The Waters Part

 This is Cindy writing again…

Parting Waters has been the theme

That has run through my head time and again

The past 4 days.

Not many hours after Dave dictated

The last blog entry to me

He started into a hiccupping, vomiting fit

That would not stop.

We had to call 911.

They are amazing.

One of the crew in particular is my hero.

Dave was transported to the ER in Silverdale

Which was again packed to capacity

Because he wasn’t deemed an emergency emergency,

He was placed in a wheelchair in the waiting room.

This mother hen about lost it!

I knew that in his state of weakness

He would truly end up an emergency emergency.

The EMT worked his way up the chain of command

Advocating for Dave

And the charge nurse came to get Dave

(and me which wasn’t the protocol, usually I have to wait in the car)

She took us directly back

Medication was given to curb the hiccupping/vomiting

And the decision was made that Dave needed to be hospitalized.

Jonathan flew in from Colorado

And then our 4 children and I took shifts

Two at a time together

To feed him ice chips, rub his head, and help him

Through gripping hiccups that took his breath away.

This is very scary to him and to us as we continue

To navigate the hiccup challenge.

The next waters that needed to be parted...

Getting him home with the Hospice supports in place.

What a roller coaster

“Mason county can’t get you set up until middle of next week…

If you stay at your house in Bremerton, we can get Hospice set up by Sunday…”

Dave really wanted to be home

So Bremerton was decided upon

The time was set

Ambulance was to pick him up at the hospital at 3:15 and

The Hospice nurse was scheduled to meet us 

at the house at 4:00 on Sunday

The hospital bed was ordered, delivered and set up on Friday

Then…

“Hospice doesn’t usually set up infusion pumps for families

To give their loved one IV meds at home”

Dave can take nothing by mouth

Or the vomiting resumes.

This was unsolved problem for 3 days.

“Ok, the Dilaudid can be set up with the infusion pump

But the other meds will have to be suppositories”

Ugh!

“We can’t get the infusion pump for Sunday

We’ll try for Monday...

Oh, we can't reschedule a Hospice nurse to meet you

Until Thursday!”

WHAT????!!

We sent out the call for prayer

And once again God parted the waters.

Suddenly 1 ½ hours

before the originally scheduled ambulance pick up time

The infusion pump with the Dilaudid was available

The Hospice nurse could be rescheduled for 4:00

And the transfer happened as originally planned

So, we are home

The biggest surprise when we got here

Was the ALL the meds are IV through his port.

So much easier.

(We are learning all sorts of new skills!)

We have an air conditioner and 2 fans directed

On Dave

Wool blankets are stapled up over the windows

To keep the heat from the sun out.

Being home is so much more comfortable

It has allowed grandchildren to get

Their grandpa hugs.

So, how is Dave?

We are in our last days.

He is very weary and very weak

He has had nothing but sips of water by mouth

Since Sunday a week ago.

He can communicate very little.

His days are in God’s hands

And Dave is ready to enter His presence.

A friend texted me the thought that

God is anticipating Dave’s arrival

Just as we anticipate the arrival of someone we love.

I like that.

Thank you Thank you

For all the loving, praying and support to our family.

We feel SO loved.

 

 

 

 

---

 [D1]

Hospice

 This is Cindy 

taking a dictation from Dave...

This is a hard blog to post

Dying is not easy

But I want to be transparent in dying

as I was hoping to be in living.

We made it home to Washington

After a wonderful time with Jonathan

but a difficult time

We flew home yesterday

making it through the check out counter

where they weren't going to let us board

because we didn't have a back up battery 

to the oxygen concentrator

which we were not told about.

Once on the plane

the Alaska flight attendants were wonderful

in providing extra oxygen when needed

As were our fellow passengers.

The descent was rough

But made it through with the extra oxygen.

Our son Jonathan went with us 

helping us along the way

We couldn't have done it without him.

Our Friendster Melissa picked us up at the airport

and brought us home.

We are so thankful for so many friends who have offered

food, transportation and support

all along the way.

Thank you

Today is the day you hope would never come

Entering into Hospice

Makes dying a reality

But I want the reality of dying to be as transparent

as the fight for living

Dying is leaving loved ones

that you care so much about

Going through drawn out pain

that you wish you didn't have to

But in no way do I want it to diminish

the reality of the hope I have in Jesus

Of entering into eternity with Him

That death is not victorious

I have a rock solid hope in Jesus

Not just wishful thinking because

I am dying 

but rooted in years of rock solid evidence

that He is who He says He is 

and He will do what He says He will do

This might be my last blog

but Cindy will finish it for me.

It truly is day by day

Only God knows.

Dave

Road Trip - Day 5+ (Genesee, Colorado)

How do we spell relief?

Arriving at our son's home in Genesee, Colorado

Which we did yesterday, Friday, about 3:30pm!

We are so thankful to have made it

All the way to Jonathan's 

Through all the challenges we have encountered

Mostly due to my bodily weakness.

And yet our car wasn't sure if it was going to make it the last bit either...

The last half of yesterday locking up the brakes

So that at times on I-70

We were unable to travel at more than 15mph!

So an early morning auto mechanic appointment on Monday

Will determine both 

The fixing of the windshield wiper motor

And the extent of what it will cost to fix the brakes

Not to mention anything else that they discover!

In other words...whether or not we still have a car

Or will donate it down here

Because it would cost more to fix than it is worth!

As for Cindy and I...

We will either way

Not be driving back to Washington

(There is no way my body can handle anymore)

But staying a few more days with our son and family

And then flying back...

A quicker and much less painful end to our adventure!

Thankfully also

My doctor was able to prescribe some pain medication

To take the edge off my suffering

Which we picked up today at a local pharmacy.

He has been a rockstar!

The oxygen has also been a huge blessing

Making it much easier to breathe

At the 6,500 foot elevation where they live.

Thanks again so much for caring and supporting us

In this little adventure we have undertaken!

I will follow up in a few days

When we figure out exactly what we are going to do

And how it looks like we will be proceeding

Once we return to Washington

Regarding treatment or no treatment.

My body is definitely winding down

With treatments seeming to hurt me more than help.

Till then...

Dave

Road Trip- Day 4 (Green River, UT)

I am actually writing at 2am on Day 5

Since I couldn't sleep.

Yesterday ended with a crash 

Emotional that is 

Not a car crash!

So I didn't get the blog done

Before we headed to bed.

So this will be brief

As I hope I'm going to get sleepy real quick

And want to try my hand at snoozing!

In terms of traveling

It was another uneventful day

No drama

No car problems

Just a looooooooong 

Very hot day 

That took its toll on both of us.

We made it to our destination

Green River, Utah

At about 6:30pm

The earliest we've arrived at one of our destinations thus far

As Cindy plowed through with driving.

We were finished when we arrived

And collapsed into the hotel

Well at least I did immediately

And Cindy did after bringing in all of our belongings!

Which led to a brief

But serious recognition

That we didn't have it in us to make a return car trip home.

So...what to do?

We hope to arrive at our son's tomorrow

Where we will stay for a few days

Probably longer than originally planned

To fix the windshield wiper motor

And to decide what's next

Which at this time looks like a flight home from Denver

And possibly Stephanie and Tim flying down to drive our car home!

Quite the change, huh?

It seems that this adventure became a bit more than we could handle

Which is probably what many of you were thinking from the beginning!

So...

That's it for now

Looks like we weren't the great adventurers that we'd hoped to be...

Hope to catch up with you at the end of today

To say that we arrived at Jonathan's in Genesee

And give you another update.

Thanks for listening,

Dave

Road Trip - Day 3 (Pocatello)

We made it to Pocatello, Idaho this evening

About 8pm

With NO MISHAPS along the way!

Wow!

We looked ahead at the weather forecast

Which predicted sun the rest of the way

So we took off without repairing the wiper motor

In order to get in at a more reasonable time

With the plan to fix the wiper motor

When we get to our son's in Colorado.

Cindy is amazing

Doing all of the driving

While I sleep the majority of the time.

It's a good team concept!!

We ate at a late lunch/early dinner

In Dillon, Montana

We enjoyed miles and miles of beautiful scenery

Thousands upon thousands of acres of pasture and farm land

Alfalfa

Potatoes

Cows

Very thankful for air-conditioning!

The plan is to head out by noon checkout tomorrow

And set our sites on Green River, Utah

As our final stop before arriving at our son's on Friday, June 18.

I know that some of you are disappointed

By the lack of drama in our traveling today

But for us it was a delightful respite

And we would be happy to continue our trip 

The rest of the way

In the same fashion!

Appreciate you all...

Dave

Road Trip - Day 2 (Missoula)

Well...we made it to Missoula, Montana this evening

At about 8:15pm

Mountain Time

About 2 hours later than our expected arrival...

More excitement!

To put it into a nutshell

Which when thinking about it

Isn't a very big object...

We had car problems today.

We encountered an unexpected rain storm

Beginning in Idaho

And continuing on into Montana.

No big deal for Washingtonians

Except that at that moment

Our windshield wipers decided to quit working!

Yes...you heard correctly

Who would have guessed.

We did everything we could to keep moving

Stopping every 100 yards 

For several miles to unjam the wipers

Then...

We jurryrigged (spelling?) an extension cord to one of the wipers

So that when it jammed I could pull on it to keep it moving!

Maybe I missed my calling and should have been an inventor??

Except that only worked for several miles

Until they permanently jammed

And really didn't provide that great of visionary improvement

In the downpour that was upon us.

So for several more miles

Cindy displayed her exceptional driving skills

In inclement weather 

By driving without windshield wipers

Until that really became too dangerous 

And we pulled over and called AAA

For a tow the rest of the way into Missoula

About 70 miles away at this point.

Then about a half hour into waiting

For the tow truck to show up

The sun came out 

We cancelled AAA

And drove the rest of the way to Missoula

Arriving at before mentioned time!

We checked into our motel

Bought some pizza for dinner

And are now officially wiped out

From our day's adventure.

Please keep remembering and praying for us...

I kind of crashed a bit ago

Had a good cry

With lots of hugs from Cindy

As the difficulty and challenge of this adventure

Is settling in

Due to the swelling in the lower part of my body

And the difficulty breathing

Note: I used oxygen when we got to the motel

And it helped for which I am thankful.

So...that wraps it up for Day2

It is 11:15pm our time

And we are ready for bed...

Tomorrow we will decide whether to get the windshield wiper motor fixed

Here in Missoula, if possible,

Or head out an maybe take care of in Colorado 

When we arrive there.

Thanks for listening!

Dave

Road Trip - Day 1 (Ellensburg)

We made it to Ellensburg

About 10pm tonight

Getting away at 6pm 

Instead of 4pm

Due to a challenge

In getting the oxygen supplies

We are taking with us

In case oxygen is needed in the higher elevations

We will be traveling through and to.

Note: This would not have even been possible today except for a wonderful friendster who went to the oxygen supply place and personally made it happen!  Thank you!

We had a delightful

But brief

Stop in Tacoma 

To have dinner with Cindy's mom

To pick up the wheelchair she had for us to use

And then on the road

For the first leg of our journey!

So...the adventure has begun...

Some things to pray about:

1. Endurance for Cindy.  She will be doing all of the driving, the hauling of belongings in and out of the hotels and taking care of her needy husband.

2. Grace for Dave. My feet and legs are very swollen despite the medication I am taking. My breathing is also not what it should be even after having 1,600ml of fluid drained from my right lung. 

Tomorrow morning we check out of our hotel by 11am and begin our next stage to Missoula, MT!

Off to bed...

Road Trip - Day 0 (Emergency Room)

Today is Sunday, June 13,

The day before our eagerly anticipated Road Trip begins

And all the adventures that will go with such RT!

I am going to attempt a brief, daily

Chronicle of our RT

With a highlight of its excitements and challenges

For your entertainment and prayer.

So...why not start with today - Day 0

Preparation Day?

It was certainly

A typical way that we seek to do things!!

It started at 4:30am

When I attempted to get up 

To use the bathroom

And I couldn't

I couldn't breathe!

It was really 

SCARY...

I thought it might be the first time that 

We needed to call 911

To bring me to the ER.

Thankfully within several seconds

I was able to begin breathing

Though with difficulty and very shallowly

And we decided that

We could drive ourselves to the ER

Which we immediately did

Arriving at about 5:45am this morning.

NOTE: If you need to go to the ER

That is the time to do it!

The last time we attempted the Silverdale ER

I waited in the ER waiting room

SIX HOURS

Before being seen!

This morning?

SIX MINUTES!

Hallelujah!

And with incredible doctor and nurse care

And within 4 hours of arriving

And lots of tests...

I'd had a thoracentesis (fluid draining)

Of my right lung

Removing 1,600ml of fluid!

Note: That is a LOT!

Opening the way for me

To BREATHE again

And for us to continue 

Preparation for our RT tomorrow!

YES!

Soooo thankful...

So that about sums up Day 0

Preparation Day

Because after such a procedure

All I'm really good for is sleeping

Which I'm pretty skilled at!

Our plan is to depart on our RT

Tomorrow about 4pm

After Cindy's last day of spring classes teaching

Stop at Cindy's mom in Tacoma

To have dinner 

To pick up a wheelchair

And then to continue on to Ellensburg

Where we will spend our first night!

Well...

Looks like I need to sleep again!

Good night,

Dave

Road Trip!

Call us crazy and you are probably right on target!

After all...

I took my family to a rebel controlled community to live

With graves in the front yard and back

Of which amoebic dysentery

Gigantic spiders and cobras

There was no lack!

I left a secure job

With no viable means of support

With street and homeless youth to build a rapport.

Believing in each case

The calling of God

Though considered by many

That our senses of us had been robbed!

So now...

To the road we have been called!

No...I'm not blaming this on God

Nor even insinuating that is Him 

Who has called us this path to trod.

We just want to do it!!

Cindy and I have so many fond memories

Of motorcycle trips together

Along the 101 highway down to California

The North Cascades

And across the Canadian Rockies.

So...

Despite the pain 

The difficulty walking

The recent very difficult chemo side effects

(Of which I am much better)

It is time for another road trip together

Taking it easy

Stopping when need be

Together two weeks on the road

(In the car)

Just shifting into enjoyment mode!

That's it...

We have put any treatment on hold

As we will be considering when we get back

How God wants us to move forward.

(More on that later)

Our plan is to be gone two weeks

Heading south to our oldest son and family in Genesee

Then looping back a different route

To enjoy the beauty this country is about.

We leave in two days

That we can do this is certainly a reason for praise!

We would appreciate your prayer and positive thoughts

That any problems would come to naught.

Thanks again for your incredible support!

Many blessings,

Dave

41 Years!

Today, June 7, is Cindy and my 41st wedding anniversary!

Who would have imagined during this tumultuous cancer journey

With all of its ups and downs

That we would have reached this milestone?

And yet here we are 

By the grace of God

And my oncologist...

So...this blog will be a 

Remember When?

Much of it

Only known to my bride and me

To the rest of you...a mystery!

Remember when...

We met at Millersylvania

The first of two Bible camps!

Remember...

The tragedy of your landlady

When instead of your parents

You reached out to me?

Remember...

The melting of the mocha pies

As I looked into your eyes

And asked you to be my wife?

The farmer and miss skit

Which was quite the hit

As we revealed to our friends

The upcoming life together

That was soon to begin?

Remember...

Our amazing wedding day

When before 500 family and friends

We committed to each other

A forever yay?

Our beautiful and crazy honeymoon

On an incredible sailing yacht

With multiple dangers fraught?

I remember...

The amazing wife and mother

You showed yourself to be

During our three year adventure

In a rebel controlled area of the Philippines!

Raising our children...

Fearing my kidnapping...

Living for Jesus

Even when they didn't believe us...

Thinking we were

CIA spies

Believing lies

Until they witnessed our lives.

Remember...

How sick you were too

I thought I was going to lose you!

But God made you strong

Even running a half marathon!

I remember...

The dozens upon dozens

Maybe a hundred and fifty all told?

You have cared for in our home

Who never had a home to call their own.

The hundreds upon hundreds

Maybe thousands all told?

Who through The Coffee Oasis

You became a mother

Young men and women who had no other.

I remember...

The Masters degree you earned

And the incredible instructor at Olympic College

Helping those who've given up learning

Math and History learned!

And all of the above accomplished

And so, so much more

While being for 41 years

My incredible wife, encourager, lover and friend

The mother of our four children

And ten grandchildren!

I love and adore you

I am so thankful for you!

Yours,

Dave

NOTE: In case you wondered...we are NOT in Seattle having radiation treatments. The chemotherapy infusions have caused enough havoc on my body so that we are waiting to see how they are handled before we proceed with any radiation.

Yay! + Yuck!

The pain and the pleasure go together!

Those were the words that popped into my mind

As I stood at the back of the Burwell Coffee Oasis

Listening to a hundred plus people singing songs of praise to God

At a Sunday morning church gathering

While at the same time as a family

Experiencing a very difficult time

And wondering...

Should I be doing this?

Pastoring a growing church

Directing a non-profit serving homeless youth

When our lives were anything  but "put together"?

The pain and the pleasure go together

That's been this cancer journey for me...

A lot of hard

A lot of good 

As I've seen God in His amazing 

Goodness and Greatness

Use the hard to accomplish the good!

That's been again the experience of the past couple of weeks

After my last blog...

My oncologist immediately got approval 

For me to have a chemotherapy treatment

Two different chemo drugs that I had not previously had

In an effort to deal with the cancer invasion

Into my lymph system

And its impact on my mobility

Rendering me incapable of walking without assistance.

It is working!!

I am now able to walk again 

With the slight aid of a cane for stability

The swelling decreasing

The pain lessening

That is the...YAY!!

I am thankful...

Oh...but the YUCK!

It has been hard

As the chemo has ravaged my digestive system

Seven straight days of hiccups!

Phlegm that blocks my airway

Rendering me unable to breathe

For several seconds at a time!

Scary!!

The pain and the pleasure go together

I am thankful...

It is scary...

What is next

I do not know what it will be

Whether entering into eternity or

Living many more years on earth?

What I am learning

Is that 

The pain and the pleasure go together

And the more I trust in

The goodness and greatness of God

In the midst of this very hard journey

The more content

I am daily to live today!

Enduring the pain

Enjoying the pleasure...

Thanks again for listening

And walking with Cindy and I through this cancer journey.

You are a blessing!

Dave