Thursday, August 1, 2002
Dear Family and Friends,
Jim and his dad both slept well with no interruptions. Jim awoke around 7:00am, after having his vitals taken earlier and falling back to sleep. His breakfast did not come because he could have nopthing by mouth due to him having his bone marrow test under anesthesia. It was still scheduled for 2:00pm. The men decided to go for a walk and that they did. Jim is getting stronger everyday and his whole body is starting to respond to his moving around. He's getting better. Around 10:00am, his mom suggested getting a shower and he agreed that sounded real good! However, Pat from OT Therapy came in and told Jim she wanted to really do a good workout. He said let's go and she took him to the lounge and worked his arms and hands and shoulders. He was sweating and said that was by far the best workout yet. She then took him back to his room and laid him flat on his stomach, stretching out his arms and legs. Needless to say it felt wonderful for Jim to lay on his stomach, it probably has been 9 mths. since that has happened. What a simple thing and yet Jim felt so rewarded by doing it. The best things in life are free!!!When she left Jim was ready to get scrubbed down and that his mom did! He felt so good after his shower and very invigorated. Jim has joined the ranks of the living! He rested for awhile and in came his sister Sue. That was very nice! Jim, Debbie, his mom and Sue visited for the better part of the afternoon. Jim's nurse came in with his count and they did not drop. Basically, they all stayed the same. That is okay with us. We want them to go up and in due time we know they will.Around 2:00pm, they came in to take the test. They asked all to leave and proceeded to put Jim in a light sleep and took the marrow. The whole procdedure took about a 1/2hr. and Jim really doesn't remember a thing. He was so thankful to be sleeping, because the last three times he has had this test, he also had a great deal of pain. They left and everyone returned to find Jim ok. We are now all anxiously awaiting the results of this test. This is a biggee as far as Jim's future goes. Hopefully, he will be ready for transplant because the cancer is in remission. We again want to thank all of you for your prayers and concern. We know that with God's help all things are possible. Thank you All!! Thank You Lord!! Jim spent the rest of the afternoon resting and with his family. Dinner was sent to us by Leah Einhaus and Nancy Searing. What a meal! Turkey, a delicious tortellini salad and ambrosia. Breads and dessert too! We really enjoyed every morsel and want to thank these wonderful people for thinking and taking care of us. We are truly amazed at how people have responded to our dilemma. They are fantastic! Jim's dad will be with him tonight and that is a good thing! We hope they have a restful night and the Lord keeps His eyes on them and protects them. We also ask that Jim's test results come back with favorable readings and that all will be ok. We ask Him to give us the strength needed to face each and every day no matter what may come. Sleep tight dear ones!
Sincerely,
Jim's Family
Friday, August 2, 2002
Dear Family and Friends,
Today, at approximately 6:30pm, our hearts were pierced with an arrow. Our beloved husband and son is regressing. The cancer is in his bone marrow, and presently there appears not much hope. We are all devastated and confused. We are wrought with worry and pain. Jim, our beloved, is overwhelmed and in a state of shock. Why oh why you ask and never get an answer. There isn't any answer just faith that the Dear Lord above will somehow, thru His infinite Wisdom and Guidance get Jim thru this terrible nightmare, and help all of us. We do not know the next course of action, but we do know this, we love our Jim, we want him with us, and we are going to do as much as we can for him. We ask you out there, to think of him often, and whisper his name to God the Almighty, and maybe just maybe, if enough whispers go up to His ears, it will become a roar, and our Jim's chances will improve. Maybe even a miracle. If He decides that Jim is to come home to Him, then we will accept His will and ask only that Jim's days be as peaceful as possible. We again want to thank all of you for your prayers and concerns for Jim. We know that you also love him, because you have been there so many times for him. Thank You. May God hold Jim and all of us in the palms of His hands.
With Love,
Jim's Family
Saturday, August 3, 2002
Dear Family and Friends,
This morning, at 10:30am, we were given a reprieve.. Dr. Kaminski, the new Attending Physician, came into Jim's room and offered to him somewhat of a solution. They are going to start Jim on a new protocol of chemo, different than what he was on, to try and hold up the advancement of this disease. It will not cure the cancer, however, it will buy us some time to come up with a plan of action. We do not have a donor, nor is Jim quite ready for one. He has far too much cancer in his marrow and it must be reduced to a minimum or none, before he can get the transplant.