June 17, 2013

Today's update.
I feel like I'm doing a daily school assignment, but if this helps to keep all our friends and family updated then it is what I need to do.

Good news:
Paul got up and walked today.  Even with having a couple drainage tubes abd multiple I.V.'s, he walked about 50 feet.  Upon coming back to his room he smiled and said to the nurses " Think I'll take this one!"  His sense of humor continues even when he is not feeling 100%.  He is doing better on his breathing and the coughing which is so vital to clearing his lungs grows stronger each day.
An echocardiogram was done to assess his heart and maybe come to a desicion as to why he continues to go into atrial fibrillation with they remove him from the amiodrone medication.

Not so good news:
They did not do the "swallow test" today as the surgeon wants to do an endoscopy and take a physical look at the inside of Paul's new esophagus.  So the test will be delayed for now.  I have not heard the results of the echocardiogram.


We are taking it all "One day at a time" and taking joy in the little things that mark progress.... The atrial I.V. Line being removed from his arm, the ability of being able to cough, being able to swab his mouth by himself... Small steps but in the scheme of things, very big achievements!

Thank you all for the support through prayers, instant messages, comments, cards, well wishes, positive energy and most of all love.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Hugs to all,
Jo

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.  Hope your day was a good one.

Paul's heart rate went wild again when they discontinued the medicine that is use to stop the atrial fibrillation.  It took over seven hours to get it back under control.   This was actually a shorter time then the last time they tried to stop it.   So we do have progress.  They put him back on the meds and will try to wean him off again as the medicine is not for long term usage.   He has had a couple of really good coughing spells that have loosened the fluid in the lungs.  This is great and will allow him to breath even better.  We continue to work on lung capacity with respiratory therapy every four hours.

My daughter Elizabeth stops by often to lend her support and checks that I am getting rest and a break from the hospital.  My cousin Mary flew in for the weekend to be with us.  So for all those who are worried about me..... I am okay and have angels looking after me!

Paul is looking forward to a peace filled night with minimum interruptions so he can get some much needed sleep.   We are praying that he continues to maintain a normal sinus rhythm and good oxygen numbers through the night and tomorrow.

Paul enjoyed all the Father Day wishes and thanks each one of you for all your prayers and good wishes.

Jo

Post Surgery Day 4

Paul day was better.
His heart rate has stabilized.
His oxygen levels a good.
The chest drainage tube has been removed.
They removed the drain from his side which will make it easier for him to get comfortable.
He has also had a couple I.V's removed.
Paul is receiving some liquid nutrition in his J Tube.
He is still struggling to take deep breaths or cough, both are things that have to happen before he can leave ICU.  If all goes weel through the night, he may be able to get up and try walking.

It has been a good day.

Thank you for the continued prayers and well wishes.

Jo

Post Surgery Day 3

Update on Paul

His pain seems to be better controlled today and this evening.

Oxygen level is better, still having some problems with breathing. We are working are taking deep breathes.  

Heart rate is high and docs are having a hard time getting it back to normal sinus rhythm.  We continue to pray for an answer.

Antibiotic started as a precautionary measure.  He was up in a chair all day.  Goal is to prevent pneumonia from setting in the lungs.

Paul will probably be in ICU over the weekend.  I spent last night with my daughter and grandson for a much needed good night's sleep.  I managed a two hour nap this afternoon.  My cousin came in for the weekend to give me a bit of relief from hospital duty. *grin

Thank you all for your prayers and posting comments.  I have shared them all with Paul.

Jo

Let go and let God

Years ago I remember reading a sign that said "Let go and let God.  It isn't always easy, but it's worth it!"

Had a scare this morning.  Paul's heart rate jumped to 212 with an irregular rhythm.  They are monitoring him closely.  It was hard to walk out the room when they were bringing the crash cart.  I trust, I pray and that is all I can do.  Praying for the heart rate to return to normal.   It's been 2 hours and the heart rate continues to be over 140'

Later in life I learned to sign this poem and it has always been one of my favorites....

Let go and let God
As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend.
I brought my broken dreams to God, because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Himin peace to work alone.
I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried " How could you be so slow?"
"My child"  He said "What could I do, you never did let go?"


I am letting go ... And trusting.

Jo

Paul is doing well.  He has quite a few tubes going in and out of his body at the moment, but we knew that would be the case and  expected it, so no surprise. 

Paul  had a rough first night with pain management.  Paul seems to have a resistance  to some opiate based painkillers.  The Anesthesiologist  came to check on him and ordered a different painkiller to be added to his medicinal regime.   It seem to help a little bit and we will monitor this over the next few hours. The nurses are watching his blood pressure.  Paul’s blood pressure has always been on the low side and the painkillers tend to make it go even lower.    Tonight seems better as he is currently sleeping.

 

Paul has three incisions: One on his right side of the back coming down from the should blade area to the underside of his armpit area, the second is approximately 6 inches from the left side of his neck down to the front of his throat and the third is on the abdomen.  He has four drainage tubes.  One at the base of the incision on his back, a left and right one in his abdomen and one from his chest.  He also has the usual Foley and NG tube.  He also has a thoracic Epidural tube going into his spine.   Needless to say, getting him to be comfortable is a chore.

 

He did sit up in the chair this morning and it brought relief to the pain in his back but this increased the pain in his abdomen.  Sitting up is good as it stretches his lungs and allows him to breathe easier.  We are very watchful of his breathing since they had to collapse the right lung for the surgery.  He sat up this afternoon for over two hours and this really has helped with an overall feeling better. 

 

We will know more next week as they should have the pathology reports back from the surrounding tissue and the lymph nodes that were removed.  They will also do a test to see if the connections of the stomach pull up has any leakage.

 

There was a bit of leakage from his J Tube site and this has us both a bit concerned as there hasn't been any since it was placed in March.  The nurses have been told to keep an eye on it and contact the doctors if they see it leaking more. 

 

I am tired and going to try to get some sleep.

 

Thank you all for your prayers and positive energy.

Jo

 

If all goes well, on Monday they will have him swallow a very small amount of liquid to check for leakage.  If there is leakage, they will give the inside connection more time to heal.  If there is no leakage, then they will start him on a liquid diet and increase it to a soft diet.  We should have all the pathology reports back by Monday too!

 

Out of Recovery and in ICU

Paul is out of recovery and in ICU.  He is resting.  Too many tubes, I.V's and suctions.....
Tonight he will sleep and rest so the body can start healing.  He has made it through the obstacle of surgery.

Thank you all for your prayers, positive energy, holding him up and everything else. 

Hugs to all
Jo

Out of surgery

Paul is out of surgery and in recovery.  Surgeon said all went well.
More updates after he is ot of Recovery.
Thank you all for your prayers, positive energy and love.

Jo

Tuesday is here...

Paul is in surgery.  Met with a team of eleven people this morning before surgery.  Surgery will take approximately eight hours.

We  pray and wait......

Jo

Reality .....

What Cancer Cannot Do......

It cannot cripple Love.

It cannot shatter Hope.

It cannot corrode Faith.

It cannot eat away at Peace.

It cannot destroy Confidence.

It cannot kill Friendship

It cannot shut out Memories

It cannot silence Courage.

It cannot quench the Spirit

Here I sit into the wee hours of morning.  Listening to Paul's movements as he sleeps.  Lately, I find myself laying awake just to listen to the sound of his breathing deep into the night.  It is comforting to hear the soothing breath as his body relaxes and rests. Or to hold him close and feel his warmth and smell the scent that is his alone.  But tonight too many thoughts fill my mind.  Too many emotions overtake my senses.  I know that worrying is useless.  This is not worry but something else.  I can't quite put my finger on it.  It is almost an anticipation, an eagerness for the next few weeks to be over so that we can move forward and get this behind us.  It seems like we have been waiting forever for the surgery date to arrive.  Has it only been four months since Paul was diagnosed with this cancer?  It seems like a lifetime ago.  So many hurdles, so many set backs, so much time spent waiting for appointments, and testing, and follow-ups, with this doctor or that doctor.   And now that the date is set, I am scared.  I find myself frightened of all the "What if's" that have been suppressed, hidden, forbidden from taking form.  I have managed to stay strong this far, to clean the wounds, to comfort him when he was at his sickest, to encourage him when he felt his own body betrayed him.  Yet now... I am frightened of him actually going through with this surgery, but on the other hand, I am more frightened of him not having surgery and letting cancer win.

Maybe it's not worry at all, only the effects of  too much late afternoon coffee! 

Hugs,

Jo