Hello everyone:
I spent most of the afternoon with Jack. He looked a 100% better today, Much more facial function than yesterday; both sides of his face work when he smiles that dynamic smile of his. That was encouraging to me. His left hand is still not working very well. Physical therapy is working with him on that as well as his walking. Tomorrow I will be going in and learning some strategies for being at home with him. He does not have left side spatial orientation so he will be prone to bump into things. The physical therapist said that he will need someone to stand to his left everytime he is walking so he won't bump into things. It will take time for his brain to relearn this function. We are not sure when he will come home. I was told that someone will need to be with him at all times. For now, Courtenay and I will use our flexible work schedules to fill this role. We were told that it will take about 1-2 weeks for him to return to pre biopsy conditions. Physcial therapists will visit our home and help him and us adapt.
One thing they started today is an anti-inflamatory drug to reduce the brain swelling which they hope will help his left hand.
The more grim news is that the neurologist met with Jack and me this afternoon with the preliminary biopsy results - the complete results will not be in for 1-2 weeks. Here is what the Dr. said: it is definitely a tumor and not an infection; it has probably been growing for several months to a year; these kinds of tumors often become symptomatic with a fall or another head trauma; there is inflamation around the tumor; the tumor is located 2.5 cm (about 1-1.5 inches) below the skull deep within the brain cavity. We saw a picture of it and as I said, it is about the size of small egg and actually shaped a little like an egg. They cannot tell if it has tenicles or not; they think it is fairly aggressive; they are not sure it is operable; they will not determine the treatment protocol until all of the results are in but when they are in; they want to begin treatment immediately as soon as the pathology report is complete. It is inconclusive as to whether it is malignant or not; they are leaning toward malignancy.
I asked the Dr. what the success rate on these kinds of tumors is; he said they vary from person to person; they have some patients who don't respond to treatment and others who respond very well and live many years. One thing they know is what different drugs do - one is to cut the blood supply off of the tumor (tumors need a massive amt of blood); other treatments actually shrink the tumors relieving the symptoms. We will know more with the report as to how they will proceed.
We are so thankful for the care and support of all of our friends and family and our gracious Lord. We are so grateful for the care of the medical teams. I did find out today that his neurologist chief is world reknown and is highly respected; Jack really likes him; he is from India and his name is Dr. Venna.
Please continue to pray that no matter what is in store that we will be submitted to the will and hand of the Lord; pray that the Lord will use this experience to bring honor and glory to Himself; pray that His grace will be demonstrated in us, and that our Lord will continue to supply us with the peace that passes all understanding. There is great blessing in this trial for which I am thankful. We anticipate and look forward to seeing the Lord at work.
Blessings,
Carolyn
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Today
Hello everyone:
I will begin by telling you a funny story that is such a "Jackism" (new word). Yesterday, I spent a few hours with him yesterday as you know from the email. Last evening, I commented to him that he was urinating frequently. I said it must be all of the fluid they are pumping into him. He immediately said, oh it is a mass balance issue. I said what? He said the sum of the flows is zero. I said Jack what are you talking about. At this point, he started speaking English, and said what goes in must come out. So remember, the next time you go to the bathroom, it is a mass balance issue and the sum of the flows is zero. I am not kidding, going to the bathroom will never be the same again. You now have a little glimpse of how I have lived my life with my dear husband - thankfully, some of it is not foreign since my background in college was Chemistry and Math.
On the progress of the day - I was most encouraged today when I arrived around 10:30 AM to find him sitting up. It was the first time that I had seen him sitting since Wednesday. He has excellent color; is more energetic; and generally in good spirits. His room mate is a loving retarded man, Walter, that must be a frequent to the floor Jack is on because everyone that works that area keeps coming in and greeting him. He is very funny; he is constantly telling everyone they he loves them. He frequently asks for kisses from the nurses. One told him today she was allergic to kissess. He said OK but I still love you. The interaction through the curtain around Walter makes Jack laugh a lot; us as well.
Jack's face has more symmetry so speaking is still labored but easier. His biggest difficulty is his left hand. He has almost no function of it. The Dr. told us it would take 2-3 weeks for him to relearn how to use it. Some of this problem is due to the brain swelling. They started him steroids last evening to reduce the swelling. I was with him when the physical therapist came in to work with him. She had him walk down several hallways as well as practice stairs. It is remarkable to watch. Since he has no spatial sense about his left side, he has to be cued as to how to do certain things. When he was going up the stairs, he was only placing his foot partially on the step. I suggested he make sure his toes hit the next step so that he would know that his foot was completely on the stair. He used his right hand to move his left hand on the rail. He seemed to glad to be walking. When we returned to the room, the PT told him that he did an excellent job and that it was much better than yesterday. Jack quickly retorted that it was because he had 2 pretty girls to walk with. He is getting better!!!
He has been told repeatedly that he is not to try and walk by himself yet. He told me that he went to the bathroom by himself but that he did not tell the nurse. I have my hands full with this one!!!! Carolee, I may need some lessons in being "Nurse Nasty" - are you home yet?
Today, I took the Sunday paper in and was reading to him. There was a picture of a farm house with a pond on front page of the real estate section of the paper. He said that pond has still water. I said yes but did not catch the significance; I said do you mean stagnant water; he said no - still water - "beside the still waters" from Psalm 23. Thank you Lord for the comfort of your word in our minds and hearts, especially at times like these.
When I prepared to leave today, he requested that I leave the paper. Tonight, he told me that he had read it today, Another good first.
This morning a team of his Drs. came in to talk to him. Dr. Rosenthal wanted to know how we were coping with the heavy news he delivered yesterday. I reiterated to him what I had told him yesterday that we are confident in the Lord who has placed us here and we trust that he will lead us through it regardless of the outcome. He said that he had been thinking about what I had said yesterday and was comforted that we have that confidence. I told also that at times I feel weak in the knees but that it does not last long.
Courtenay is taking this very hard but is a real trooper. She gave her Dad a big hug tonight and started to cry as did he. He told her that one of the good things was that we would be able to spend more time together. When we left, she apologized for not holding up. I told her that crying is normal and healthy and that she did fabulous.
Jonathan and Megan arrive on Thursday. We are looking forward to their visit.
I want to thank everyone who is caring, praying, and comforting us. Your offers for help, your words and your love is so felt. We love all of you dearly and are so grateful to have each of you in our lives. I will close with something I was sent by my Dad.
May today be all that you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight and conquer all of your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways that you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer and your prayers answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you. I am praying for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy and true undying love for God.
May God be honored and glorified in all we say and do in the coming days.
Love to all of you,
Carolyn
I will begin by telling you a funny story that is such a "Jackism" (new word). Yesterday, I spent a few hours with him yesterday as you know from the email. Last evening, I commented to him that he was urinating frequently. I said it must be all of the fluid they are pumping into him. He immediately said, oh it is a mass balance issue. I said what? He said the sum of the flows is zero. I said Jack what are you talking about. At this point, he started speaking English, and said what goes in must come out. So remember, the next time you go to the bathroom, it is a mass balance issue and the sum of the flows is zero. I am not kidding, going to the bathroom will never be the same again. You now have a little glimpse of how I have lived my life with my dear husband - thankfully, some of it is not foreign since my background in college was Chemistry and Math.
On the progress of the day - I was most encouraged today when I arrived around 10:30 AM to find him sitting up. It was the first time that I had seen him sitting since Wednesday. He has excellent color; is more energetic; and generally in good spirits. His room mate is a loving retarded man, Walter, that must be a frequent to the floor Jack is on because everyone that works that area keeps coming in and greeting him. He is very funny; he is constantly telling everyone they he loves them. He frequently asks for kisses from the nurses. One told him today she was allergic to kissess. He said OK but I still love you. The interaction through the curtain around Walter makes Jack laugh a lot; us as well.
Jack's face has more symmetry so speaking is still labored but easier. His biggest difficulty is his left hand. He has almost no function of it. The Dr. told us it would take 2-3 weeks for him to relearn how to use it. Some of this problem is due to the brain swelling. They started him steroids last evening to reduce the swelling. I was with him when the physical therapist came in to work with him. She had him walk down several hallways as well as practice stairs. It is remarkable to watch. Since he has no spatial sense about his left side, he has to be cued as to how to do certain things. When he was going up the stairs, he was only placing his foot partially on the step. I suggested he make sure his toes hit the next step so that he would know that his foot was completely on the stair. He used his right hand to move his left hand on the rail. He seemed to glad to be walking. When we returned to the room, the PT told him that he did an excellent job and that it was much better than yesterday. Jack quickly retorted that it was because he had 2 pretty girls to walk with. He is getting better!!!
He has been told repeatedly that he is not to try and walk by himself yet. He told me that he went to the bathroom by himself but that he did not tell the nurse. I have my hands full with this one!!!! Carolee, I may need some lessons in being "Nurse Nasty" - are you home yet?
Today, I took the Sunday paper in and was reading to him. There was a picture of a farm house with a pond on front page of the real estate section of the paper. He said that pond has still water. I said yes but did not catch the significance; I said do you mean stagnant water; he said no - still water - "beside the still waters" from Psalm 23. Thank you Lord for the comfort of your word in our minds and hearts, especially at times like these.
When I prepared to leave today, he requested that I leave the paper. Tonight, he told me that he had read it today, Another good first.
This morning a team of his Drs. came in to talk to him. Dr. Rosenthal wanted to know how we were coping with the heavy news he delivered yesterday. I reiterated to him what I had told him yesterday that we are confident in the Lord who has placed us here and we trust that he will lead us through it regardless of the outcome. He said that he had been thinking about what I had said yesterday and was comforted that we have that confidence. I told also that at times I feel weak in the knees but that it does not last long.
Courtenay is taking this very hard but is a real trooper. She gave her Dad a big hug tonight and started to cry as did he. He told her that one of the good things was that we would be able to spend more time together. When we left, she apologized for not holding up. I told her that crying is normal and healthy and that she did fabulous.
Jonathan and Megan arrive on Thursday. We are looking forward to their visit.
I want to thank everyone who is caring, praying, and comforting us. Your offers for help, your words and your love is so felt. We love all of you dearly and are so grateful to have each of you in our lives. I will close with something I was sent by my Dad.
May today be all that you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight and conquer all of your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways that you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer and your prayers answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you. I am praying for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy and true undying love for God.
May God be honored and glorified in all we say and do in the coming days.
Love to all of you,
Carolyn
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