I've been well chastised for not updating sooner but what can I say? Life has been busy!
Thankfully, Ron's battle with "the crud" was short-lived; we caught it early and got him on strong antibiotics and after a few days of coughing, etc; he was back to status quo.
Tuesday afternoon, we were finally able to go see my dad at Harris (hospital) HEB; Ron's dad at Atria (his new assisted living abode) and Ron's mom at Heartland (skilled nursing facility). It's been hard not being a part of what's going on with each of them but certainly could not take the chance of taking our germs to them or bringing any more germs into our home either! We are so thankful for all the family members who have been there to support each of them.
My dad had hip surgery on Wednesday. Tests showed the bone had not grown into the stem part of the previous replacement so plan was to go in and replace the stem with one that is more porous. When they got in there, his hip was full of infection. They had no other option than to take the old replacement out; stabilize it with a "cement" and treat with antibiotics until the infection is cleared up. He will have to be moved to a rehab facility for 3-6 weeks and after 6 weeks (as long as infection is cleared up) they will go back in and do another total hip replacement. Yesterday cultures came back indicating the infection is a staph infection; so now they know the exact antibiotic to use to treat it.
Back to Ron:
Each week we think this will be the week we will finally be able to make it to church! Ron still lacks any energy and requires alot of rest. He's trying to do his part to recuperate by walking a couple of times a day (he's now up to 6 houses down and back!! Woo hoo!) and he does a couple of hours of paperwork and phone calling each day. But mornings continue to be hard for him, he doesn't sleep real well at night because of discomfort from the g-tube inserted between his ribs; as well as his overall scars from multiple incisions, etc. which makes it hard to get in a comfortable position to sleep.
Dr. Arslanlar decided it was time to start weaning him off the TPN and try to start increasing his caloric intake by mouth; as well as beginning the slow process of weaning him off the steroids in hopes his energy level will increase. So, Wednesday, when our new batch of TPN arrived, we began cyclical status (decreased the overall time he's receiving TPN but keeping the volume the same). TPN runs from 8PM to 2PM and he then has 6 hours in the afternoon/evening free! YIPPEE!
Unfortunately, things have not gone smoothly. We're not sure if his body is having a hard time adjusting to the volume of TPN being infused over a shorter period of time, the decrease in steroids, or what. But, he has been throwing up every day; sometimes twice a day, and has felt really puny all weekend. He knows he needs to try to fight his way through this regardless. But it's been difficult.
I cannot begin to tell you how frustrated he has been. He typically handles each bump in the road so well. His "down" days are few and far between, but when they hit...they hit hard!!! Yesterday was an exceptionally rough day for him. He was physically, emotionally and spiritually spent...one of those rare days when all seemed hopeless and tears won out. I feel so helpless when it finally gets to be to much for him. I prayed over him and was able to share my very timely reading from John 11--the story of Lazarus being ill and Jesus's delay in coming until after Lazarus had died. Mary and Martha were so brokenhearted when they finally saw Jesus and they just could not understand why he had waited so long; knowing he could have prevented their suffering and sorrow. Jesus's response was "You may not understand, but I am telling you that if you believe, you will see." And what would they see? God's glory!
Father, we don't understand....but we choose to trust; we choose to believe! And we long to see Your glory revealed
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