Pray

Not much has changed these last few days. Dad is not sleeping well, although he is sleeping a lot during the day. He has hardly eaten anything in three days and when he does eat or drink, it usually doesn't stay down. Because he isn't eating, he hasn't been taking his medication. He fell in the kitchen tonight while I was on the phone with mom. She called me back and he is ok but frustrated.

Mom's work is having a family bowling party tomorrow and they are hoping to go for about an hour to personally thank them for all of their support. This all depends on how dad is feeling. Aunt Charlene and her husband Chuck have offered to help mom and dad get there.

Steve has inquired into a chair lift that he saw on Craig's list. I don't know what the status of it is but I believe the cost was $300 and it is designed for a minivan. We'll keep you posted on that.

Dad's 67th birthday is next Saturday, April 4th. I hesitate putting their address on this blog but if you want to send him a card, leave a comment with an email address and we will get the address to you.

Pray for strength, an appetite, good rest and healing. With gratitude....

Update

So much happened this weekend and I can get a little detailed so I apologize if this gets lengthy.

We had to put family pictures on hold Saturday as my brother Greg had to be taken to the ER with a very bad ear ache. Turns out he had a very severe infection in one ear and the start in the other. While they were gone, we did get pictures of the grand kids as you have seen posted. By the time they got back, no one was in the mood for pictures. We did get together on Sunday morning to finish the task. Dad just really wanted to get these pictures because we don't know when we will all be together again. I will post a few. The girls have several pictures on their facebook if you want to look there. The Douglass' had to head back over the mountain so we said our goodbyes.
Dad was very excited about some big NASCAR race that was on Sunday. I believe he slept through most of it, unfortunately. The family decided to go to dinner at Macaroni Grill and apparently the service was not very good and dad got very tired. He came home and went to bed.
On Monday, mom and dad took Greg and his family to the Oregon coast. They left at 9:00 and didn't get home until 8:00. They went to the Aquarium in Newport and forgot that it was spring break. They had to wait in a long line outside in the rain for tickets. The aquarium employees wouldn't let dad wait inside but finally would let him wait under the small eaves. Mom said it was a good day but very long and exhausting. It was worth it though to create some memories with Greg, Jennifer and Tyler.
Dad has slept since coming home. He did get up to have some breakfast and take some medication but mom said he has slept ALL day. The trip to the beach really took a lot of his energy and now he needs to recoup. He also woke up to say goodbye to Greg's family. They left at 2:00 to catch their flight in Seattle that leaves at 11:00 pm. It was a great visit and mom and dad are so thankful for those who contributed to the purchase of the plane tickets for Greg, Jennifer and Tyler. They not only got to meet Jennifer and Tyler, but they got to know them and spend quality/quantity time with them. Again, mom's awesome employer gave her the time off to be with family the whole time they were here. It was very hard to say goodbye; tears were shed by all (except Tyler who doesn't really understand what is going on). Dad told Greg he didn't know if he would ever see him again and Greg said he would, he just needed to think positive. I think we have all been hit with a hard reality this weekend. Isn't it great that God is bigger than reality!!!

The Fund

I wanted to give some detail about the fund established for mom and dad. Some of you may be wondering what the account at Washington Mutual is for. There is a need to add a lift on the family van so that mom can transport her and dad without help. Mom has degenerative arthritis and about 9 months ago it settled in her knees. She cannot walk but just a few steps so she now gets around in a wheelchair. Due to dad's shortness of breath, both of them are currently using a wheelchair and/or an automatic chair to get around. Mom is not able to put weight on her knees and so she is not able to lift either, let alone both, of these chairs into the van. I don't know what the exact cost will be but as you can imagine, it will cost a pretty penny.

If there are extra funds after the lift is purchased and installed, we will look at other needs mom and dad have. I know that God gave them (through a generous man and a craigs list add) a free motorized chair but they are paying a monthly rental for mom's wheelchair among many other needs. God continues to provide through many wonderful family and friends and mom's very generous employer. She really does work for the best company in Oregon. I'm jealous!!!

If you have contributed to this fund, thank you!! I do not know whom has given or how much has been given. Please consider this a formal thank you; I do not know how else to send one to you. We are deeply grateful!

Today

Well, the family is together. Dad had a pretty hard day yesterday so the shindig that was planned for last night was cancelled. We appreciate everyone's understanding that we needed to cancel it at the last minute but we all want what is best for dad. The Douglass' arrived about 7:30. Dad had spent most of the day in bed and resting. Didn't eat much and didn't get much medicine in him.

As I speak we are getting ready to have a family photo shoot. Dad is a photographer and so he is pulling out the lights and umbrellas and the whole works. We tried to talk him into just using all the digital cameras laying around but he won't have it. He wants these to be GOOD family photos. Hopefully we can post some later for you all to see. We have all of the immediate family here; both of his kids (and their spouses) and all six of the grandkids.

He has a little more energy and is eating enough that we are getting some meds into him. We are asking you to pray for WEIGHT. Yes, I said weight, as in weight gain. When dad was diagnosed Jan 2 he weighed 197. When he went to the doctor last week he was 154. He has lost 43 pounds in 2 months. He said it is very sad to look in the mirror and see himself. And of course, we always ask with faith for healing.

With thankfulness for His faithfulness..... The Cameron, Douglass clan

A Good Day

Dad was well enough to have his chemo treatment yesterday. He said that he won the contest because he got 6 bags of chemo, more than anybody else in treatment and that didn't include the one he got sent home with! :-) Mom and dad had slept in so they didn't have time to have breakfast before their ride arrived to go to treatment so dad went with an empty tummy. He started having a lot of pain so they gave him a cookie and some juice AND some vicodin. YIKES!! His treatment lasted for 4 hours in which he spent most of the time sleeping. When he got home, "I threw up everything but my butt hole". That's a direct quote. They don't know if it was from the chemo or the pain meds but my bet is on the empty tummy/pain med combo. I talked to dad and he sounded tired and a bit groggy but said he was doing "okay". The day ended on a good note when Greg and his family arrived from Tennessee. Greg's older son Greg Jr came over and spent time with the family which was really nice for both dad and Greg.

Today was a great day. Dad felt well enough that they took Greg, Jennifer and Tyler to Multnomah Falls which is about an hour drive from their house. I don't think dad got out of the car but at least he was able to get out of the house for a bit on such a beautiful day. Maybe he got to take pictures from the car; I forgot to ask. Talking to mom and dad this afternoon, dad sounded really good. He said he was a little tired but overall doing well. He is enjoying having family around and can't wait to see all of us together this weekend.

Please continue to pray for dad's strength. His equilibrium is still off so walking is still a bit difficult. He has taken a fall or two but nothing like what happened while he was in the hospital. Pray for healing. God is the great physician and His heart is moved by the prayers of His people. We trust God's will is perfect for each us and that what God has in store for dad is perfect. Mom and dad have mentioned that the cards they have been receiving and all of the comments you are leaving have been a blessing and encouragement to them. Words cannot express their gratitude for every one's love and care for them. Thank you from all of us!

Ever wonder if anyone reads your blog? Just miss a couple days and see how many people come out of the woodwork wanting to know what the heck is going on!! Proof positive that there are many that love and care for Larry and want to know as "up to the minute" as possible how he is doing.

In our last update we told you that Larry had had a very good day. Saturday and Sunday were pretty much the same. He was able to go most of each day without needing his oxygen full-time. He is eating three meals a day and getting around the house, and resting quite nicely.

Today (Monday) was a pretty good day as well. He sat down for a quick rest and woke up four hours later. Again he needed his oxygen on a limited basis. The weekends' activity is catching up to him. He is getting pretty sore again and is pretty tired. He didn't sleep to well last night as he was hurting a bit.

Tuesday (March 17) is a big day for Larry as his son Greg and his family come into town in the evening from Tennessee. Larry's niece will be driving them down from the Seattle airport. Larry restarts his chemo treatments Tuesday as well. We are praying that his chemo goes very well and that he will have the necessary energy to enjoy his son Greg and a grandson he has never met (Tyler - 4 years old). Melody and her family will join them Friday evening. It will be the first time the family has been together in a very, very long time.

Thanks again for your patience when blog updates are a little farther apart. While we don't want you to assume "no news is good news", we do promise to update the blog immediately if there is a significant change in Larry's condition. We will also be adding some pictures a little later in the week when the family is together. The current picture of Larry at the top of the blog was taken at his daughters home in Sisters, Oregon many months ago. We don't think he was as bored as that picture would indicate.

Please pray for a good week......

What a difference a day makes. No...what a difference prayer makes. Larry had an outstanding day today. He ate three meals, took his medication, did some cleaning around the house, got to play on his new computer, didn't take any naps and he and Sherry didn't have one argument!! It could be that being back on some of his previous medications is helping tremendously, yet we also believe that the faithful prayers of many are having an impact in Larry's life.

Melody, Larry's daughter, spoke with him today and said that he sounded "like dad". That was a very welcomed sound. He is still in need of oxygen and the pain meds for his fractured rib, but we are so pleased to hear that this is the best day he has had in weeks.

Larry has been resisting the help that Sherry has been trying to give him, but he has since come to realize that she is only doing what the doctors have told her to do. With that, Larry has become far more cooperative and less combative. This is a positive change.

Please continue to pray. Larry goes back for chemo treatment Tuesday and to the urologist for a follow-up on Thursday. He still has a ways to go.