Home again, home again, jiggity jig!

Today was a full day for us all.

It started out with me waking up from another night of sleeping with Dad in the hospital.  As the nights have added up, I have been sleeping more.   The elder 2 kids are having their exams so I have been scooting over home just after 6 AM to see them before they are of to their school bus.

 

Mum has been with Dad most of the days.  It is wonderful to see how they look after each other - over all these years - and in fresh beautiful ways.   Our times in the valley can be times of great shared joy too.

Normally when I come into Dad's hospital room when Mum is on watch, I find her holding a Bible in her hand, reading Dad a Psalm or a passage from Isaiah.

This morning Dr. Stephen said that Dad could go home.  When, we were not sure, but we knew it was coming when one of the staff came by with a patient satisfaction survey to fill out.

I told Mum and Dad to call when I should come by.

As noon I returend home since a number of patients had come to Jeevan Sahara to see Sheba.   It was good that I did.

Asha and Enoch came back from school - hot and sweaty from the noon-day bus-ride since they only take the exam of the day and return back.  I had amazing news for them - Neeru Aunty was coming!

We then got ready for lunch and were all in the kitchen.  I told Yohan to take the plates to lay the table - and he stretched out his hands to get them.  But Yohan was stretching them out in the another direction.  I tried to give him the plates again and he stretched out his hands in another place.  Enoch and Asha were getting a bit annoyed at the game.  Then we realised it wasn't a game.  He was shaking.  I picked him up and took him to his bed in the front room.  Yohan was having a focal seizure.

We have been giving Yohan anti-epileptic drugs each day along with his other meds.  We were wondering whether it was really necessary.  Today we found out it was.  

The seizure did not last very long - and Asha and Enoch were amazing during it - assisting me as I held his hand and head.  Praying, talking to Yohan and comforting him.

After a few minutes Yohan calmed down.  Then cried and called out to 'Mama.'  Then slept.

We had barely started eating, while Yohan rested, when my phone rang.  It was Dad saying that they were ready to be picked up! 

Mum had decked him out for the journey - for the first time in over 2 weeks without the hospital blue gown: 

 

And of course there were lots of good-byes.

One of the Bethany nurses has already put a photo of her and Dad on her FB account with the caption that he is one of her favourite patients.  

We are so very grateful for the loving care that Dad received from the whole Bethany Hospital team - from top to bottom and left to right - all were a blessing - and I think most went away from meeting Mum and Dad blessed as well.

Dr. Stephen jokingly asked his nurses this morning whether they would agree to let 'Uncle Ray go home today' "Nooo" they all replied with big smiles.

But leave Dad did.

I was ready with our Papaya and picked up Mum and Dad right from the casualty entrance to ferry them home.

And looking out our window as we left Bethany Hospital, Mum clicked one of the security folks mirroring the smile on all our faces:

And so we are home sweet home again.

The prayers of so many have borne fruit - and Dad is here tonight.

And we are also blessed to have Neeru with us too.  She arrived at just past 6 PM and will be here till Sunday to love and serve Dad.  We are so very blessed to have her expression of love - and for Stefan to release her while caring for the kids in Delhi.

In addition, we earlier had the joy of Dr. Prasanna Jebaraj - the retired head of Psychiatry from CMC Vellore paying us a visit at JSK this afternoon and meeting with some of our dear friends with long-term mental healing challenges.   She remembers Dad from her student days in CMC Vellore when he had come as a speaker and wanted to meet him - but Dad was taking a nap when she dropped in at home in the early evening.

Having Dad sit at the dining table with all of us for supper is such a joy.  His intake is still very modest, but just to have him sitting and talking is a wonder.  Dad says that he feels he has been given another life.  We know that God has spoken to him very deeply in these days and look forward to hearing about it in the coming days.

Our job now is to get Dad slowly back into fitness again.  His body systems are starting up again - and we would love to get him home to Mussoorie - but will need to wait at least a month or so for that.

In the mean time, we are enjoying each moment of today.  

It's been a full day - and as all eight of us will gather in a few minutes for our evening devotions, we will be thanking God very specially for the miracle of having Dad back home - and helping us even in challenging situations.

Fasting and feasting

How good food is.

We eat it every day.  Sometimes just shovelling it down without a thought.  Other times nibbling at something and throwing it away.  Sometimes allowing it to rot in our fridges till mould sets in.

But what a joy to actually taste something, to actually swallow something when you have not done so for 2 weeks.

That's the joy Dad experienced yesterday as he had his first nibbles in a fortnight.

What a blessing that he can now slowly start eating.  His first meal was ... of course ... an idli with some sambhar!

And the answer to your question is 'No!'   Dad has not lost hair.  Dad has just been given a very close cropped buzz by his eldest son since Dad was uncomfortable with his locks.   We will wait out the question of chemotherapy for another date.  At present the key task is to get Dad's bodily functions up and running again.

Once again, the good folks at Bethany have been assisting Dad in his recovery.  A few days ago he had a lung infection.  A small pneumonial patch was seen in his upper lungs.  So medication has been given stat - including using an oxygen nebuliser to get the drugs right to the lungs.   Dad has been using these sessions to pray as the noisy bubbling, gurgling of the O2 flowing over the meds and vapourising it so that it can be breathed in goes on.

The white cotton hanging from the neck is the central line that is still in place at present.  There are multiple little tubes that can be hooked up to IV or medication drips as and when needed.  Very handy of course, but now that things are getting more and more normal for Dad - he has started taking some meds orally now - it is time to say goodbye to this... soon we hope!

One feeding option that we said good bye to yesterday was the feeding through the jujenal tube.  After two days of getting eggs mixed with milk directly into the intestines (Dad's feet had become a bit puffy from a lack of protein) - as well as regular water inputs over the past week - our nurses have stopped their jujenal injections.

And so ever so slowly, Dad's fasting is turning into feasting.  

We don't want to rock the boat, but are hoping for Dad to be discharged for home tomorrow.   

And so gradually our thoughts are turning towards the north, and Mussoorie!  Dr. Stephen feels that the jujenal tube should be in for 6 weeks after surgery... so that means Dad needs to be around here for another month or so of recovery.  

We will of course also have to talk to at least one oncologist as well.  But first things first - we hope to have a feast to celebrate Dad coming home ... and hopefully the feast will be tomorrow.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement along this journey.  Here is a picture Mum snapped in the Bethany Hospital cafeteria.  It's pretty apt:

Not home ... yet

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!

Biopsies and Birthdays

 We are living in days of grace.

Yesterday we remembered the amazing gift of life that Jesus Christ gave to us on that broken piece of wood He was cruelly nailed to.  Today we celebrate Sheba's 46th birthday.  Tomorrow we rejoice in remembering Christ's smashing death to pieces through His once-and-for-all-time demonstration of His indestructable life.

And in all of this we weave our ways through Dad's illness and recovery.

The day started with me vaguely hearing the nurses swarm into Dad's room as they always do at 5 am to give him his sponge bath.  I gradually faded into awakeness and gave an early morning good-bye to Dad.  It's my sweet-heart's birthday!  What a joy to have a small early morning-celebration with Sheba and our 3 kids and Oma. 

Asha and Enoch are currently a bit camera shy (or maybe their Dad is a bit camera crazy) but there is one member of the family for whom the camera is a new found friend:

Time stops for no-one - we knew that Dr. Stephen would be doing his rounds so it was back into the Papaya for me and up to room No. 511 to be with Dad. 

Sure enough, a few minutes later Dr. Stephen came into the room with the entourage.  Since Dad has a bit of pain in his shoulder again last night, Dr. Stephen suggested having another ultrasound and also aspirating some of the fluid that seems to have accumulated.   He also told Dad the results of the biopsies that had been done in the course of the major surgery.

As expected, the tumour is cancerous.  Turns out we can't even tell where it has started.  The pancreas, the intestine and the common bile duct have all been affected by the tumour.  Not surprising given the size and the density of the mass that was cut out.

Good news?  Well, one good thing is that the biopsy samples taken from the margin of the surgery - the part that was left behind are all negative.  It looks like all that should have been cut out was cut - and as much as should have remained was kept back.

But.

One of the lypmph nodes seems to have given a positive result.  It may be that the cancer has already metastasized to a certain extent.

At present, the task for Dad is to recover from this operation.   We know that we are dealing with a very challenging condition - but the whole purpose of the operation is to extend Dad's life as much as possible - and plausible.  So we move forward.  With prayer and hope.  And thanks for all the interventions done so far.  And work with dealing with the challenges of tomorrow one day at a time.

We don't have all the answers.  We don't even have some of them.  We are learning day by day.

One good thing is that we are not alone in this journey.

From near and far people are praying for us.  And encouraging.  And being there.  We are very grateful for this.  The whole staff and admin at Bethany have been so kind to Dad.  And us.  We are very grateful.

The good news from the ultrasound is that the fluid accumulation does not seem to be more than it was 2 days ago.

The good news from the aspiration is that there does not seem to be any bile fluid staining or any pus - so it seems that we are not dealing with a 'leak' or an outright infection.

The whole body is such a mystery - and the healing process so much the more so.  We are reminded again and again of the truism that the medical profession treats ... but it is God who heals.


And on this special day, we also had some wonderful visitors.

First up - just as the ultrasound procedure was winding down was our dear Anand Sinha and his lovely daughter Medha who stopped in to see us.  It was our first opportunity to meet Medha who was with her Daddy as part of a Father-Daughter outing to Mumbai from distant Gurgaon where they live (leaving Mummy to hold the fort).

Medha - all of 5 years - is quite the word-smith and regaled me with a string of stories in the Bethany cafeteria while Daddy went up to see Dad for a few minutes.  When she and Anand came over to our place we were treated to her lego skills - and a running commentary on how she had made a whole city with a few blocks.  Needless to say, Enoch and Yohan had gone into the room to help her with lego - and didn't emerge for the whole time as they immersed themselves in their building.  Very grateful to dear Anand for his lightning visit - and for bringing little M with him!

Then just after lunch who should we have but the Varghese family from Ambernath.  Another birthday celebration with lots of hugs (and donuts) and the joy of this lovely family.

Its not often we have 5 young lads in the home (Asha was in a lonely planet of her own but was her normal gracious self about it).  What better to do than to play lego (and pillow fights too) and go down stairs for 'cockminton' (as Yohan puts it).

We were blessed to have Dad share about his adoption to Leena and Jim - and have them open up their hearts about how they brought their oldest into the family too.

Finally, at just after 6 we had our dear John Gabriel stopped by too.   He and I spent a wonderful hour in conversation and prayer with Dad.  These are days of gladness and grace.  Each moment is precious.  We are so blessed.

And in the midst of all of this - some studies were also done.  Asha and Enoch each have 6 and 5 exams respectively under their belts - and have 6 more coming up before the promised land of the vacations.

46 sun-spins

Yesterday started with golden sunshine pouring into the hospital room from the east.  

Dad was telling me about how "46 years ago today we were both in the hospital.  Just like we are today."  And what a day of joy that was for him - to see me emerge into the world in the birthing room at St. Elizabeth's nursing home on Malabar Hill in old Bombay!

46 years and we find ourselves back in a hospital room in very different - but no less joyous circumstances.  Me rejoicing in another trip around our beautiful local star - 8 light minutes away from us.  And now having completed 46 of these circles, the thought that there is an end to the circling does show up more often.  For Dad, having gone through cancer surgery and being into his 74th or 75th spin 'round the sun, I see each day as an additional bonus.

One of the verses that we got for Dad is "with long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91.16).  To us this is prophetic both in terms of giving us hope that God has some more time for Dad to live - but also a speaking of God's truth into his life already.  Dad has already been satisfied with a long life - and has also been very much shown God's saving acts in so many ways. 

Dad prayed for me there in the Bethany hospital room no. 511.  I may be looking after him at this point in some ways, but he still is very much a father and what a blessing to get his blessing.  Raspy voiced, lying down in bed, holding my hand with his strong grip.

Mum came in a few minutes later - fresh as a peach.  A hug and birthday wish from here and then I had to take a shot of the two 47-years-in-love-birds:

Dad continues to make slow and steady steps forward in his recovery.  Since the "pain in the shoulder episode" two evenings ago, he has not been ill.  He does his little walks and has been upgraded to 1.5 litres orally today.   But he is still weak and needs recovery.   The prayers of saints at a distance are probably more valuable than too many saints coming to visit, since every visit demands energy from Dad. 

Dad should be an honorary Malayali by now, given the numbers of nurses from 'God's own country' who have cared for him so far!   

He has a little call button which he religiously presses every hour to remind our busy-as-bees nurses that it is time for another injection of water into the jujenal feeding tube.

We are taking each day at a time.  Every morning at around 8 Dr. Stephen troops in and there is a short consultation about the what the next step will be.  Today the final abdominal drain was removed so there are not more bags hanging outside - and only the jujenal tube and the common line on his neck giving quick access for fluids and meds when needed.

But back to yesterday.   After coming back home at 9 in the morning, I was welcomed by Sheba and the kids with a beautiful birthday breakfast complete with roses and cake and gifts and cards and lots of love (and the birthday song too!).   Being a school holiday, all three were at home and I was smothered with love by my darlings.

I had to take the day off since we were not sure how much care Dad would need - and I needed to take a good friend of ours for a psychiatric evaluation.   Around noon I popped into the Papaya and drove with my friend and two other church members all the way down to Santa Cruz - and then after a very good time with Dr. Aswani, we drove back just in time to drop Asha off for an early violin class, and read to Enoch and Yohan while we waited... and then we three came back to the local mall and into a fine dining establishment:

At my birthday breakfast, Enoch had given me a voucher for a meal out (with the family too).  He still had some birthday money from Feb left - and decided that he was going to treat us all!  And so it was decided to redeem his gift a.s.a.p.   Mum and Sheba joined us from the hospital and so three generations of Eichers dined out for a change.  Sheba had each person share what they were thankful to the Lord about me for - very, very touching.

I am so very grateful for the huge, unpaybackable amount of love I have received over these years. One of the advantages of cancer is that it cuts through a lot of the sloppiness that we surround ourselves with.  The last month with all its challenges has also been one of the most peace and joy filled months so far.  We are still on the edge - and my tiredness is slowly spilling out - but to have such a beautiful birthday in the midst of the challenges that Dad faces is a beautiful thing.

I ended a lovely day reading to Dad from 'Amazing Grace' by Eric Metaxas - a stirring account of William Wilberforce.  It was a blessing to end another day with Dad in the hospital bed next to me.  

Till tomorrow, here is a shot of me and my beauty (and also our cutie).  Thanks for being with me for at least some portion of the 46 sun-spins so far!

 Coming up tomorrow:  a biopsy report and another birthday

Quick update on Dad

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your prayers on Dad's behalf.  When I got to the hospital last night the pain had subsided some - to a dull pain / discomfort.  Dad then asked for some pain-killer which was given in the night - and with that had a good deep sleep... and woke up this morning pain-free and in his normal chirpy self!

We understand that a sharp pain in the right shoulder usually signals some discomfort to the diaphram.  Dad also had a slight 100.2 degree fever for a short time.  This morning the physician changed the antibiotics, and an ultrasound was done which showed a small accululation of fluid near where the gall bladder was, and another near where the tube was inserted.   Dr. Stephen does not feel this is a major leak since the abodominal drain is clear and not bile-stained.  Also, Dad would be feeling really ill in such a situation.  So we are going to wait and see.  They will do another ultrasound tomorrow and compare!  The wonders of imaging...

Mum came over while Dad and I were in the ultrasound room.  She will be spending most of the day with him - ministering and reading from scripture (and we hope taking a few naps too).  They have walked 47 years together - and today is another opporunity for them to walk a little further on their common journey of love.

We are grateful that Dad is pain-free.  We are taking each day at a time.  Whenever Dad is asked 'how are you Uncle?' he replies 'getting better and better every day!'

Amen.

Sudden pain

It's 7 PM and Sheba has just come from the hospital and says that Dad has had a sudden searing pain in his shoulder and abdomen.  He has been given pain medication and has been taken for an xray.  Mum is with him and has been with him since morning.  I am just going over to the hospital now to find out more about the situation.

Your prayers for Dad are as every solicited.  We very much hope this is a small aberration and not something serious. 

Thanks!