Jan 17, 2012 - Snow & sidetracked

Hello all, this winter night. The attached photo shows the snow that Van. had and the view we have from Jim's window. It is said that yesterday, Jan. 16th, was "Blue Monday." That is a bit of what we experienced. In the morning we went through the tunnels under the roads to the Cancer hosp. and Jim got his long-acting Octreotide injection. The injection went okay but the whole time was 2 hours (waiting for porters, getting lost, etc.). Then at 1:00 Jim was portered downstairs to the radiology dept. to have his stomach tube put in. He...

Jan 14, 2012 - 2 months of M & M's

Today it is 2 months from when Jim was admitted to VGH. It has been 2 months of Miracles & Monies! Miracles - all glory goes to GOD! - that Jim is alive! - that his heart is working well & that there are knowledgeable doctors to do the surgeries - that his kidneys are working well & the kidney doctors have dismissed him!, his perma-cath line is out!, and his creatin (sp?) levels are going down every day! PTL He had been on dialysis for 6 weeks and we just praise the LORD for providing this miracle! - that his mind, soul, and spirit...

Jan 11, 2012 - Mooving forward & detours.

"To God be the glory" for helping Jim's kidneys to begin working! It had been a week now without dialysis! Haven't heard yet how the kidney doctors plan to send Jim home, but we are thankful that his kidneys seem to be working. What an answer to prayer this is! We are hearing more often the words "going home!" This sounds good to our ears, but a few more glitches have to be worked out. Tomorrow morning Jim has his 6 month appointment at the Cancer Hosp., so they will transfer him (through the tunnel) to that appointment. See if we can get...

Jan 8, 2012 - Positive progress.

This is a quick update from my "down" blog last time. Wonderful positive progress is being made with Jim's kidneys. He is producing more urine and the negative chemicals in his blood (which indicate his need for dialysis) are staying down & he didn't need to have dialysis today. Jim shared with the doctor (who gave him the good news) that we have many people praying for us. He has also been sharing and praying for individual nurses who deal with him. So he definitely is feeling better. Your prayers were also answered in that Jim didn't have...

Jan 5, 2012 - Ups & downs.

Today was a day of ups & downs. Ups: - the kidney doctor feels that Jim's kidneys may be slowly improving. Jim will probably be going down to the dialysis clinic at VGH for his next dialysis on Monday, if all goes well. He had dialysis today. - the occupational therapist came today and talked about how we will manage when we get home! So leaving the hospital in beginning to be on the radar! - Jim is doing better and better with walking on his own and had a good workout after dialysis. - Jim had his IV taken out today, so no more meds...

Jan 2, 2012 - New beginnings.

To all of you we want to send God's blessings at the beginning of 2012! Jim had another mooovement yesterday! He was moved to room 1052 - down the hall - away from the room closest to the nurses' station. So this again is a positive sign! He is now overlooking English Bay, so a great view! You will notice, from the photos, that Jim is walking more and how we celebrated New Year's Eve. Jim has also gone 3 days between dialysis, so I expect that today he will have that done. We think his urine output is greater, but it is the 3 day weekend so...

Dec 31, 2011 - Reflections on New Year's Eve

Today is a time to reflect upon the past year. First off - two Praise the LORD's - Jim has his first shower in 45 days (it was high time!) and he was also able to walk up and down 9 steps (he hadn't been able to accomplish this before the surgery), so we are thankful for the progress! Jim also had his second "swallow" test yesterday, and in his words, he "flunked." Another thing we have learned is that after 45 days of now swallowing the muscles in his throat have to learn again. The staff say this is very common, so we have to work at not...

Dec 29, 2011 - Trach out!

Praise God with us, yesterday afternoon the RT came and took the trach out! It is supposed to heal shut within 4 - 7 days. We are very thankful. Some "new" glitches to overcome with your prayers. - Jim has a bad case of thrush and is on antibiotics for that - Jim now has to learn to swallow again and he failed the 1st testing (that was discouraging for him, but they say that is very common - Jim's kidneys are producing more but this needs continued prayer - he went 2 days without dialysis this time I also wanted to thank all of you for...

Dec 27, 2011 - Lucy's notes

Here is an excerpt from our sister-in-law's, Lucy Baerg, response to Jim's ability to speak again. "‎40 days and 40 nights, and Jim spoke on Christmas Day! Who are we without a voice; no intonations, no commands, no raising of the last word of a sentence to make it a question or statement. The difference between a voice mail and an e-mail. Facial expressions; are they anger, frustration, resentment, fear, love, remorse, doubt, or drug induced insanity. Restrained hands grasping at words, eyes that stare, eyes that flicker and close. What...

Dec 26, 2011 - Christmas gift!

Good Boxing Day to you. A quick note to let you know what our Christmas gift was. Jim's trach was downsized yesterday morning and also capped, so he found his "voice" (just like the king in "The Throne Speech"). It was very exciting to surprise our children who called, and his brothers who came and called. After Christmas spent with Terry, Jade, Olive & Oscar (thanks for making it special), and talking with staff & myself the rest of the day, he voice and throat were sore at the end of the day. It had been 40 days since we last had...

Dec 24, 2011 - The Queens

I wasn't going to blog today, but since the news from England I just had to comment! Since Prince Philip is having to be in the hospital for Christmas as well, I feel very connected to Queen Elizabeth! Jim said I was "his Queen," and he has been a "Prince," so I just wanted you all to know that you are dealing with "royalty!" Besides it is the "King of Kings" we have been praying to and Who has been healing! Now for some facts of the day: Jim finally got his catheter removed so that was a happy day! He walked and sat in a chair today...

Dec 23, 2011 - From our hospital to yours!

Dear family, friends, prayers and supporters, We want to wish each one of you a blessed Christmas with your family & friends and God's blessings for the coming year of 2012, from our hospital to your home. As you can see on the photos we are in a celebratory spirit with a Christmas tree and flowers. We thank God for sending his Son to this earth to be both God and man, to understand what we all go through, and to become our Saviour. We don't have to look far to realize that we are richly blessed with family, friends, prayers and...