Friday, April 11, 2014

A Year of Love and Support

I was asked to give devotions in one of my classes here at Calvin. I wrote this because it is one year ago today that we received the call that a donor had been found for my Dad. This past year has been amazing, seeing Dad as he continues to make progress in his recovery. Our family and friends have been amazing, we would not be here without your prayers, love and support. As this year has been happy for us, we also continue to pray for the donor family, that they feel God's presence and love as they continue to adjust their lives and remember their loved one. Organ donation is an amazing thing, the idea that so much can be given in such a time of sorrow.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9

If you were at LOFT this past week, you remember that Pastor Mary talked about suffering. She pointed out that when we suffer, we may not be able to answer why. We may not be able to see how the little chapter that is our lives explains God’s plan, his big story. We can however remember that God is fully human and fully divine. Since God is fully human he weeps with us, he feels our pain. Since God is also fully divine, he moves creation from death to life. As followers of Christ, it is important to that we walk in the will of God, daylight. This daylight can, however, go through dark places, but we need to trust and believe that this is part of God’s plan.

I bring these things up because today is a very important day for me. A year ago today, April, 11, 2013 at 3:30 in the afternoon, my family got an important phone call, a kidney and pancreas donor had been found for my Dad. Before this my Dad had been a type 1 diabetic for 31 years and had failing kidneys because of it. My brothers and I had never known him as being healthy, as feeling good. The past year has been amazing to see the change in my Dad, but this year I know has also been painful for the family that lost their loved one. Lots of questions, wondering why this happened? Or how do we move on from here? The donor family’s “chapter” which involved suffering through death, helped to write the next page in my family’s “chapter” and the “chapters” of other transplant recipients, and those are only a few of the “chapters” they influenced in God’s big story. How they responded to God’s will of their loved one dying and what they did to keep the memory alive.

I know that this is more of a major example of how someone’s chapter affects another chapter in God’s story, but there are also smaller things that we sometimes forget about. Whether it’s how we walk on the paths here at Calvin. When you debate whether or not to say hi or smile at that boy that you think you had a class with, but can’t remember if you did, you may find out that that little action that took less than half a second made him feel loved and in turn he passed that on to another person who kept doing the same thing to other people. The little actions you do, both now as a student, and possibly someday as you fill other roles like teacher, friend, spouse, and parent affect those around you. How do you handle the suffering that has been written into your “chapter” and how may that affect the people around you? As someone whose life has been changed by little actions like saying hello, and big actions like organ transplants, I can tell you that your actions, like how you react to suffering, do affect others.
 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

"Hit the Road Jack and Don't You Come Back No More"

Thursday was a very long day of waiting after a very, very long week plus of hospital life.  When Peter dropped me off after a slow long ride in because of the snow falling and traffic, he headed off to work and I headed up to the 7th floor.  Gary had been moved out of the Transplant ICU into a more regular room on the 7th floor shortly before I went home the night before, so he no longer was in the middle of all the business of the Transplant ICU.  The doctors had already been around to see him (which I had hoped had not happened yet), but breakfast had not yet arrived.  His (and the rest of their floor's) breakfast did not arrive until after I finally went and talked with a nurse after I had been there for at least 45 minutes.  She hadn't realized it yet and when she checked with the other nurses, they all said that they had noticed that it hadn't arrived yet.  Gary's nurse called the food service, and they said they were just coming.  When they delivered his food they apologized for being late, that the food cart had been brought to the 6th floor instead of the 7th.  Wonder how much longer it would have been had I not said anything.  I have learned that I need to be an advocate for Gary in a lot of ways while he is in the hospital. It's sad to say, but I often wonder what happens when people do not have family there for them.  I'm not saying it is all bad, but there are a lot of times that I have experienced that it is good that I or someone else is there for him.

I went over to the Transplant ICU to see what I could find out more about Gary's supposed discharge that day, since his nurse had no idea of what was happening. The doctors seemed to be finished with their rounds, but the pharmacist stopped me and said that she had told the surgeon she would go over Gary's medicines and explain what had been said at rounds.  She also indicated that Gary would be discharged soon.  I asked her what soon meant since I would need to call our son to pick us up.  She said, how soon can he get here.  I told her that he was on his way to work in the suburbs after having dropped me off, but if it was going to be soon, I would try to get a hold of him before he drove all the way to Wheaton. She felt that would be a good idea.  I called and he was close to home so still had another 25 minutes yet to drive to work but instead would call work and turn around and come back.  So began our day of waiting.  Gary was not discharged until around 6 pm.  So much for a quick discharge -- again a lot of hurry up and wait, something we have learned quite well how to do.

He has been home now for 2 days and is slowly improving.  The weather has been cooperating so he has taken a couple of short walks outside with one of us, which has been nice since he would much prefer to walk outside rather then inside.  He is still in a lot of pain, but our understanding is that he will have pain for awhile.  

We still have some questions, but hopefully we will be able to find out some more answers when we go back on Tuesday for a post op and post hospital stay visit at the Transplant Clinic. 

Please continue to pray for healing for Gary.  We continue to be thankful that his transplanted organs appear to be fine and that things weren't even more serious then they already were. Pray that they were able to get all the infection and that now his body can heal completely.  

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers for all of us.  They are very much appreciated.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
~~ 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV




Thursday, March 20, 2014

Good Night! Sleep Tight!

It's been a very long day!  The good news is that Gary is home, Nelly is looking forward to not have to rush out really early to go to the hospital, and Peter is looking forward to going to work without having to worry about transporting his Mom to UIC to see his Dad.

I will try to write more tomorrow, but right now, I am falling asleep as I write, but wanted to let you know that Gary's home.

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest."
~~Matthew 28:11 (NIV)

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow


 Gary has never wanted to grow a beard and one thing we noticed last spring after his transplant surgery and again with this surgery, was that he was eager to have his shaver so that he could get rid of his facial hair.  We didn't want him to shave without asking if it was ok, so yesterday I talked to his surgeon and asked if he was allowed to shave.  His answer surprised me when he said, yes, he definitely can.  It's always a good sign when a man asks for his shaver or a women for her make-up after surgery, because then you know they are starting to feel better. So, today, I gave Gary a shave while I was there.  He didn't have the strength or energy to do it himself, but he was happy to have it done for him.

This evening, Gary was moved from the Transplant ICU to a regular room on the same floor.  The Transplant ICU needed his room for someone who was in more need of ICU care then Gary needed anymore.  He probably won't be in there long, because he is progressing and there is a good possibility that he may be sent home tomorrow but as we have learned in the past, things are always subject to change.

Prayer requests:

1) Continued healing for Gary
2) Strength and energy for me -- I am exhausted and I know part of it is the long days I have been spending at the hospital, but part of it is also because I have been getting over having been sick myself.

Thank you again for your continued thoughts and prayers.

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
 ~~ Philippians 4:13 NKJV

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Food, Glorious Food

Gary was happy when the doctors asked him this morning if he felt he was ready for food.  Sunday he had been put on a clear diet and yesterday on a full liquid diet.  He was thrilled to finally get "real" food!

He had more energy overall today too and by the time I left tonight, we had taken three walks.  His walking was much better today although someone still needs to be walking beside him and helping to keep him from veering into things. Tonight was the first time it was just me walking with him since before they always wanted someone on each side of him.

Although he is still in the Transplant ICU, his status as if tonight is now considered ICU Step-Down because he doesn't need as much care from the nurses and he doesn't need to be watched as closely which is also a sign that he is heading in the right direction.  For as quiet as the ICU was on Saturday and Sunday, yesterday and today were both busy and there seemed to be a lot of turn around of patients. The doctors and the nurses are all very happy with his progress.  He has spent both yesterday and today sitting up rather then in bed which is good, but he does tire very easily and so naps in between doing things.  We do not have any idea yet when he will be coming home, but it would not surprise me if he gets moved into another room if the Transplant ICU continues to be so busy and more step-down rooms become available.

We are so thankful to all of you for your continued thoughts and prayers and for being there for us in so many ways and for "walking with us on this journey". God has truly blessed us!


For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.

~~Isaiah 41:13 NIV

Monday, March 17, 2014

Very Tired!

Today was a very busy day in the Transplant Intensive Care Unit. I counted at least 5 new patients appearing to come from surgery of some kind to be admitted. For Gary it was a much quieter day. He seemed to be tiring out very quickly so did a lot of sleeping.

He took two walks today - one with his nurse and I and one with Peter and I. Although they were shorter then the one walk yesterday, combined it was a bit longer. You could tell he was tired each time and ready to sit. He did sit in a recliner all day and not lay in bed, which was good for his lungs.

Thankfully he has not had any hiccups today. He has been having them off and on, so I was sure hoping that they would not get as bad as a friend of ours who recently had surgery seemed to have them.

He still is dealing with a lot of pain and still has a ways to go. There are times I get discouraged but then one of the nurses will say something that they see improvement on from when they saw him a couple days ago that maybe I haven't seen since I have been there everyday, and I realize he is improving.

All the surgeons, various doctors, nurses, and nurse techs in the Transplant ICU have been wonderful. All in all it was a good day.

Thanks to all of you for your continued thoughts and prayers and the various ways some of you have helped us with rides and for "walking with us" in so many ways.

The following verse was part of my devotions last night and definitely a good reminder for me that I need to keep giving all that is going on in our lives to the Lord. He has shown, and continues to show, that he is with us all the time. 


 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
~~ 1 Peter 5:7





Sunday, March 16, 2014

Annnnddd we're walking!



Stephanie posted the following on Facebook:

"Thanks everyone for all your prayers! Dad is making good progress on his recovery. I got to help him take his first walk around the nurses' station today"

It was sure nice to have Stephanie home for the weekend.




And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
~~1 John 4:16

Friday, March 14, 2014

Answer: Surgery at UIC -- Question: How Gary "Celebrated" the eleven month anniversary of his Transplant Surgery!

Gary always enjoyed watching Johnny Carson especially when he would have a Carnac segment, hence the title of this post.

Tuesday morning, I woke up to the sound of Gary vomiting. After trying for most of the day to keep him hydrated, it was decided that we needed to bring him to the UIC ER. We assumed that he was dehydrated, and that more then likely it would be a long night of waiting, and from past experience he would probably be admitted sometime during the night for observation and that Peter and I would be coming home in the forecasted heavy snowstorm.

As the evening went on, they began to suspect appendicitis. They finally admitted and brought him to a room at 5am, but they were not sure what time surgery would be yet, since he had to be fit into the schedule. We all tried to sleep for the next few hours, but as I am sure most of you know, hospital sleeping is not very restful or comfortable.

By mid morning we found out that the Transplant surgeons would be doing the surgery and that they were figuring they would more then likely be able to remove the appendix laparoscopically which would take about 45 minutes to an hour, but if they ran into too much scar tissue, they would would have to open him up, so it would take a little longer.  We did all have a bit of a chuckle that surgery was happening 11 months to the day and almost at the same time as his transplant surgery had happened.

They took him into the OR room about 12:15 PM.  We decided to eat lunch and then wait figuring the surgery wouldn't be long. We were waiting and waiting and having trouble finding out what was going on. After waiting about 2 hours we found out that he was still in surgery but that his surgery hadn't started until 1:09pm.  We started assuming that they must have run into scar tissue and so assumed they had to open him up.

When it started becoming longer, the messages were "he's doing good but still in surgery", but slowly we were being just told "they are still working on him". It was after 6pm when Peter and I were called that the surgeon was ready to talk to us while Gary was being closed.

Surgery ended up being more extensive then originally thought. The surgeon was very good at explaining what all happened and even drew a picture to help especially me, understand more. The inflammation had spread beyond the appendix to the Cecum and surrounding Colon tissue.  Seeing this, they needed to perform a Right Hemicolectomy along with the Appendectomy, which involved taking the Appendix, Cecum, and part of the Colon and then reattaching the remaining portion of Colon to the Small Intestine. The doctor also explained that it had turned out to be very major surgery and possibly rougher on his body then the Transplant Surgery he had 11 months before.  Gary's transplanted Pancreas, which was placed right behind that area, had not been affected, and that his transplanted Kidney looked fine. The doctor also told us that he would be putting him into Transplant ICU rather than the step-down unit as he had originally been placed in and expected to return to. It was still about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before we were able to see him.

Shortly after we saw him, Peter and I went home exhausted. We had no idea what we would find since there had been quite a bit of snow since we came in the evening before so it was a very, very nice surprise to find the driveway shoveled and we could pull right in.  We have wonderful neighbors!!! Thank you so much whomever helped with that!!!

A good friend brought me in on Thursday morning on her way to work in the city, and Peter was able to go back to work.  Gary was in a lot of pain all day and did not seem to have processed all that had happened. In the morning, the nurses were having trouble with the pump that would give him his pain medication and they finally had it working correctly in the early afternoon. I kept noticing that it would stop working every time he would push the button, so I finally asked the nurse he had whether he was even getting any of the pain medication because of the pattern I was seeing. I think she didn't realize that I understood how the machine worked, since she explained that if he would push it before it was time, he wouldn't get any and she didn't seem to understand what I was trying to explain. Shortly after, one of the many groups of doctors came by to see us and I explained again and some of them did understand. Another nurse was able to fix the machine with a "new set of eyes", but as one of the doctors said, he is probably having to catch up in the treating of his pain.  His right lung also partially collapsed so we need to work hard on his breathing as pneumonia can become a complication from that.

Today, Peter brought me in and went into work late. He is looking much better and is not in as much pain, but still has a ways to go. He is doing better at breathing and using his "after surgery blowing machine".  If you've ever had surgery you know how much fun those are when you are in pain, but Gary is slowly getting better at it. They also took him for a CT Scan which really tired him out. This afternoon they had him sitting in a chair to help with his breathing which will help the lung to re-inflate.

Gary is getting better, but his recovery will be longer than initially thought.  He is still in the Transplant ICU, still has tubes and IVs that he is attached to, but he is on the road to recovery.

Some of the things we are so thankful for:

1) We are glad we followed protocol and came to UIC ER so Gary would not have to be transferred to here.

2) We are thankful for the Transplant Team of surgeons which made the long wait even more bearable because we knew that they would be doing all they could to protect the transplanted organs and as we often hear in the ER and have also experienced, "They are very protective of THEIR Transplant Patients".

3) Very thankful for all the thoughts, prayers, words of encouragement from so many of our family, extended family, our church family, and many friends.

4) So thankful that Gary's transplanted organs are still fine and working well.

5) and so many other things that I am sure I am missing.

Thank you once again for "continuing to walk this journey" with us. It means a lot.




 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest."

~~ Matthew 11:28 NIV