Update - Finally!

I know it has been quite a long time since my last update. I hope you all read dad's update he did himself yesterday. I know that mom and I had both considered fixing a few things but we decided it was a bit of insight into dad's current status.

I talked to both of the them this evening. Both of them have had a rough day. If you haven't read mom's facebook status, she was eaten alive by mosquitoes the other night. One of the doors got left open and their bedroom was filled with them. They finally got up and dad sprayed them and they could see them dropping dead on their bed. The next day dad went to the pharmacy to find the best medicine he could for mom because she had bites all over her body and was miserable. She was taking Benadryl and covered in Calamine lotion. Dad didn't get one bite. Everyone says it's because his blood has poison (chemo) in it. Whatever the reason, mom thinks that perhaps she may be reacting to all the bites.

As for dad, like his blog entry said, he had a reaction to one of the chemicals in his chemo this week. I don't know what was different this week then past weeks but they had to give him something for his reaction. Then when he went back on Friday to get his "buddy" (his take home chemo bag) removed, it wasn't empty so they sped up the draining process. It was the first time he got nauseous with the chemo.

He has had a bad weekend; no energy. When I talked to him tonight it was the worst I have heard him since he was in the ER back in March. His words are very, very slurred and slow. He couldn't remember what he was talking about and couldn't recall words. He would stop himself in a sentence and say "why did I say that?". He sounded like he was drifting off to sleep while we were talking. I asked if he was using his oxygen and he said he was but I don't think he is. When he went in for his treatment his oxygen level was 84, normal is 94. His last chemo treatment 3 weeks ago it was 98. He doesn't have treatment again for 4 weeks because his doctor is going on vacation. It is hard to understand what the doctors are thinking and why they aren't treating as aggressively as they were a few months ago.

Dad really wants to come to visit us here in Sisters. He says he needs to come take some pictures of sunsets (which we do have amazing sunsets here). We are hoping that he can feel better to at least come for a weekend. He has told me that he thinks he needs to give up driving. I definitely do not want him driving 3 hours over the busy highways and curvy mountain roads to our house. We'll keep you posted.

I would ask for prayer that he wouldn't give up. I cannot know what he is feeling or thinking or what physical pain he is in. I can't even really imagine what it would be like to be told that I have cancer and it is in stage 4 and in multiple organs. Mom and I have both seen signs that perhaps he does not want to fight this disease anymore. I have told mom that this is his choice and she says "but I have to live with the outcome of that choice". We have seen some personality changes which have not been easy for mom, yet she continues to be thankful for every day that she has with him. Pray for patience and endurance for both of them.

With gratitude...