News on the homefront

We've had two wonderful days at home together, so far!! Barbie's here and also Chris Hopwood, so our little condo is a pretty full space--AND full of such joy and peace and love.

Bob is feeling pretty well considering all that he's dealing with. We were able to get both a walker and transport wheelchair from the Red Cross yesterday. Today Barbie and I took him back to the hospital for dialysis. Barbie just loves showering her dad with TLC.



Then we came home to a lovely roast beef dinner prepared by Chris. Lyle also joined us. There's nothing like "old friends"!!



Every day is precious!!

Home Sweet Home

Well, we're home from the hospital. Bob had dialysis this morning and was discharged mid-afternoon. He was pretty tired by the time he got home--but SO glad!!! Chris Hopwood is staying with us for a couple of days or more.

Here are a few "father/daughter" pics. The last one was just as we were leaving the hospital. Barbie and her dad have had such a good time together. Lots of talking, laughing, and massaging!!



Bob has been saying over and over, "I feel SO loved"!!

We appreciate your prayers as we adjust to caring for him at home for a while. A home care nurse is coming tomorrow to assess our needs and respond accordingly.

Enjoying every single moment of each day to the full and grateful for God's unfailing presence, care, and peace.

Hopefully coming home tomorrow

Two attempts were made yesterday to put a tube through some ducts in Bob's liver. The first wasn't successful, however later in the day the doctors decided to go in from his side and WERE successful!! This will make him much more comfortable. Thanks so much for your prayers.

It was a painful night for Bob. He felt as though someone had sat on his chest and broken his ribs, but pain medication has really helped and as healing takes place, he will get relief.

We have been overwhelmed by the care and attention given Bob at the hospital this past week. The "hospitalist" (doctor assigned to Bob's ward to personally monitor each patient's care) has been particularly amazing. He's given us such wise and caring counsel that ultimately led to having this procedure done to deal with Bob's liver problems.

We are made aware constantly that nothing can be done medically for Bob's cancer, but that the dialysis and stent in his liver will enable at least those organs to function. We are quick to share with doctors and nurses that our strength and peace come from God, and that Bob's life and times are in His hands. This delightful Lebanese doctor encouraged us to "keep praying"--and we will most certainly do that!!

Barbie will be with us for another week. Chris and Lyle Hopwood, who are like a second set of parents for our kids, provided taxi service every day this past week for our children and Lois and Alison--driving them all to and from the airports and train station. I wanted to stay overnight with Bob last night so Chris offered to come to our home and stay with Barbie and will be with us whenever we need her.

We are blessed with such wonderful family and friends. Since we live such a distance from family, our friends have become like family. Here are two who are like family to us--Jill and Debbie. The three of us gals sat with Bob for almost two hours while he waited for the second procedure yesterday and his feet and back were rubbed almost continuously!! Such a wonderful harem!!



And when Bob gets home, you can be sure that Barbie and I will totally pamper him!!

Family time at the hospital

Sorry for the silence the last couple of days. I’ve spent the last two days and nights with Bob at the hospital. Last night I even slept with him in his hospital bed—and we both slept amazingly well!!

Lois and Alison left on Wednesday morning and David and Tim left this morning. Barbie’s still here until March 3. We’ve had an amazing week as a family and there’s been a revolving door of friends visiting us at the hospital. We feel so blessed.



This picture is of Papa opening all of the letters, drawings, and cards from our grandchildren!

Bob had a CT scan yesterday morning and we received the results today. The cancer has definitely spread to the liver and the other two tumours have grown, and in addition the lymph nodes continue to enlarge. This news was not unexpected, but still quite sobering.

At 5:00 pm tonight, a doctor who specializes in liver disorders visited us and told us that he could do a surgical procedure tomorrow morning whereby he would put a stent through Bob’s bile duct to his pancreas, etc. It’s hard to remember all of the particulars and how it will actually work, but it would definitely increase Bob’s liver function. This would be similar to the stent that Bob has in his ureter between his left kidney and bladder. There are some small risks but the benefits could likely outweigh the risks.

Of course this won’t address Bob’s growing cancer, but it will help the toxins to be elimiated from his body. We were given a few hours to decide whether to go ahead with it or not. We talked a lot and prayed together and both of us felt that Bob should have this procedure done.

If you read this before 8:30 am Pacific time on Friday morning (just nine hours from now), we’d appreciate your prayers.

Now it's time to go to bed and get some much-needed rest.

A temporary resurrection!!

Bob continues to improve and is apparently at dialysis in the hospital right now. He'll be having a CT scan tomorrow morning. It will be so good to have a clearer picture of what's going on in his liver and abdomen. We're prepared to hear that his cancer may be extensive, but there is a possibility that he's just had a significant blockage in his liver.

We are savouring the extra days God is giving us. Tim arrives this afternoon. Then the family circle will be slmost complete, minus our dear Kim, Ann, and grandkids.

As you can imagine, I continue to record these days in pictures and will add a few here. The first one was just an hour or so after Bob "checked back in" on Sunday morning after about 36 hours of unresponsiveness. The pictures that follow are mostly of family with him.



I see that I haven't gotten Barbie in any of these pictures. I'll work on that!!

Yesterday was a special gift from God

Bob has had an amazing turn around in his alertness and engagement--and it's continuing!! I stayed overnight with him last night and he was clear all night, probably only sleeping about four hours. We discussed all the Memorial Service plans and he is in absolute agreement with all that Pastor Brian, Lois, and I planned on Saturday. When those plans will need to be implemented could be anytime, but for now we're thankful for a bit more time!!

Barbie and I have come home just now for a few hours of sleep. We both stayed last night. She found a couch in the chapel down the hall, while I lined us three chairs to make a bed beside Bob.

About 30 friends came by yesterday. What a blessing!! Bob had been taken down to have dialysis, so all of his visitors (just two or three at a time) gathered around his bed down there. He had a lovely location in the renal unit--a wall behind him, no one across from him, and a huge floor to ceiling window on his side. Bob recognized every one and called them by name and interacted and joined in their prayers for him. He had no memory of the previous day!!

Yesterday was a gift from God and we're praying for more of those. David arrives today and Tim tomorrow.

Since Bob has rallied, he will likely have some more tests. The ultrasound revealed that Bob's liver is swollen and there's likely a blockage. A CT scan would give a better picture as to whether it is cancer (which is what we're expecting) or something that could dislodge spontaneously or through some procedure. This is a small liklihood, but our personal preference!!

Thanks again for your love and prayers. Now for a few hours of sleep!!

Time without limits

Yesterday when I wrote that in eternity, time will be no more, I got to thinking that some may think I was saying that there's no more time, when what I meant is that in heaven, time will be totally unlimited and no clocks will be needed!! I'm so thrilled about that, as I'm a person who is very prone to being late. Even as a child I would be running out the door to school asking my dad if he could please give me more minutes!! He promised he would to comfort me but I was still late!! My Heavenly Father is going to give me unlimited minutes!!

Yesterday was an amazing day, as about 20 friends came and told us how much Bob had impacted their lives. There was a steady stream coming in very manageable intervals. Bob's sister Lois and I felt as though we were even getting to know Bob better as we had the opportunity to see him through other's eyes and what he has meant to them. It really was a very sacred time.

Bob didn't respond at all until around 9:30 pm when he had a bit of a coughing spell. A couple of friends were there at the time. This awakened him somewhat and we kept poking and teasing him until he opened his eyes and even gave us some smiles and kisses!! I hope he heard some of the expressions of gratitude, deep affection, and memories of his influence in the lives of all who came to visit. Lois and I were very moved by it all and felt so proud and bessed to be his sister and wife.

Lois and I are heading back to the hospital shortly and Barbie will be arriving soon.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers and love.