Blessings Amidst Trials

It's been a challenging two weeks, I'm sorry to say.  John's condition has really taken a nose dive since Christmas.  He began having balance problems and difficulty walking, and was admitted to the hospital on December 26th.  MRIs showed that the tumors were increasing in size slightly in his brain, but the main problem was that the pre-existing compression fracture in his spine had gotten worse now that the cancer is progressing.  The tumors were impinging on his spinal cord and interfering with the blood supply to his spinal cord.  In effect, it was as if he'd had a "stroke" to his spinal cord.  The deficits are permanent and not reversible.  In the hospital, he received I.V. steroids to attempt to shrink the tumors, and began 10 days of palliative radiation to his spine.

John was discharged from the hospital on December 30th with a walker, but his condition was deteriorating daily, and a physical therapist who came to our home on the 31st recommended a wheelchair.  I got him two wheelchairs that very day:  one that he could wheel around the house, and a lighter one for transport.  (At that point, I was still taking him to the hospital for daily radiation treatments.)

As the week went on, his legs became weaker and weaker as he lost strength and feeling in them.  Transferring him from wheelchair to bed, toilet, and car were dangerous and terrifying.  On Friday, January 4th, he was admitted to Agrace HospiceCare.  They have been wonderful, and will make it possible for John to remain at home, which is what we both want.  On Sunday, January 6th, a hospital bed was delivered to us, and he is now completely bed-bound.  He can no longer move his legs.

A great blessing is that he has very little pain!  He has yet to take anything stronger than Naproxen.  We are in good hands with Hospice.  We have nurses, friends, visitors, ward members, and relatives visiting in a steady stream, and begging to know how they can help.  It's such a blessing to have such a wonderful support system!  My heart aches for anyone who lacks this.  John still has a good appetite, and we're having fun, and enjoying our little grandchildren.  Our knowledge that we will be together forever warms our hearts and strengthens us.  We have complete and utter trust in Heavenly Father's will and in His plan for us.  We know we are in His hands.  We feel our Savior walking by our side.