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.

 

 

 

 

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 [D1]