4.30 p.m.

I reported that this last weekend was brutal.  Irene had extraordinary pain on Friday evening which ended up being a severely distended stomach.  She was rushed for a CAT scan with the concern of a perforation or burst in the intestinal/stomach areas.  Today is a new day.  She has no pain, the apparent blockage that caused the episode seems to have passed, and she’s doing very well.  The 24/7 dialysis was removed today.  She is having dialysis, but it will be daily for 2-3 hours instead of around the clock…The “nose tube” which was placed on Friday evening to siphon fluid from her tract has also been removed. What an amazing turnaround!!!!!!

The nursing team at UCSF has been extraordinary…they are many times the unrecognized and unsung heroes on the front line tending to patients.  Today I walked into the blood bank and saw Josephine Juan, one of the attending RN’s for Irene in the ICU, donating her O+ blood…Wow… so very cool that she wanted to donate for Irene…

Another friend, Kathy McFarland, is also giving platelets today…for the second time…Wow… driving over 4 hours twice…an amazing commitment to Irene….

I share these stories to let you know that everyone’s care and expressions are overwhelming us with thanksgiving…each person supporting us in their own way…. We thank you sooooooo much…!!!! We could not travel this road alone…thanks for your support…!!!!!!!

Dave

Dear Dave & Irene –
My wife Christina, my kids, Katarina (11) and Jake (9), and I are all praying for His strength to indwell you to overcome the pain you’re suffering while we wait on Him for the miracle of complete healing and recovery.  We have a couple churches here in the East Bay lifting you all up in prayer as well.

Speaking of miracles, I have a little one (or two) to tell you about…

I was planning my evening to go to my friend’s 27th birthday party, when I got the news my mom had been readmitted to the hospital.  She had only been home for 5 days.  Seven days before, my Mom was admitted to the hospital for edema which had made her legs soft like marshmallows.  Doctors had also found two blood clots.  One pulmonary, and one in her leg. 

I wrestled with heading to the emergency room where my mom, my dad, my sister and two of my parents closest friends, had already been waiting for hours to be admitted – or going to be with my friends to distract me from the worry that consumed me. In thoughts of my mom, I made a twenty-six picture collage out of 8½ x 11’s with aspirations of a cheery hospital room.  When I finished my collage, I took a shower and got into bed.  I called my dad.