We were hoping to have Dad home today.
But at 1.30 AM in the morning Dad woke me up and said that he was having some trouble breathing - that it felt as if there was a band around his chest. We called the doctor on duty. He suggested using an oxygen mask - but Dad felt it contstricting - and finally he settled for a new arrangement of pillows on his bed. Something that looked uncomfortable to me - but that he said was very fine for him. We prayed. A number of times. And then both slept.
This morning Dad informed me that he had slept great.
But Dr. Stephen said that Dad would not be discharged today. Another chest x-ray and a sonography was called for. They showed that there is a patch on the lung. Some kind of infection. More meds. And another few days - at least - in the hospital.
We all want everything... now! But on the whole we are just so thankful.
Dad's huge, impossible-looking surgery took place 2 weeks ago today. He is still alive. He is very much kicking (though fairly weak truth be told). And the operation itself was able to excise a large advanced cancerous tumour. Sheba says that for pancreatic cancers only 1 in 5 ends up operable. Dad's has fallen into that statistic. Grace upon grace.
We have crossed the 'danger period' of the 5-8th days where the greatest chances of leakage take place. Dr. Stephen told us that as much as 50% of people who undergo the surgery Dad did have leakage as the organs do not easily meld together in their new configurations. But it looks like that has not happened for Dad.
And in all of this we have still been blessed with so much peace. The prayers of so, so many. As Dad would say in his emails: sooooooooooooooooooo many! Tangible, blessed peace in the midst of our strains and challenges.
So though Dad did not return home today, though I am off in a few minutes for another night with Dad in room 511, though we do not have everything working as we want... we do know that we are experiencing the reality of Romans 8.28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. How true this is of Dad - and how much we are all experiencing it!
But at 1.30 AM in the morning Dad woke me up and said that he was having some trouble breathing - that it felt as if there was a band around his chest. We called the doctor on duty. He suggested using an oxygen mask - but Dad felt it contstricting - and finally he settled for a new arrangement of pillows on his bed. Something that looked uncomfortable to me - but that he said was very fine for him. We prayed. A number of times. And then both slept.
This morning Dad informed me that he had slept great.
But Dr. Stephen said that Dad would not be discharged today. Another chest x-ray and a sonography was called for. They showed that there is a patch on the lung. Some kind of infection. More meds. And another few days - at least - in the hospital.
We all want everything... now! But on the whole we are just so thankful.
Dad's huge, impossible-looking surgery took place 2 weeks ago today. He is still alive. He is very much kicking (though fairly weak truth be told). And the operation itself was able to excise a large advanced cancerous tumour. Sheba says that for pancreatic cancers only 1 in 5 ends up operable. Dad's has fallen into that statistic. Grace upon grace.
We have crossed the 'danger period' of the 5-8th days where the greatest chances of leakage take place. Dr. Stephen told us that as much as 50% of people who undergo the surgery Dad did have leakage as the organs do not easily meld together in their new configurations. But it looks like that has not happened for Dad.
And in all of this we have still been blessed with so much peace. The prayers of so, so many. As Dad would say in his emails: sooooooooooooooooooo many! Tangible, blessed peace in the midst of our strains and challenges.
So though Dad did not return home today, though I am off in a few minutes for another night with Dad in room 511, though we do not have everything working as we want... we do know that we are experiencing the reality of Romans 8.28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. How true this is of Dad - and how much we are all experiencing it!
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