Greetings to all !
I had said in my last entry that I would return in September, when I finished my Avastin treatments, to let you know how things were going. Well, things were going so well in September, October and November that I just didn’t get back to it. In October, we became grandparents again, as our son and daughter-in-law in Texas became proud parents of their second daughter. However, she arrived 8 weeks early and was the Big News for several weeks. She is now doing very well. I was able to spend a week there in November and enjoyed myself immensely. So those months were full and happy and I was feeling great. Family plans for Christmas were to rent a house in Austin and spend two weeks there, with various children coming and going as they were able. We were able to get a 5-bedroom, 3,000 sq. ft. place through my son’s business and it was looking good.
However, cancer never sleeps, you know and there was other stuff happening. I think I will give you a time-line here, so that you can see how events unfolded.
Sept. 16 – finished Avastin treatments
Sept. 24 (or so ) – had an unscheduled CT scan, chest and abdomen, because of a persistent ache in my right side. (Breast cancer can spread to lungs, liver, brain and bones – still treated as breast cancer). Abdomen was clear, but chest showed particulates in lungs; follow-up CT scan booked for Nov. 23
Oct. 1 – went to Seattle to see son and fiancée for a week’s visit
Oct. 14 – 4-week check-up after finishing Avastin; next check-up booked for Jan. 12
Oct. 20 – new granddaughter, Emmy, arrives, 8 weeks early
* Somewhere in here I joined the Active Lifestyle Centre and started taking line-dancing lessons
Nov. 14 – flew to Austin for ‘grandma week’
Nov. 23 – follow-up CT scan (Nov. 25 – gastroscopy for unhappy tummy)
Dec. 9 – call from my oncologist to book unscheduled visit Dec. 14 – not a good sign
- Texas baby comes home after 50 days in the NICU
Dec. 14 – devastating visit – bad news – cancer has spread to both lungs – I have to have more chemo and soon – would have me in right away if I wasn’t going to Texas – will start Jan. 4. This was one of the most surreal experiences of my life – I literally thought she had the wrong person for a minute, but the look on her face told me otherwise. We went home in shock – how could this possibly be true ? Very bad night – made worse for my children and extended family because I confused the terms ‘non-curable’ and ‘palliative’ – thought they were the same, but my sister corrected me. ‘Non-curable’ = chronic, with lots of treatment options (which is where I am!) but ‘palliative’ = nothing more can be done. I had to really hang on tight to God.
Dec. 15 – gastroscopy result = chronic gastritis = new meds = better
Dec. 16 – Christmas Assembly at my former school – I had the wonderful experience of leading the Christmas carols at the end – a real pick-me-up. However, pretty hard not to say something to dear friends there, but we had decided to let it rest until after Christmas and deal with it then. Some of them could ‘read’ me though and knew something was wrong. My news is also on the church prayer chain and will be in the bulletin on Sunday, so the word will get out. I want to be the one to let people know in quite a few cases – timing, timing !
Dec. 17 – Annual Christmas dinner with my teaching buds of a group that has been together 12+ years – after consultation, I decided to send them an e-mail Wed. night so that they knew but I didn’t have to tell them face-to-face. We had a few hugs and tears and then had a wonderful evening together, as always.
Dec. 18 – here’s where it gets interesting ! My Texas son called to ask if I would consider seeing doctors in there during our holiday. I agreed as long as it didn’t create any conflict with my wonderful oncologist here. We agreed that he would try to get an appointment with a nutrition PhD who specializes in treating cancer patients. When he called, he was told it would probably be a 6-week wait, and for a phone consultation, but to leave his name in case of a cancellation. 2 hours later, we had an office appointment Tuesday morning at 9:30 – we were arriving Monday night. (I found out later that my daughter-in-law’s sister had an appointment Wed. which she would have given me if nothing else worked out.) So – the first amazing thing was set up.
Dec. 19 – lovely dinner with a school friend who ‘read’ me Dec. 16- told the whole story and then had a nice evening together.
Dec. 20, 21 – Christmas Sunday – first public prayer for my health again – tears – so thankful for my church family. Also travel to Detroit that night and then flight to Austin Monday. Rental house is terrific ! Five of us there by that night – big reunion with Texas crew. First visit for everyone except me with new baby.
Dec. 22 – appointment with nutrition PhD. This was an amazing experience in so many ways. I brought my medical information with me to the appointment, including a page on my Canadian oncologist, for background info. On the page facing that, I had a copy of a page of scripture, 2 Samuel 22: 1 – 7, 17 – 22, that I had typed out for another friend who had dealt with cancer 7 –8 years ago – seemed timely for me now. As I put the binder up on the Dr.’s desk, he spotted the scripture and read it and then said to me – “OK – from now on, whenever you see your doctors, I want you to pray the prayer of Jeremiah 33:3 for them.” That established an immediate spiritual connection for me – I felt so clearly that God had brought me to this man and that I was in the right place. He went on to give me two things: A list of nutritional guidelines to follow as I battle this disease and a referral to the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center in Dallas. I could hardly believe my ears – what was a little Canuck doing at a research center in Dallas ?? My daughter and my Texas son were with me and took copious notes at this appointment.
Dec. 24 – we have an appointment in Dallas Dec. 30 ! God at work again – through the people that He has made available to me, including my Texas son who wants this to happen, big time.
Dec. 26 – the one day that we are all together at the rental house – able to have a huge Christmas dinner for 12 and a wonderful time. My sister didn’t make it ‘til midnight, due to weather problems on the east coast, but we counted her and she had turkey before she went to bed !
Dec. 27, 29 – various family members leave, sadly – we’ve had a great time together.
Dec. 30 – 4 of us (David and I, my sister and our Texas son) drive to Dallas to my appointment – 453 mi. round-trip. We have an hour’s consultation there and I am offered the chance to return for screening into another clinical trial for a phase 2 drug if my scheduled chemo here in Windsor does not prove effective against the cancer. There are another couple of options as well. We leave with a 21-page consent form for informational purposes ! Lots of technical reading ! I am amazed all over again at the doors that God is opening for me. Because it is a privately-funded hospital, and a clinical trial, there would be very few actual expenses for me, if I need to go this route. We went out to a steak restaurant for lunch to celebrate ! I had a buffalo filet – excellent – try it if you get the chance.
Jan. 2 – packed up and flew back to cold weather – but bringing a big load of hope as well! God is busy for me !
Jan. 4 – first chemo in Windsor (carbo-platinum, if you’re interested ). I also took my oncologist a packet of all the info I had received in Texas, plus a cover letter asking for time to talk about this. She’s incredibly busy right now, so time will tell.
Jan. 6 – going to London today with David for his pre-op appointment for his cataract surgery next week, Jan. 13 – hoping that this will brighten up his vision considerably, as it has been quite discouraging for him.
So – there you are! Up to date again! I can’t really tell you how much hope I came back with from Texas – such a confirmation that God is still in this with me and it helps so much to keep positive and focused on doing everything I can to battle this disease. I know that this will be a shock for some of you and please understand that if I saw you that week of Dec. 14 and didn’t say anything, it was because I just couldn’t then. And now that I can tell you all the wonderful things that happened in Texas, it is a much happier story, anyhow ! What if I hadn’t had that CT scan back in September ? I wouldn’t be seeing my oncologist until Jan. 12 !!!
Call me if you want – I can talk about it much better now. Thank you for your ongoing concern and prayers.
I’ll keep my blog up to date now and the story unfolds.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Final Post - Thursday, May 7, 2009
Why final ?? Because there's so little to report ! You can see that the time between posts has gotten longer and longer. That shows that I am better and better, doing more and more things that are part of normal life. I went to the USA with a group of girlfriends the last weekend in April to go shopping - had a great time ! David and I went to Toronto last weekend to attend a surprise birthday party for a dear friend of many years. We're heading out of town for Mother's Day and later this month, flying to Texas to spend time with family there and help our granddaughter celebrate her first birthday. I have been digging over flower beds and starting a new one, cutting the grass, and other usual household chores. So you can see that my energy level is much improved, along with my general health. I feel almost back to normal and am so thankful to be there. Thanks you all again so much for your prayers and love and support as I passed through this experience. It was humbling but such a comfort to know that so many took me 'under their wing' and held me up in prayer. It gave me courage.
The other big lesson I learned (re-learned?) through this is that God is present and active in our everyday lives; we have only to ask. I returned often to the promises I felt I had been given at the start of this and took strength and courage from them to keep on going. I can see so many ways that He provided, and continues to provide opportunities to be cared for and to get through this. Thanks be to God !
David continues to see improvement in his eye, although it is slower than he would wish. It tires as the day goes along and he often has a headache by the end of the day. He has a follow-up appointment early in June, so he is stil under the doctor's observation and care.
My sister was able to start driving herself last week and is enjoying the freedom that has been restored to her. That also means that she is at work longer, because there is no reason that she has to leave. She started working 5 days this week and is planning to attend a major annual conference for her profession in Calgary at the end of this month. So she is better, but still sore and still tires from the pain of the ribs and shoulder. It's a long process and she hasn't really been 'off work' to recover; the computer and the phone have always been there.
Once again, I thanks you so much for your interest, love, support and prayers. It was pretty scary there for a while but it looks like we're back in the sunshine and on the open road again. God is able !
(I plan to write again in September when I come off the trial drug and add any news that will result from that, but not until then unless there is other news.)
The other big lesson I learned (re-learned?) through this is that God is present and active in our everyday lives; we have only to ask. I returned often to the promises I felt I had been given at the start of this and took strength and courage from them to keep on going. I can see so many ways that He provided, and continues to provide opportunities to be cared for and to get through this. Thanks be to God !
David continues to see improvement in his eye, although it is slower than he would wish. It tires as the day goes along and he often has a headache by the end of the day. He has a follow-up appointment early in June, so he is stil under the doctor's observation and care.
My sister was able to start driving herself last week and is enjoying the freedom that has been restored to her. That also means that she is at work longer, because there is no reason that she has to leave. She started working 5 days this week and is planning to attend a major annual conference for her profession in Calgary at the end of this month. So she is better, but still sore and still tires from the pain of the ribs and shoulder. It's a long process and she hasn't really been 'off work' to recover; the computer and the phone have always been there.
Once again, I thanks you so much for your interest, love, support and prayers. It was pretty scary there for a while but it looks like we're back in the sunshine and on the open road again. God is able !
(I plan to write again in September when I come off the trial drug and add any news that will result from that, but not until then unless there is other news.)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Update - Friday, April 18, 2009
As you see, time between posts is extending and for a very good reason. There is less and less to report on - we are all getting better !
I am feeling better and stronger all the time, although I am not back to what I was before all this started. I'm now trying to sort out what is age-related fatigue and what is still recovery from medical treatments. Hard to know ! I was outside working for an hour or so yesterday in the sun and then sat for a while on the front porch in my favourite spot - more sun! Felt wonderful! Then I was in bed by 8:30...slept 12 hours. So - hard to tell. I'm desparately out of shape, one way or another and that will be my main project this spring and summer.
David had a follow-up visit to his eye surgeon this week and all is going well there, too. He has stitches in his eye which will dissolve but are still irritating. It will be 6 - 9 months before his vision has stabilized completely although he can see better all the time.
My sister continues to improve as well although it is also a slow process for her. The pins are out of her wrist, stitches for that are removed, sling is not needed all the time, physiotherapy is helping. Those broken ribs are still painful though and she still is using a cane. She gets to her office about three days a week and continues to work from home at other times as she has been doing right along. Ottawa has a great ParaTranspo service and this is her transportation most of the time.
So - we see on going improvements and are getting back into life. It's so good to feel healthy again ! Thank you for your ongoing prayers.
I am feeling better and stronger all the time, although I am not back to what I was before all this started. I'm now trying to sort out what is age-related fatigue and what is still recovery from medical treatments. Hard to know ! I was outside working for an hour or so yesterday in the sun and then sat for a while on the front porch in my favourite spot - more sun! Felt wonderful! Then I was in bed by 8:30...slept 12 hours. So - hard to tell. I'm desparately out of shape, one way or another and that will be my main project this spring and summer.
David had a follow-up visit to his eye surgeon this week and all is going well there, too. He has stitches in his eye which will dissolve but are still irritating. It will be 6 - 9 months before his vision has stabilized completely although he can see better all the time.
My sister continues to improve as well although it is also a slow process for her. The pins are out of her wrist, stitches for that are removed, sling is not needed all the time, physiotherapy is helping. Those broken ribs are still painful though and she still is using a cane. She gets to her office about three days a week and continues to work from home at other times as she has been doing right along. Ottawa has a great ParaTranspo service and this is her transportation most of the time.
So - we see on going improvements and are getting back into life. It's so good to feel healthy again ! Thank you for your ongoing prayers.
Monday, April 6, 2009
VERY Belated Update - Monday, April 6, 2009
Greetings! Well, a lot more time has gone by since I last wrote than I expected. The principal reason for that is my extended stay in Ottawa with my sister. I travelled there by train Monday, March 16 and was only there a couple of days when I realized that I needed to stay longer than I had planned. Broken ribs cannot be stabilized with bandaging or casts and almost every time she changed position, something shifted and hurt. Add to that a left shoulder needing a sling and a left wrist in a support/half cast and you are down to one working arm. So I was able to be chauffeur, sometime cook and general handy person for her for 2 weeks. I could have stayed longer, but I had my own medical appointments to keep back here. She is improving but it will still be several weeks before she has the use of her left arm and those ribs heal.
We were able to get in some visits with cousins and I still have a good friend from high school that I was also able to see, so we had some fun times, too.
I returned home by train Sunday, March 29 and had my last (I think) MUGA scan for my heart Monday and my delayed Avastin treatment in Windsor on Tuesday. Neither of these causes me any physical distress and I am now just generally recovering from the whole treatment procedure. I find that I do not need my afternoon rests as much - just every couple of days now, depending on what else I am doing, instead of every day. Also, my hair has grown back in enough that I have stopped wearing my wig and go out 'au naturel' now. It's quite grey/silvery and still quite short, so I look very different from what people are used to but it is a relief to be bare-headed again without the constriction of the wig. I practised in Ottawa to get used to it and am now letting the 'home folks' recognize the new me.
It is David who is keeping us from getting bored these days - he has had to have a second eye surgery for his detaching retina. He had a follow-up appointment Tuesday, March 24 for the first surgery - the second week that I was in Ottawa. Fortunately, our daughter was able to go with him to that appointment and when the doctor decided that a second surgery was necessary, she was able to stay and go with her dad to that, too. We certainly appreciated her help, both with her dad and for making it possible for me to stay in Ottawa with my sister. His second surgery was Friday, March 27 and he is still having some discomfort and other issues with it. After my Avastin treatment last Tuesday, I drove with him to Sarnia for his Board of Education meeting, so that I could drive home and those of you who know him will realize what a concession that is! Between the darkness and the forecasted rain, he did not feel that he could see well enough to drive home alone. He has a follow-up appointment next week and we will see what comes from that.
So - there you have it ! We are keeping on keeping on ! Thank you so much for your prayers and your ongoing interest and concern. We certainly appreciate them. I hope you have a blessed Easter, however you celebrate it and have time to remember and be thankful for the tremendous gift God gave through Christ's death and resurrection. Without it, we would have no reason to pray or to hope; I would have had no one to turn to these last few months for strength or hope as I faced this disease. But because of it and because I have chosen to place my trust in Him, I have been able to face it in confidence that my life is safe in His care and with faith that He is guiding and protecting me through this time. As the scriptures say, "Whoever will, may come" - it is a gift open to any who will choose it.
We were able to get in some visits with cousins and I still have a good friend from high school that I was also able to see, so we had some fun times, too.
I returned home by train Sunday, March 29 and had my last (I think) MUGA scan for my heart Monday and my delayed Avastin treatment in Windsor on Tuesday. Neither of these causes me any physical distress and I am now just generally recovering from the whole treatment procedure. I find that I do not need my afternoon rests as much - just every couple of days now, depending on what else I am doing, instead of every day. Also, my hair has grown back in enough that I have stopped wearing my wig and go out 'au naturel' now. It's quite grey/silvery and still quite short, so I look very different from what people are used to but it is a relief to be bare-headed again without the constriction of the wig. I practised in Ottawa to get used to it and am now letting the 'home folks' recognize the new me.
It is David who is keeping us from getting bored these days - he has had to have a second eye surgery for his detaching retina. He had a follow-up appointment Tuesday, March 24 for the first surgery - the second week that I was in Ottawa. Fortunately, our daughter was able to go with him to that appointment and when the doctor decided that a second surgery was necessary, she was able to stay and go with her dad to that, too. We certainly appreciated her help, both with her dad and for making it possible for me to stay in Ottawa with my sister. His second surgery was Friday, March 27 and he is still having some discomfort and other issues with it. After my Avastin treatment last Tuesday, I drove with him to Sarnia for his Board of Education meeting, so that I could drive home and those of you who know him will realize what a concession that is! Between the darkness and the forecasted rain, he did not feel that he could see well enough to drive home alone. He has a follow-up appointment next week and we will see what comes from that.
So - there you have it ! We are keeping on keeping on ! Thank you so much for your prayers and your ongoing interest and concern. We certainly appreciate them. I hope you have a blessed Easter, however you celebrate it and have time to remember and be thankful for the tremendous gift God gave through Christ's death and resurrection. Without it, we would have no reason to pray or to hope; I would have had no one to turn to these last few months for strength or hope as I faced this disease. But because of it and because I have chosen to place my trust in Him, I have been able to face it in confidence that my life is safe in His care and with faith that He is guiding and protecting me through this time. As the scriptures say, "Whoever will, may come" - it is a gift open to any who will choose it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Update - Sunday, March 15, 2009
We've just returned from a weekend in Kitchener- Waterloo where we attended the funeral of our youngest son's fiancée's mother. It was actually a very encouraging experience - a very strong family, strong in their love and support for each other and strong in their faith that their wife and mother is safe in Heaven's keeping.
Tomorrow, I take the train (the really early one!) to Ottawa to spend the week with my sister. I am looking forward to seeing her and being able to help her as she adjusts back to regular living. David is staying here and looking forward to a quiet week - not having to drive anyone anywhere !!
There's not much else to report - I'll bring news from Ottawa and elsewhere when I get back after March Break. Thanks again for your prayers for all of us.
Tomorrow, I take the train (the really early one!) to Ottawa to spend the week with my sister. I am looking forward to seeing her and being able to help her as she adjusts back to regular living. David is staying here and looking forward to a quiet week - not having to drive anyone anywhere !!
There's not much else to report - I'll bring news from Ottawa and elsewhere when I get back after March Break. Thanks again for your prayers for all of us.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Update - Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Another interesting week! We made it to London in good time last Wednesday - David drove - and had several eye examinations at the Ivey Institute on the south side of London. It was determined that surgery was needed and we were sent across town to St. Joseph's Hospital on the north side, where the ophthalmology surgery is done. After going through the regular admitting routines, we waited for a time slot and were fortunate to be called around 4:15 p.m. - could have been between 7 - midnight! The actual surgery took about 45 min. and by 5:45 I was back with David and we were being told we could go home. We were able to leave around 6:30 and had supper in London before driving home. What a day ! He had to sleep face down that night, because of the gas bubble in his eye holding the retina against the back of his eye. We were asked to return Thursday afternoon for a check-up, so I called Windsor and put my Avastin treatment over to Friday.
Good sleep for both of us that night and off to London again for the check-up. When the shield came off David's eye, it was a sight to behold - purple, swollen and the eyeball itself a blood red. Also, he could not see anything out of it, which was rather scary. However, it has improved daily and his vision is returning little by little. We return to London Tuesday March 24 for another check up and it will be interesting to see how much it has improved by then.
I drove myself to Windsor on Friday for my Avastin treatment, which went very well - a non-event. My blood pressure was exceptionally good, my port wasn't clogged - even had a nap while it was going in. If I had not been admitted to this clinical trial, I would have finished going to Windsor at the end of my radiation. As it is, I will see my oncologist every 3 weeks until Sept. and then every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for the next 2 years, so I will be well supervised. Since this type of cancer has a high rate of return in the first three years, that is especially good. Once I pass that three-year point, I will be considered 'out of the woods'.
My sister is continuing to do well at the rehab and will probably be going home this coming Friday. That will be a month from the time of her fall. She is looking forward to getting out of the hospital but also realizing that this will present new challenges to her. She won't be driving for a while, so has to make arrangements with the ParaTranspo service and a few other things like that. I am planning to take the train to Ottawa next week and spend some time with her.
Yesterday, we were saddened by the news of the death of our youngest son's fiancée's mother. She had surgery Dec. 11 for removal of her gall bladder; at that time multiple tumours were discovered in her digestive system and it was not possible to remove all of them. We had hoped for a longer time for her, but it was not to be. We plan to attend the funeral this weekend.
So - we go from day to day. Robins have returned, daffodils are poking up, spring is on its way. Thank you again for your prayers and for your thoughtfulness in sending cards. A special thank you to a good neighbour who magically brings chili on nights when I haven't got the energy to cook. May all your kindnesses come back to you !
Good sleep for both of us that night and off to London again for the check-up. When the shield came off David's eye, it was a sight to behold - purple, swollen and the eyeball itself a blood red. Also, he could not see anything out of it, which was rather scary. However, it has improved daily and his vision is returning little by little. We return to London Tuesday March 24 for another check up and it will be interesting to see how much it has improved by then.
I drove myself to Windsor on Friday for my Avastin treatment, which went very well - a non-event. My blood pressure was exceptionally good, my port wasn't clogged - even had a nap while it was going in. If I had not been admitted to this clinical trial, I would have finished going to Windsor at the end of my radiation. As it is, I will see my oncologist every 3 weeks until Sept. and then every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for the next 2 years, so I will be well supervised. Since this type of cancer has a high rate of return in the first three years, that is especially good. Once I pass that three-year point, I will be considered 'out of the woods'.
My sister is continuing to do well at the rehab and will probably be going home this coming Friday. That will be a month from the time of her fall. She is looking forward to getting out of the hospital but also realizing that this will present new challenges to her. She won't be driving for a while, so has to make arrangements with the ParaTranspo service and a few other things like that. I am planning to take the train to Ottawa next week and spend some time with her.
Yesterday, we were saddened by the news of the death of our youngest son's fiancée's mother. She had surgery Dec. 11 for removal of her gall bladder; at that time multiple tumours were discovered in her digestive system and it was not possible to remove all of them. We had hoped for a longer time for her, but it was not to be. We plan to attend the funeral this weekend.
So - we go from day to day. Robins have returned, daffodils are poking up, spring is on its way. Thank you again for your prayers and for your thoughtfulness in sending cards. A special thank you to a good neighbour who magically brings chili on nights when I haven't got the energy to cook. May all your kindnesses come back to you !
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
You Never Know....Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Greetings ! Yes, I finished my radiation treatments yesterday ! It seems rather unreal and will take a few days to sink in, I guess. I have an Avastin treatment on Thursday, so I won't be away from Windsor too long. However, after that, I think things will feel like they have changed, since I will only have to go back every 3 weeks now until September. I am tired, as I was advised I would be, and my radiation burn area is sore in a couple of spots, but that's all. I have cream to apply and I do! So it is now just a question of healing and recovering from all the treatments that I have had over the last 6 months.
Today brought a new health surprise for David. He had been noticing a dark spot in his right eye for several days, rather like an eclipse taking over part of his vision. It didn't hurt although it was tricky to read; still went to Toronto for his meeting on Friday and Saturday. (Our youngest son and his fiancée had come to drive me to Windsor.) Today we went to our optometrist and were told that he has a 25% detachment of the retina - quite a shock. He is scheduled for surgery at the Ivey Institute at Victoria Hospital in London tomorrow. We have to be there for 8:00 a.m. so it will be an early start ! As far as we know, he will be coming home the same day. We would appreciate your prayers for this situation.
My sister is still in hospital in Ottawa after her fall. She had surgery last Friday to correct her shoulder position and her wrist, since the doctors were not pleased with the way they were healing. This was unexpected and painful. Yesterday, she was moved to a rehab. unit at another hospital where she will be for 5 - 7 days while she is helped to learn techniques for dressing, showering and getting up out of a normal (flat) bed. Her left arm is in a sling to support her shoulder and her wrist is in a partial cast, so she has little use from it.
So there you have it. You never know what a day will bring ! Thanks again for your prayers.
Today brought a new health surprise for David. He had been noticing a dark spot in his right eye for several days, rather like an eclipse taking over part of his vision. It didn't hurt although it was tricky to read; still went to Toronto for his meeting on Friday and Saturday. (Our youngest son and his fiancée had come to drive me to Windsor.) Today we went to our optometrist and were told that he has a 25% detachment of the retina - quite a shock. He is scheduled for surgery at the Ivey Institute at Victoria Hospital in London tomorrow. We have to be there for 8:00 a.m. so it will be an early start ! As far as we know, he will be coming home the same day. We would appreciate your prayers for this situation.
My sister is still in hospital in Ottawa after her fall. She had surgery last Friday to correct her shoulder position and her wrist, since the doctors were not pleased with the way they were healing. This was unexpected and painful. Yesterday, she was moved to a rehab. unit at another hospital where she will be for 5 - 7 days while she is helped to learn techniques for dressing, showering and getting up out of a normal (flat) bed. Her left arm is in a sling to support her shoulder and her wrist is in a partial cast, so she has little use from it.
So there you have it. You never know what a day will bring ! Thanks again for your prayers.
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