Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Long day

Today has been a long day for dad. Unfortunately his white cell count has come down a little bit. He received blood, platelet, and plasma transfusions.

The doctor is somewhat concerned about possible internal bleeding. It is one explanation for his blood counts. Dad is also still struggling with his lungs. Part of the problem is that he doesn't have enough energy to cough hard enough to get the fluid out.

Dad's body is really aching. Not being able to move around on his own, and being confined to a hospital bed has left him in pain most of the time.

On the bright side, his esophagus is slowly getting better. And I think that his coloring looks better, too.

We would like to ask you all to pray for my dad's continued healing. Please specifically pray for his lungs, esophagus, and that he will not have internal bleeding.

Thank you all for your help during this trial. We love you all so much.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Rough week

As I sit here in my dad's hospital room today, I can't help but think of all of our blessings. And I know that they have come to us as an answer to prayers from around the world. From all of you.

This past week as been a very difficult one, indeed. Dad has been so very sick. His lungs have been a great point of concern. But we have been blessed to see some improvement.

Another major problem for dad, and the one causing him the most distress and pain has been the infection in his esophagus. He has been in extreme pain from this infection, unable to swallow anything, and virtually unable to speak.

We have seen some gradual improvements in this area. Today he was able to be spoon-fed an 8oz can of glucerna. A whopping 220 calories! We are extraordinarily thankful for this improvement. It gives us such encouragement. His voice is a bit stronger, too.

The other blessing that we are seeing is his white cell count is continuing to rise. When he was admitted to the hospital they were 0.1 and today they are 3.3! In eleven days we have witnessed this miracle. A white cell count of 4 is considered low, but we see his body making these small (but major) improvements.

Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts, good wishes, good deeds and kindnesses. We love you all so very much and could not get through this without your support.

I love reading my parents your comments, so if you have a moment, please leave one. They mean more to us than you could ever know.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

in the hospital

a week ago today my dad was admitted to ucsd thornton hospital.

we took him in the middle of the night to the emergency room because he was running a fever.  with such a low white blood cell count any fever was dangerous.  he was also experiencing a lot of pain in his sternum area and his lungs sounded pretty bad.

long story short, they have been treating him for pnuemonia and esophogial candidia.  they performed an endoscopy and saw the most severe case of yeast in his esphogus that they have ever seen.  he also has ulcers down his esophogus.  he has not been able to eat in at least a week and a half, and talking is also too painful. 

his white cell count has come up a very tiny bit, which is encouraging us.  however, they have a long way to go.  they are treating his esophogus, but so far he has had no relief.  since his white cells are so low he cannot have visitors.  even his nurses have to wear masks and gloves.

scott flew in last thursday, the day that dad was admitted to the hospital.  he left yesterday to go back home.  we sure loved having him here.  and alex and hayley were here with their little boy the week before.

yesterday, as i was leaving the hospital, i asked my dad what i could do for him.  he asked me to pray specifically for his esophogus and his white blood cells, and to pass that along to others.  so, will you please join us in this prayer???

we believe in miracles.  we believe that God gives miracles, and can give us one now.  please join us in praying for healing for his esophogus, his lungs, and that his white cell count will rise up quickly.  and i am praying that my dad will be completely healed from his brain tumors.

thank you for your love and support.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Setback

This morning my dad was admitted to UCSD Hospital with a fever. The doctors suspect pneumonia but we will know more later. Along with other complications such as severely low white cells, he will be in the hospital for a bit.  We thank you all for your continued love and prayers.