Friday..

Just talked to Dad. It looks like they will be sending him home tomorrow. The biopsy does not show any signs of cancer..just infection. So he will be on a 5 month treatment of antibiotics through the 'PIC' line. Good news indeed! Praise God...
now..I'm going to go collapse into my easy chair for a day or two. ;-)

Thursday

Daniel and I went up to visit with Dad today. He is looking much better today! They took out his I.V.'s and have inserted a 'PIC', his antibiotics will be given through that from here on out. Now that he is not attached to an IV he is able to be much more mobile. He is on the 9th floor of the hospital and it has a gorgeous view overlooking Portland. So we sat out by the big picture window. He is still pretty weak from being so sick..but is slowly regaining his strength. Still no word back on the biopsy, but the antibiotics are definitely working. We anticipate he will come home Sunday or Monday.

5:15 pm

Okay...so they were successfully able to perform the biopsy and drain some of the abscess. All 6 doctors are in agreement that the pancreas is not of concern at this time. Dad definitely has some sort of bacterial infection and now that they have been able to drain some of the abscess they should be able to pinpoint the bacteria type and start treating with the appropriate antibiotics.
I spoke with Dad and I could tell he was feeling better at least mentally.

12:00 noon

Dad just called. The head of radiology believes he can perform the biopsy. They are going to make another attempt at 1 p.m. today. I will post after I hear.

10:00 a.m. Update

Dad saw two doctors this morning. At this point they would like to continue giving him antibiotics then do another CT scan in 4 days to see if the abscess has shrunk in size. If it has reduced in size then they feel confident that the spot is not cancerous. They are still hoping to do a biopsy but right now that it is just not possible. He is keeping down some solid food which is good, and is ornery which is also good. :)

6:15 a.m. Wednesday Morning

I talked to Dad last night. Dineen is with him today and I will drive up tomorrow and then again on Friday with Mom. At this point the doctors are really not sure what the next step is. They are giving him very strong doses of antibiotics to fight the infection caused by the abscess. With Dad's spondylitis in his back lying in a hospital bed is very uncomfortable for him, so they are giving him some pretty strong pain medicine as well.

Mom is understandably tired. Making the trip back and forth from Roseburg to Portland, and taking care of Ryan James, who is at the end of his junior year of high school. She could use your prayers as well for strength and endurance.

I wish I had more news, but I don't. I have to trust in a sovereign God who holds Dad in the palm of His hands and will in His timing unfold His plan. What brings me the most Hope in this time is the knowledge that both Mom and Dad have trusted Jesus as their Saviour and know what their ultimate future holds. Daily we are reminded of just how fleeting this life really is, it is a comfort to know that an eternity with Christ is on the horizon for those who put their faith in Him.

Dad is grateful for all your prayers....as are the rest of us.


~Deanna

Dad updates

Hi All,

A friend suggested I have a spot to post Dad's updates..so I'm just going to use my blog.

Dad is in the Portland VA hospital. He was admitted on Saturday night with fever, chills, vomiting. He had been in the Roseburg VA and they transported him to Portland. He was in the ICU for the first day but they have since moved him to a regular room, which is much more comfortable for Dad. They are giving him a lot of antibiotics as well as oxycodone to help him sleep.

Dad has a large encapsulated abscess on his liver. They were going to go in today and start draining that abscess and also do a liver biopsy. When they tried to get a clear picture of the location on the scan/xray machine so they could insert the drain, they found it was being blocked by a large solid mass in his abdomen. (Possibly one of his hernias) So they could not proceed. The doctors are supposed to consult with him later this afternoon to determine the next step.

As I know more..I will post more. Please keep my Dad, "Rene", in your prayers.

Where has the time gone??

I know it has been a very long time since I have posted. My days are flying by. Since the last time I posted I had another birthday and usually I write a brief monologue on that day, but alas it has come and gone without my annual tradition. I also usually post a self picture but I loved this one so much that I thought I'd share. Oh well. I am now 43, I still have incredible children and a fabulous husband! I am still involved in far too many things and need to slow down and eventually...I will. But for now, life is full of graduation plans, 5k organizing and goodbyes.