 days, and will also be taking oral chemotherapy pills 7 days a week during that time. They now know that it is a level 4 tumor, so my understanding is that the therapy will be pretty aggressive.
One specific prayer request right now is that Dad has a certain enzyme in his body that will respond well to the chemo. Mom briefly explained tonight that people either have the enzyme or they don't - and there's no way to tell, other than by how people react to the chemo. If they have the enzyme, it bonds well with the chemo and helps the radation to be more effective. If they don't have the enzyme, the radiation doesn't work as well. So we're praying that Dad will have the enzyme in his body so that the treatments can work as effectively as possible.
As always, thank you so much for your faithful prayers for Dad and for the family.
Dana
When we arrived, he was unable to speak, and had limited mobility. He could communicate with the doctors and nurses by squeezing their hands or pushing with his feet. They gave him some anti-seizure medication and did yet another CT scan around 8:15 pm. After a trip to KFC/Taco Bell for some food, we were able to get back in to see him and he was sitting up in bed and able to talk to all of us. The CT scan showed that everything was normal (as normal as can be with a tumor!), and that the swelling around the tumor has actually decreased a little since the last scan earlier in the week. They are keeping him overnight for observation and will be sending him home tomorrow morning. Mom is staying overnight with him in the hospital, so I'm sure it will be another long night for her, but we're all very thankful for the outcome of this evening. I don't think I need to say that it could have been a lot worse - we are very thankful that it was not!
We were able to get a bit more information from Mom tonight about Dad's treatments we well. There was fear earlier this evening that the seizures would interfere with treatment, but everything is a go for Monday. Dad will be doing radiation treatments five days a week (Monday to Friday) for 16 days, and will also be taking oral chemotherapy pills 7 days a week during that time. They now know that it is a level 4 tumor, so my understanding is that the therapy will be pretty aggressive.
One specific prayer request right now is that Dad has a certain enzyme in his body that will respond well to the chemo. Mom briefly explained tonight that people either have the enzyme or they don't - and there's no way to tell, other than by how people react to the chemo. If they have the enzyme, it bonds well with the chemo and helps the radation to be more effective. If they don't have the enzyme, the radiation doesn't work as well. So we're praying that Dad will have the enzyme in his body so that the treatments can work as effectively as possible.
As always, thank you so much for your faithful prayers for Dad and for the family.
Dana
URGENT PRAYER NEEDED!
Hi everyone,
I wish I had more information, but we need some urgent prayers. We just got a phone call from Janis, and from what we gathered, Dad laid down to sleep earlier this afternoon and when Mom tried to wake him up a few moments ago, he wasn't responding. They called 911 and the paramedics arrived at the house just a few minutes ago. They're taking Dad to Health Sciences and we're leaving right away to meet the rest of the family there. We have no idea what this means, or what could happen, but please pray for us and especially for Dad!
I'll update once I know more!
Dana
I wish I had more information, but we need some urgent prayers. We just got a phone call from Janis, and from what we gathered, Dad laid down to sleep earlier this afternoon and when Mom tried to wake him up a few moments ago, he wasn't responding. They called 911 and the paramedics arrived at the house just a few minutes ago. They're taking Dad to Health Sciences and we're leaving right away to meet the rest of the family there. We have no idea what this means, or what could happen, but please pray for us and especially for Dad!
I'll update once I know more!
Dana
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Team Planning Meeting
Hello again,
Got a phone call from Mom this afternoon, and they have word on the team planning meeting. It will be this Friday, Sept. 19th. She didn't mention a time. But the meeting will include Mom and Dad, the neurosurgeon, a social worker, and a whole host of other hospital staff. They'll go over treatment details and the pathology report from Dad's biopsy. Once this meeting is done, they will be able to start treatments, but I don't think they will start over the weekend, so I think Monday will be Dad's first day of radiation. I'm sure we'll know more after Friday's meeting.
Got a phone call from Mom this afternoon, and they have word on the team planning meeting. It will be this Friday, Sept. 19th. She didn't mention a time. But the meeting will include Mom and Dad, the neurosurgeon, a social worker, and a whole host of other hospital staff. They'll go over treatment details and the pathology report from Dad's biopsy. Once this meeting is done, they will be able to start treatments, but I don't think they will start over the weekend, so I think Monday will be Dad's first day of radiation. I'm sure we'll know more after Friday's meeting.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Treatments Coming Soon!
Well, first of all, I will fill everyone in on the weekend. As of my last post, Dad's biopsy had gone well and he was recovering in the hospital. He was released on Saturday after a CT scan and he and Mom got home around 1 pm. Then, around supper time Dad had a clumsy moment (happens to the best of us!), and tripped on the stairs, bumping his head on the way down. Normally, not such a big deal, but when you've just had your head cut open, that's not exactly what you want to have happen! Thankfully, Dad told Mom about the incident and they made a trip back to the ER for yet another CT scan to make sure there was no swelling or bleeding. Thankfully, all was fine, and they were home again just after midnight. I haven't asked Dad yet if he's getting sick of all the CT scans....need to remember to ask him one of these days! Although I'm sure he'll have many more yet before this ordeal is done.
Anyway...Sunday was a nice relaxing day at home for everyone, and today it was back to the hospital for Mom and Dad. Dad got fitted for his radiation helmet and has been told that treatments will be starting either later this week, or early next week. We're hoping for later this week, but they need the pathology report from the biopsy before they can start treatments. So that is what we are waiting for right now. As always, we ask for continued prayer, specifically that the report from pathology would come back by the end of this week.
And I also want to say a huge thank you thus far for the out-pouring of love and support that has been shown by friends, family, and acquaintances. As I read all of your comments, it never ceases to amaze me how faithful God is in providing people in our lives to uplift, encourage, and inspire us when we need it the most. On behalf of our entire family, THANK YOU! from the bottom of our hearts!
Dana
Anyway...Sunday was a nice relaxing day at home for everyone, and today it was back to the hospital for Mom and Dad. Dad got fitted for his radiation helmet and has been told that treatments will be starting either later this week, or early next week. We're hoping for later this week, but they need the pathology report from the biopsy before they can start treatments. So that is what we are waiting for right now. As always, we ask for continued prayer, specifically that the report from pathology would come back by the end of this week.
And I also want to say a huge thank you thus far for the out-pouring of love and support that has been shown by friends, family, and acquaintances. As I read all of your comments, it never ceases to amaze me how faithful God is in providing people in our lives to uplift, encourage, and inspire us when we need it the most. On behalf of our entire family, THANK YOU! from the bottom of our hearts!
Dana
Friday, September 12, 2008
It's Gonna Be a LOOOONG Night for Mom!
Well, we went to visit Dad at the hospital tonight (around 7:30 pm) and he was doing very well. Aside from the small strip of missing hair and the staples in his head, you'd never know he'd just had surgery! He was, however, a little disappointed to learn that he had been having Tylenol intravenously. Turns out he's not quite the macho man he thought he was. But we still love him!
Mom, however, has a long night ahead of her. She is staying overnight with Dad, but since it's in the step-down unit, there was no bed for her. Just a couple of padded chairs, which didn't look very comfortable! We're hoping they're able to bring in a recliner or something for her. I guess we'll find out in the morning how well she slept! Thankfully, it will only be for one night, as Dad will be getting out sometime tomorrow.
We did find out that Mom and Dad are meeting with the neurosurgeon and a whole team of other support staff (radiologists, oncologists, etc.) early next week. (Most likely Monday or Tuesday). Dad will get fitted for his radiation helmet at that time, with the hope that treatments will start by the end of the week (they're thinking Friday). As I type this, it still all feels a little bit surreal - almost like it's not quite happening. It was so good to see that Dad was doing so well tonight, and especially that his sense of humor is still intact! It feels good to still be able to laugh and joke around and enjoy life, even in the midst of all the turmoil.
Anyway...here are a few pics of Dad from this evening. He has to wear a wonderful pair of white compression stockings to help with the circulation in his legs. We joked that he's keeping in touch with his feminine side! And of course, I have to include a picture of the staples, which surprisingly don't look all that bad.
He hadn't had a ponytail in all day, so the hair's a little messy. :P
The wonderful white stockings!
The staples! We didn't count how many there are....
Mom, however, has a long night ahead of her. She is staying overnight with Dad, but since it's in the step-down unit, there was no bed for her. Just a couple of padded chairs, which didn't look very comfortable! We're hoping they're able to bring in a recliner or something for her. I guess we'll find out in the morning how well she slept! Thankfully, it will only be for one night, as Dad will be getting out sometime tomorrow.
We did find out that Mom and Dad are meeting with the neurosurgeon and a whole team of other support staff (radiologists, oncologists, etc.) early next week. (Most likely Monday or Tuesday). Dad will get fitted for his radiation helmet at that time, with the hope that treatments will start by the end of the week (they're thinking Friday). As I type this, it still all feels a little bit surreal - almost like it's not quite happening. It was so good to see that Dad was doing so well tonight, and especially that his sense of humor is still intact! It feels good to still be able to laugh and joke around and enjoy life, even in the midst of all the turmoil.
Anyway...here are a few pics of Dad from this evening. He has to wear a wonderful pair of white compression stockings to help with the circulation in his legs. We joked that he's keeping in touch with his feminine side! And of course, I have to include a picture of the staples, which surprisingly don't look all that bad.
He hadn't had a ponytail in all day, so the hair's a little messy. :P
The wonderful white stockings!
The staples! We didn't count how many there are....
Dad's Out of Surgery
Hi Everyone,
Just got a call from Mom, and Dad is out of surgery from the biopsy. He's in recovery and doing well. They're just waiting for a bed to open up and he'll be moved to the step-down unit. Thank you all so much for your prayers. We are very thankful that the procedure went well and hope to get the results so that Dad can start treatments early next week.
Thanks from all of us!
(Dana)
Just got a call from Mom, and Dad is out of surgery from the biopsy. He's in recovery and doing well. They're just waiting for a bed to open up and he'll be moved to the step-down unit. Thank you all so much for your prayers. We are very thankful that the procedure went well and hope to get the results so that Dad can start treatments early next week.
Thanks from all of us!
(Dana)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Biopsy's Been Moved Again
Just got an email from Mom and Dad's biopsy time has been changed. It's been bumped up from 11:30 am to 7:30 am tomorrow morning (Friday, the 12th). Mom will be staying overnight with Dad in the hospital, as it's considered major surgery, and they'll be home sometime on Saturday. Please pray that everything goes well!
Thanks!
Dana
Thanks!
Dana
Monday, September 8, 2008
Some Encouraging Words from Friends
I wanted to post this yesterday, but we didn't get home until late...and then wanted to post the update on the tests before I forgot the details! :P But either way, yesterday was a very encouraging day for us. We (Jared and I) went to church with Mom and Dad in the morning and an announcement was made to the congregation regarding Dad's tumor. It was hard to have to hear it out loud like that...and hard to endure all the hugs afterwards. But in a good way! It's so nice to know that there are so many people who love and care for all of us and are supporting us throughout this whole ordeal.
After church we went to Mom and Dad's for some family time and then we went to Kildonan Park to take some family pictures. It was a beautiful day for it, and I'm hoping to share a few of the pics here once I get a chance to go through them all....I only took over 200 pictures, so it may take a day or two! :P
Anyway...after pictures Jared and I had a meeting with our small group and filled them all in on the details of Dad's journey thus far. We all cried together and our friends prayed over us and for us. And then Andrea mentioned the words to a song that God had placed on her heart for us to hear, and it's such a beautiful and fitting song for all of us right now that I wanted to share it with everyone reading along:
You Never Let Go (by Matt Redman)
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle
of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
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?
(Chorus:) 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
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
(Chorus) 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
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
(Chorus 2x's)
Steve got out his guitar and we sang it together as a small group. It was very encouraging and very uplifting. We serve such an awesome and powerful God. He's greater than any tumor or sickness that we face. And it's very comforting to know that even if God doesn't answer our prayers to heal Dad, that He is here with us carrying us through this time. He never lets go!
After church we went to Mom and Dad's for some family time and then we went to Kildonan Park to take some family pictures. It was a beautiful day for it, and I'm hoping to share a few of the pics here once I get a chance to go through them all....I only took over 200 pictures, so it may take a day or two! :P
Anyway...after pictures Jared and I had a meeting with our small group and filled them all in on the details of Dad's journey thus far. We all cried together and our friends prayed over us and for us. And then Andrea mentioned the words to a song that God had placed on her heart for us to hear, and it's such a beautiful and fitting song for all of us right now that I wanted to share it with everyone reading along:
You Never Let Go (by Matt Redman)
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle
of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
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?
(Chorus:) 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
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
And I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth
(Chorus) 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
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
(Chorus 2x's)
Steve got out his guitar and we sang it together as a small group. It was very encouraging and very uplifting. We serve such an awesome and powerful God. He's greater than any tumor or sickness that we face. And it's very comforting to know that even if God doesn't answer our prayers to heal Dad, that He is here with us carrying us through this time. He never lets go!
Oh, the Run Around!
Well, Mom called me this morning to tell me that Dad had an appointment for the MRI and the biopsy...and then her and Dad stopped by this afternoon to say that they've been bumped on the list. :( Apparently there is a little girl that needs emergency brain surgery tomorrow, so Dad's biopsy has been postponed. Of course, our thoughts and prayers go out to the little girl and her family - we hope her surgery goes well!
But now we have to wait until Friday for Dad to get his biopsy. Such is life, right?!?!?! Anyway...the MRI is still a go for tonight. It's scheduled for 9:00 pm, and the biopsy has been moved from tomorrow at 11:30 am to Friday at 11:30 am. I'm sure Mom and Dad are becoming increasingly familiar with the hallways and inner workings of the Health Science Center by now. Thankfully we only live about a block away so if they need a break, they can easily stop by our house.
Anyway...as always, we ask that you continue to pray for us and for the results of all these tests!
Dana
But now we have to wait until Friday for Dad to get his biopsy. Such is life, right?!?!?! Anyway...the MRI is still a go for tonight. It's scheduled for 9:00 pm, and the biopsy has been moved from tomorrow at 11:30 am to Friday at 11:30 am. I'm sure Mom and Dad are becoming increasingly familiar with the hallways and inner workings of the Health Science Center by now. Thankfully we only live about a block away so if they need a break, they can easily stop by our house.
Anyway...as always, we ask that you continue to pray for us and for the results of all these tests!
Dana
Saturday, September 6, 2008
News from the Neurosurgeon
Well, as the title says, the news on Friday from the neurosurgeon was not what we were hoping to hear. Mom and Dad had to be at the Health Sciences Cancer Care ward at 10:00 am on Friday and after a short wait, they met with the neurosurgeon. They reviewed Wednesday's CT scan, and were told that it is for sure a cancerous tumor. It's called a 'butterfly' tumor, since it is on both hemispheres of his brain. Dad also underwent an EKG and more blood work on Friday.
So it's been a rough week, to say the least. Just when we think we'll finally find out all there is to know as far as treatment and what to expect, we find out there's even more tests needed in order to get it all figured out. Dad will be back at the hospital again on Monday to see an anesthesiologist. We're not 100% sure what they'll be doing. And hopefully on Tuesday he will be receiving a full-body MRI to check for cancer elsewhere in the body, as well as have a biopsy that afternoon on the tumor in his brain. If they can't fit him in on Tuesday, then the MRI and biopsy will most likely be on Friday. It's a lot take in! Once the MRI is finished and they have the results of that, then it sounds like we will finally have a concrete plan as far as treatment goes. Until then, we're hoping for the best, and trying to take things one day at a time.
It's hard to keep functioning normally when this is hanging over our heads. I think we're all feeling emotionally drained, and trying to figure out what exactly our new 'normal' is going to be. Mom has decided to use up her sick days at work, and starting on Monday she'll be taking the next three months off in order to help take care of Dad. The rest of us are still trying to juggle work and school, while spending as much time together as we can.
As far as how Dad's feeling, he says that he doesn't really feel different at all. He doesn't quite have as much energy as he did a few weeks ago, and he's been having lots of hiccups - a side effect from the cranial pressure on his brain. Who knew that pressure on your head could cause hiccups?!?!?
Anyway....please continue to pray for our family as we await more news of treatment and the results of the MRI. Until then...
Dana
So it's been a rough week, to say the least. Just when we think we'll finally find out all there is to know as far as treatment and what to expect, we find out there's even more tests needed in order to get it all figured out. Dad will be back at the hospital again on Monday to see an anesthesiologist. We're not 100% sure what they'll be doing. And hopefully on Tuesday he will be receiving a full-body MRI to check for cancer elsewhere in the body, as well as have a biopsy that afternoon on the tumor in his brain. If they can't fit him in on Tuesday, then the MRI and biopsy will most likely be on Friday. It's a lot take in! Once the MRI is finished and they have the results of that, then it sounds like we will finally have a concrete plan as far as treatment goes. Until then, we're hoping for the best, and trying to take things one day at a time.
It's hard to keep functioning normally when this is hanging over our heads. I think we're all feeling emotionally drained, and trying to figure out what exactly our new 'normal' is going to be. Mom has decided to use up her sick days at work, and starting on Monday she'll be taking the next three months off in order to help take care of Dad. The rest of us are still trying to juggle work and school, while spending as much time together as we can.
As far as how Dad's feeling, he says that he doesn't really feel different at all. He doesn't quite have as much energy as he did a few weeks ago, and he's been having lots of hiccups - a side effect from the cranial pressure on his brain. Who knew that pressure on your head could cause hiccups?!?!?
Anyway....please continue to pray for our family as we await more news of treatment and the results of the MRI. Until then...
Dana
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A Shocking Revelation
It all started about three weeks ago when Mom and Dad got home from their trip to BC. Dad's energy level wasn't what it usually is, and his sleep habits changed. He'd stay up till all hours of the night, and then sleep away the morning. He seemed to be going through a bit of a 'funk'. Mom tried not to worry about it, but as the weeks went on, he began to get worse. He was confusing things, not remembering things clearly, or at all. It was all very strange. So on Monday, Septemeber 1st, Mom tried calling a few friends and got ahold of Aunty Wendy, who used to be a nurse. Finally, she called Health Links to confirm what Aunty Wendy had said - that Dad should be taken to the ER. He went very reluctantly, but after a bunch of tests, chest x-rays, and a CT scan, they came to our place (Dana and Jared's) where the rest of us were gathered to celebrate Jared's birthday.
After some birthday cake, they broke the news to us. Dad has a brain tumor. Our initial reactions were ones of shock. How could this be? What does this mean? Is he going to be okay? None of our questions were answered that night. The only things Mom and Dad knew were that the tumor is located at the very front of Dad's brain (apparently the best place for it to be if surgery is needed), and that there were no spots in his chest, which is sometimes where these sorts of tumors originate. Dad was given a prescription for some very strong steroids to shrink the tumor and they were to return to the hospital on Wednesday for a second CT scan, with a follow-up appointment with a neurosurgeon at the end of the week.
Well, Wednesday rolled around and Dad spent most of the afternoon at the hospital undergoing another CT scan while Mom waited around. They figured they'd be done and could come home once the test was done, but instead, were asked to please stay to talk to the doctors before going home. The news was not good. The tumor is showing 'cancer-like characteristics', which we can only assume means it is a cancerous tumor. We will know more for sure once Mom and Dad meet with the neurosugeon on Friday.
It's all a little bit scary right now. Fear of the unknown is not a good thing, so we are all anxiously awaiting Friday's meeting so we can find out more about what exactly we are facing and how it will be treated. Please keep us all in your prayers over these next few days. Pray for healing in Dad's head, and strength for the family. We know that God's timing is not our own, and we have to trust that He knows what He's doing....but boy this sure feels like rotten timing with kids going back to school, Mom heading back to work....It's been stressful to say the least.
Anyway...we want to thank you in advance for your love and support during this time. Please check back on Friday, as I'll be updating as soon as I hear any news.
On behalf of the entire Folkerts family,
Dana
After some birthday cake, they broke the news to us. Dad has a brain tumor. Our initial reactions were ones of shock. How could this be? What does this mean? Is he going to be okay? None of our questions were answered that night. The only things Mom and Dad knew were that the tumor is located at the very front of Dad's brain (apparently the best place for it to be if surgery is needed), and that there were no spots in his chest, which is sometimes where these sorts of tumors originate. Dad was given a prescription for some very strong steroids to shrink the tumor and they were to return to the hospital on Wednesday for a second CT scan, with a follow-up appointment with a neurosurgeon at the end of the week.
Well, Wednesday rolled around and Dad spent most of the afternoon at the hospital undergoing another CT scan while Mom waited around. They figured they'd be done and could come home once the test was done, but instead, were asked to please stay to talk to the doctors before going home. The news was not good. The tumor is showing 'cancer-like characteristics', which we can only assume means it is a cancerous tumor. We will know more for sure once Mom and Dad meet with the neurosugeon on Friday.
It's all a little bit scary right now. Fear of the unknown is not a good thing, so we are all anxiously awaiting Friday's meeting so we can find out more about what exactly we are facing and how it will be treated. Please keep us all in your prayers over these next few days. Pray for healing in Dad's head, and strength for the family. We know that God's timing is not our own, and we have to trust that He knows what He's doing....but boy this sure feels like rotten timing with kids going back to school, Mom heading back to work....It's been stressful to say the least.
Anyway...we want to thank you in advance for your love and support during this time. Please check back on Friday, as I'll be updating as soon as I hear any news.
On behalf of the entire Folkerts family,
Dana
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