Got home this afternoon. Lena asked if I, "got past" the kidney stone yet. I told her not that I am aware of. Hoping that is uneventful.
Really grateful for the care received at Valley Hospital. They do a great job there.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Back in the Hospital
Back in the hospital.....wasn't doing well yesterday and this morning. Went into CCNW this morning with right side abdominal pain, and they admitted me across the street. Have done lots of tests again...they are saying kidney stone. We are always leery of other/more infections.
Pain has subsided...we'll see what comes next.
The pain I experienced prior to going into CCNW this morning was about as bad as I've experienced. As I grow in my knowledge of myself, the more I find I don't know about myself. I feel like my faith and patience has grown in the past few months - but as I experienced that pain this morning, I became impatient and pessimistic.
In Elder Bednar's CES Fireside on March 3rd he said, referencing a conversation he had with Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who went through Leukemia, "I asked Elder Maxwell what lessons he had learned through his illness. I will remember always the precise and penetrating answer he gave. 'Dave,' he said, 'I have learned that not shrinking is more important than surviving.'”
In my impatience and pessimism, I fear, and I desperately want to avoid, shrinking.
Pain has subsided...we'll see what comes next.
The pain I experienced prior to going into CCNW this morning was about as bad as I've experienced. As I grow in my knowledge of myself, the more I find I don't know about myself. I feel like my faith and patience has grown in the past few months - but as I experienced that pain this morning, I became impatient and pessimistic.
In Elder Bednar's CES Fireside on March 3rd he said, referencing a conversation he had with Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who went through Leukemia, "I asked Elder Maxwell what lessons he had learned through his illness. I will remember always the precise and penetrating answer he gave. 'Dave,' he said, 'I have learned that not shrinking is more important than surviving.'”
In my impatience and pessimism, I fear, and I desperately want to avoid, shrinking.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Family, and Chemotherapy - Round 5
We so enjoyed visits from my brother, Robert, and his family last week as well as my big sister and a few of her kids, and my parents. We had a great time together. We are so grateful for and energized by our loving families.
We met with Dr. Danko on Monday, and I had my 5th round of chemotherapy this past Tuesday, the 19th. Things went as planned with nothing out of the ordinary.
I don't know that I have expressed how grateful I am to have Mindy with me at all of my appointments and treatments. She is such a strength to me, and a great comfort. Despite the circumstances, we have both really enjoyed spending more time around one another these past few months.
I have been continuing to receive an IV antibiotic daily at the hospital, and there has not been any complications from the infection I experienced. Last dose is Saturday.
So, as with the week or so following other treatments, I'll have a rough time for a bit but then have some good days which I look forward to. While we've learned enough to know we cannot predict or plan what the future holds, it is an incredible mental and morale boost to know that I only have 1 more round of chemotherapy.
And as always, we are so grateful to see, feel, and experience the hand of a loving Heavenly Father in our lives, and we are also so grateful for loving, supportive, and helpful friends and family.
We met with Dr. Danko on Monday, and I had my 5th round of chemotherapy this past Tuesday, the 19th. Things went as planned with nothing out of the ordinary.
I don't know that I have expressed how grateful I am to have Mindy with me at all of my appointments and treatments. She is such a strength to me, and a great comfort. Despite the circumstances, we have both really enjoyed spending more time around one another these past few months.
I have been continuing to receive an IV antibiotic daily at the hospital, and there has not been any complications from the infection I experienced. Last dose is Saturday.
So, as with the week or so following other treatments, I'll have a rough time for a bit but then have some good days which I look forward to. While we've learned enough to know we cannot predict or plan what the future holds, it is an incredible mental and morale boost to know that I only have 1 more round of chemotherapy.
And as always, we are so grateful to see, feel, and experience the hand of a loving Heavenly Father in our lives, and we are also so grateful for loving, supportive, and helpful friends and family.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
More Journaling - God's Plan is Always Better
Very inspirational to me this evening...a beautiful video with beautiful messages.
-“We don’t know what the Lord is trying to teach us, but if I really trust Heavenly Father it really doesn’t matter what I don’t understand.”
-“I know that God has a plan for me that usually is totally different than the plan that I have for myself. It’s not always easier but it’s always better.”
-“…with faith in God I have everything.”
-“We don’t know what the Lord is trying to teach us, but if I really trust Heavenly Father it really doesn’t matter what I don’t understand.”
-“I know that God has a plan for me that usually is totally different than the plan that I have for myself. It’s not always easier but it’s always better.”
-“…with faith in God I have everything.”
Monday, March 11, 2013
Confusing Circumstances - End
Feeling good now, and I'm home. They determined the specific antibiotic that will be effective with my specific bacteria. I will actually go to the hospital at 1pm each day for the next 12 days or so, and get an IV antibiotic...apparently only takes 20 minutes or so. So glad to be home. I hope to stay bug-free.
We spoke to Dr. Danko today. I will not be getting chemo tomorrow. We will visit with Dr. Danko in a week, and will do next chemo a week from tomorrow. He also said that with a completely clean scan, he plans on only TWO more treatments instead of four. We are very excited for that news. We feel very blessed.
We spoke to Dr. Danko today. I will not be getting chemo tomorrow. We will visit with Dr. Danko in a week, and will do next chemo a week from tomorrow. He also said that with a completely clean scan, he plans on only TWO more treatments instead of four. We are very excited for that news. We feel very blessed.
More Journaling - My Desire
“….this life never was intended to be easy. It is a probationary estate in which we are tested physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually. We are subject to disease and decay. We are attacked by cancer, leprosy, and contagious diseases. We suffer pain and sorrow and afflictions. Disasters strike; floods sweep away our homes; famines destroy our food;
plagues and wars fill our graves with dead bodies and our broken homes with sorrow….
"As to the individual trials and problems that befall any of us, all we need say is that in the wisdom of Him who knows all things, and who does all the things well, all of us are given the particular and specific tests that we need in our personal situations. It is to us, His saints, that the Lord speaks when He says: “I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.” (D&C 98:14.)……..
"Where the true Saints are concerned there is no sorrow in death except that which attends a temporary separation from loved ones. Birth and death are both essential steps in the unfolding drama of eternity…
"Now, we do not seek death, though it is part of the merciful plan of the great Creator. Rather, we rejoice in life, and desire to live as long as we can be of service to our fellowmen. Faithful saints are a leaven of righteousness in a wicked world.
"But sometimes the Lord’s people are hounded and persecuted. Sometimes He deliberately lets His faithful saints linger and suffer, in both body and spirit, to prove them in all things, and to see if they will abide in His covenant, even unto death, that they may be found worthy of eternal life. If such be the lot of any of us, so be it.
"But come what may, anything that befalls us here in mortality is but for a small moment, and if we are true and faithful God will eventually exalt us on high. All our losses and sufferings will be made up to us in the resurrection…….and God shall wipe away all tears….
"We rejoice in life. We rejoice in death. We have no desires except to do the will of Him whose we are and to dwell with Him in His kingdom at the appointed time."
The Dead Who Die in the Lord - Bruce R. McConkie - October 1976 General Conference
plagues and wars fill our graves with dead bodies and our broken homes with sorrow….
"As to the individual trials and problems that befall any of us, all we need say is that in the wisdom of Him who knows all things, and who does all the things well, all of us are given the particular and specific tests that we need in our personal situations. It is to us, His saints, that the Lord speaks when He says: “I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.” (D&C 98:14.)……..
"Where the true Saints are concerned there is no sorrow in death except that which attends a temporary separation from loved ones. Birth and death are both essential steps in the unfolding drama of eternity…
"Now, we do not seek death, though it is part of the merciful plan of the great Creator. Rather, we rejoice in life, and desire to live as long as we can be of service to our fellowmen. Faithful saints are a leaven of righteousness in a wicked world.
"But sometimes the Lord’s people are hounded and persecuted. Sometimes He deliberately lets His faithful saints linger and suffer, in both body and spirit, to prove them in all things, and to see if they will abide in His covenant, even unto death, that they may be found worthy of eternal life. If such be the lot of any of us, so be it.
"But come what may, anything that befalls us here in mortality is but for a small moment, and if we are true and faithful God will eventually exalt us on high. All our losses and sufferings will be made up to us in the resurrection…….and God shall wipe away all tears….
"We rejoice in life. We rejoice in death. We have no desires except to do the will of Him whose we are and to dwell with Him in His kingdom at the appointed time."
The Dead Who Die in the Lord - Bruce R. McConkie - October 1976 General Conference
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Fantastic News, Confusing Circumstances
I felt good again yesterday, attended a funeral in the morning and worked at the office in the afternoon. As I went home around 4.45pm I started having some chills. They got worse and worse and within an hour I had a fever also. As per instructions we called the on call doctor, and headed to the ER. I felt like garbage and we waited for about an hour. We got back into a room in the ER, and the tests began (chest x-ray, flu, blood cultures, etc.). Chills stopped and fever went down, all tests negative, but into the night my blood pressure was and stayed too low. They weren't sure, and didn't have answers, and so we were given the option to go home or stay for observation. Mindy wasn't comfortable with going home, and invited the ER doc to communicate with the CCNW on call doctor. Ultimately we pushed for staying. So I was admitted and am still here.
It's been determined that ultimately I'm dealing with sepsis, and I'm in the ICU.
IV fluids through the night and antibiotics and steroids today. I feel OK other than tired. Did an ECG earlier. Don't think we know the results of that yet but everything else seems normal, so they are baffled as to the cause thus far. Blood pressure higher today but not high enough, and fever came back. More docs coming today to try to figure things out.
The fantastic news?........Mindy just spoke with Dr. Danko by phone and PET scan was completely clean (his words were, "clean as a whistle!")!! We are ecstatic!
We love you all and will keep you up to date.
It's been determined that ultimately I'm dealing with sepsis, and I'm in the ICU.
IV fluids through the night and antibiotics and steroids today. I feel OK other than tired. Did an ECG earlier. Don't think we know the results of that yet but everything else seems normal, so they are baffled as to the cause thus far. Blood pressure higher today but not high enough, and fever came back. More docs coming today to try to figure things out.
The fantastic news?........Mindy just spoke with Dr. Danko by phone and PET scan was completely clean (his words were, "clean as a whistle!")!! We are ecstatic!
We love you all and will keep you up to date.
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