Yesterday I got a sweet email from our exchange student, Midori, who stayed with us during her junior year of high school (1981-1982). The note was so cute (and true) I thought I would share a part of it here:
"I was so shocked to know what happened to Father Lambert... I am sure he and your family are strongly fighting with the problem every day. It`s so hard to me to imagine he is not able to show his smile now because all what I remember about him is "Smile" all the time, and never show the anger and upset in his face, just Smile!"
Today hasn't been a day for a lot of "Smile." Yesterday after his second day of chemo LeeR looked so tired and beat up. He was nauseous all afternoon and white as a ghost. Today seems even worse. The anti-nausea and pain drugs (morphine, Valium, and Lorazepam) seem to help, but he is just so miserable and sick. For a guy who rarely takes even a Tylenol for a headache, this is very powerful stuff, causing hallucinations, dizziness, and confusion. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, not worse.
The x-rays and ultrasound from Wednesday afternoon didn't show any bleeding or blood pooling. However, yesterday afternoon after puzzling awhile and asking a lot of questions, his oncology surgeon wondered aloud if the bleeding could be in his leg from the surgical area and have been caused by the Lovinox shots we were giving him to thin his blood and reduce the chance of him developing more clots. This was the first "maybe" that made sense to us. More blood tests were drawn late yesterday afternoon. No results yet and I'm not sure what they are supposed to show. Anyway, we may have an answer--at least maybe a believable scenario. We'll take it.
LeeR reminded me last night that the kids sometimes described him to their friends as "a walking Valium." He said that now it is literally true. He also joked about "morphine" into a zombie--a "meta-morphasis." So, although his smile isn't as big and convincing as usual, his sense of humor still shines through. That's my guy.
Just keeping an eye on your blog, Karen. I am so glad you have this for us. We continue to pray.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Judy
Thank you for keeping us updated Aunt Karen! You guys are in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen and Lee R... As I was sitting at the Huntsman Center with my mother and father (Monte and Viola Nelson), I was informed about the journey you are on right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. These "bumps" in our life are sometimes like large canyons that seem to suck the air right away from us. It is so difficult to watch someone you love so much go through unthinkable things.
ReplyDeleteMy father had some very invasive oral cancer removed a year ago at the Huntsman Center. A third of his tongue was removed, and a radical neck resection was done to examine many, many lymph nodes. Heavenly Father's tender mercies surrounded both mom and dad during those weeks and the months that followed. We thought we were free of any more problems when all the lymph nodes came back negative. The physician has been watching a spot in the very back of dad's mouth, and two weeks ago a biopsy was done and we once again found ourselves at the Huntsman Center for surgery. Dad continues to smile and remains very positive. We all know the pain is very difficult for him, but we all continue to put our faith in our Heavenly Father. He knows us and He knows what we can endure. He has blessed us all with these wonderful parents, especially this sweet man.
Dad did well through it all again, and is home trying to be "normal", but we find him sleeping most of the time because of the pain medication. With time, we pray he will be back doing the things he loves the most.
We will pray for you too. This journey isn't a pleasant one, but as we have found, there are many things that we have all learned from it. Something different for each of us.
Thank you for the blog. We will watch and pray. Take time to cuddle, hug, and whisper to each other. May this "bump" soon smooth and may there be a peace that surrounds you all.
fondly, Susan Nelson Oler
You are in my prayers Karen and LeeR. God be with you as you go through this. Angela
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