Despite Monday, Wednesday and Friday dialysis treatment days where she’s literally physically washed out, Irene usually has somewhat of a “bounce” on the “non dialysis” days.  Today, there was no bounce.  She remained severely fatigued and nauseated.  Perhaps it was because of the early morning trip to UCSF for the blood test. 

Irene hopes that tomorrow her energy will return despite it being a dialysis day.  She did muster enough energy to meander outside for awhile to breakup the monotony of the day.

UCSF will alert us as soon as the amyloid test values are reported. 

Stay tuned, and thanks for caring.

Caminando con Fé
Dave

The BIG question…

We venture to UCSF tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, 2008, for another blood draw and amyloid test to see what the current value is in her bloodstream.  Obviously, the question of the day is whether or not the value has diminished or otherwise. We will not learn the test results until sometime next week. 

Here is the amyloid value history…


June 2007 652 (stem cell transplant)
July 2007 78.5
October 2007 33.1
February 2008 56.7
March 2008 90
May, 2008 ??

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis this morning and, once again, came home completely washed out.  The extreme nausea and incessant fatigue, combined with a severe headache, caused considerable discomfort.  She napped and rested all day. 

So, the big question remaining is what the current amyloid value is.  The answer to that question defines much of what the future looks like. 

Thanks for caring.

Caminando con Fé
Dave

12 p.m. QUICK UPDATE!!!

Thanks for checking in!!  Irene is having a much better day...she’s reporting it is 90% better than yesterday…

Thanks for praying!
Dave

How do you spell EXHAUSTED?

According to dictionary.com, exhausted is…

• drained physically
• depleted of energy, force, or strength
• extremely tired

How do you spell FATIGUE?

According to dictionary.com, fatigue is …

• the decreased capacity or complete inability of an organism, an organ, or a part to function normally because of excessive stimulation or prolonged exertion
• physical or mental weariness

EXHAUSTION and FATIGUE have been the prevailing words defining Irene’s experience today.  Combine those realities with EXTREME NAUSEA and they’re a combination for a very challenging day. 

After driving herself to and from dialysis she napped and rested, utterly wrung out.  Irene rests in the comfort of her favorite verse:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

…we wait with hopeful expectation of a new and better tomorrow. 

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Irene soloed last Wednesday through Friday evening as I traveled to Washington DC for client meetings.  She did well, driving herself to and from dialysis treatment and keeping the house in order. 

The highlight of her last few days was attending a luncheon at Monte Vista Christian School, http://www.mvcs.org, where Marsha Tarr, a dear friend, was celebrated for 30 years of faithful service as a science teacher.  Sue Martinez picked Irene up from dialysis treatment and took her to the event. Marsha taught both Jocelyn & JoAnna.  MVCS is a “city on a hill” and has been a significant place where Irene has enjoyed sweet fellowship, support and community with many wonderful people over the years. 

The dialysis center is testing Irene again this weekend for kidney function and we should have results by mid week.  Her nausea prowls and chronic fatigue is a growing challenge.  However, Irene's attitude and enthusiasm are inspiring. She regularly flashes her signature smile along the journey!!!

Thank you for your continued support.

Caminando con Fé
Dave

Irene had what we would define as a fairly typical day, pre-illness, despite the nagging nausea which comes in capricious waves.  After briskly working in the yard this morning, she was able to get out for several hours and accomplish many tasks of the day.

However, we also remember that…

.... you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
James 4:14

It’s amazing to realize that It was exactly one year ago, April 30, 2007, that Irene was hospitalized for the first time on this outrageous journey…

As we countdown to May 8, 2008, at UCSF, when the next amyloid blood value will be measured again, there is a sense of expectation, wonder and concern.  We’ll soon find out if the amyloid is increasing, decreasing or simply hovering in her bloodstream.  The results will determine the appropriate course of action, and, of course, we’re praying for a decrease and ultimate demise of the amyloid in the form of remission.

In the meantime, we endeavor to live life to its fullest each day, reminded that our life is merely a mist, however ordered of the Lord.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

*** The next update is scheduled for Sunday, May 4th

Sunday afternoon “candid” .... a casual day on the Monterey Bay ....

Once again, Shirley Churchill graciously worked with Irene for 2+ hours on physiology techniques designed to wake up Irene’s kidneys.  Shirley has been ministering to Irene weekly and in this fashion for at least 6 months.  It’s an amazing demonstration of commitment to someone else’s wellbeing. It’s an amazing demonstration of Christ-Centered Love.  Shirley is a faithful, serving friend, and Irene is humbled by Shirley’s servant’s heart.

As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:17

Irene and Shirley have definitely become spiritual soul mates on Irene’s Journey of Faith.  And this friendship will last for eternity.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

“Prayer Warriors” Bill and Carol Moorehead are visiting us for the weekend.  Bill Moorehead is my mom’s brother.  Uncle Bill is facing a significant challenge of his own with esophagus and liver cancer and is undergoing an experimental treatment protocol at this time and is beating the odds!!  They drove from Phoenix and are leaving for Nor Cal tomorrow!!  My usual “Caminando con Fé” signature is a result of their gift of four baseball caps to our family during Irene’s stem cell transplant hospitalization at UCSF.  The caps were given as a symbol of unification as we rallied around Irene.

Caminando con Fé is translated, “walking with faith”.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

When I am weak, He is strong
2 Corinthians 4:12b

Irene has been recently praying for a good attitude, strength and courage for the acceptance of whatever is required of her each day.  The uncertainty of being told that she was in remission and then to learn soon afterward that the amyloid values have actually increased have been the underlying motivation for her prayers at this time. 

Today she was sitting in the dialysis chair feeling somewhat diminished emotionally and was becoming very introspective related to the journey that she’s on.  She longs for the day that she doesn’t have to do dialysis three days a week.  She longs for the day when the Lord will completely heal her.

After a Starbucks run on the way home and chatting with her new pals (Starbucks employees), she was really blessed by a conversation she had with a friend.  This particular person has been a blessing to Irene along the journey by reaching out to her in a variety of ways and acknowledging her constant support which includes DAILY reading of the updates on the website.  Today she shared with Irene that because of Irene’s faithfulness she and her family are now attending church believing that it is important for her children to have a spiritual foundation.  Irene was very encouraged by these words, knowing that her faithfulness is influencing others and their relationship with God.  The words spoken to Irene were a reminder that God is in control.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24

Irene emphatically acknowledges that the faithful prayers of many are sustaining her on the journey and for that she has a THANKFUL heart. 

When I am weak, He is strong
2 Corinthians 4:12b

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Proverbs 8

Wisdom’s Call

1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.

15 By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;

16 by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.

17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.

18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.

19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;

23 I was appointed [d] from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

32 “Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.

36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”

I took this extemporaneous photo of Jocelyn when she came by the house today. 

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis and came home very fatigued and particularly nauseated which was incessant.  She rested for the balance of the afternoon.  Irene enjoyed seeing Jocelyn for an early evening visit!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

What’s got a 500-foot wing-span, flies at 90,000 feet and stays up in the air for five years without ever touching the ground?

If the Pentagon has its way, it’ll be the Vulture, its planned long-, long-, long-range unmanned surveillance and communication aircraft.

.... and, in some circles, SURVEILLANCE is a nasty word ....

Irene had a wonderful time meeting with Denise (Cauwels) Haikkila at a local Starbucks (where else??) today.  Irene’s energy was up, her nausea was present but bearable, and she was busy with household activities.  It was quite a contrast to yesterday’s fatigue and a much more encouraging day!!

Some call Him the “Hound of Heaven” because of His unremitting pursuit of man.  I call that pursuit “surveillance of the heart”.  Why, you ask?  Because God knows our deepest thoughts and longings, whether well intended or otherwise, and before we even dare to utter them to our lips, He is initiating activity all around us and drawing our hearts and minds to Him.

SURVEILLANCE of the HEART is occurring 24/7 by a loving and caring God, who surveys the condition of our hearts that we might be in right relationship with Him, for He calls us to an intimate, dynamic and fulfilling relationship with Him.

We need not fear God’s “surveillance of the heart” for He isn’t a vulture and doesn’t spy on us, but rather, He relentlessly pursues us in order to accomplish His purposes in us. 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

This is what the LORD says —
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.”

Isaiah 48:17

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10b

This kind of “heart” SURVEILLANCE is welcome anytime!!!!!!

Caminando con Fé

Dave

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:3-4

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis treatment today but came home extremely fatigued and nauseated.  She took a 3+ hour nap and rested for the balance of the day.  The quick weekend to S. Cal and today’s dialysis treatment really took a physical toll.  Thanks for prayerfully intervening on her behalf.

The wonder of His care for us remains a mystery other than that which He reveals to us in His Word.

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

Caminando con Fé

Dave