Experiencing both joy and pain

Two days after Bob wrote the previous update, our doctor arranged to have him admitted to the hospital for three days to deal with his pain issues more effectively. During that time his pain was assessed and a proper dosage of medication was prescribed to keep him almost pain-free, however it makes him quite sleepy! While there, he had a CT scan revealing some advancement of disease on his bladder wall which has become thickened and irregular. This likely accounts for the increased pain.

The original mass has gotten slightly larger and he has a few enlarged nodes in his peritoneal cavity, however no other organs like liver, pancreas, or spleen have been affected. His full body bone scan was also clear of cancer. We found these results to be much more encouraging than they could have been.

Bob will see his oncologist the day before Christmas, and we're hoping she will bring a little more clarity to these findings and also suggest either chemo or radiation to take place early in the new year.

We still plan to fly to Regina on Christmas night for five days to be with our children and grandchildren. We're thankful for the pain medication that should keep him comfortable, and he'll receive two dialysis treatments while we're there.

Bob spent three days on the Palliative Care Ward at Surrey Memorial Hospital. It’s a small quiet ward and the care and atmosphere is so loving and homey. They even had a piano in the small lounge by the nurses’ station which I encouraged Bob to play for the enjoyment of the staff and patients. He was quite reticent to do that, but one of the nurses overheard our conversation and added her weight to the request. She even threatened to not discharge him until he played the piano . . . so that motivation seemed effective!! Here he is playing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” and “Silent Night” just before being discharged—to everyone’s delight!!

And the “dream” of a white Christmas became a beautiful reality the night Bob came home from the hospital!!

Again, thank you SO much for your love and prayers. Just yesterday morning we were reading II Corinthians chapter one where Paul talks about his suffering and says in verses 10 and 11: " . . . On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers." You have helped us so much by your prayers.

May your Christmas be blessed with much joy and the wonderful awareness of the presence of Jesus, especially when pain is also a part of your life.