7.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in…....my calendar has been rigorous and unforgiving…and it will continue to challenge my ability to write regular updates…....the good news is that Irene’s cycle and routine continues…...the bad news is that Irene’s cycle and routine continues…....

I’ll check back in a few days with another update…..

Thanks for caring,
Dave

7.30 p.m.

Hi….....it’s been awhile since I’ve posted and update since there’s been no change in the cycle.  On non dialysis days Irene does well enough that people are not even remotely aware that she’s physically challenged.  The EXTREME opposite occurs following dialysis treatment and this evening is no exception.

Thanks for caring…......

Dave

8 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.  The cycle continues with Irene doing fairly well on non dialysis days but the dialysis days are brutal.  She’s having a rough evening.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

8.30 pm

Thanks for checking in. 

If you viewed the PICS of Irene on Facebook that we took on Easter Sunday one would be hard pressed to argue or comprehend that she was ill at all….because she looked so GREAT!

It’s a rough Monday evening following diallysis….need I say more….????????

....thanks for caring…....

Dave

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

— “Blessings” LYRICS by Laura Story

7 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.  It’s been the usual cycle for Irene this last week…dialysis days being difficult and the off days being better.  This evening the nausea is raging and she’s really endeavoring to find that comfortable position…

Hoping for a better tomorrow…...and Easter Sunday.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

7.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.  Irene enjoyed yesterday with Nancy Worden and into the evening with Jocelyn & Vince.  Today was a rough day at dialysis and this evening she’s endeavoring to endure the discomfort.

Brutal cycle…and hoping, as is the norm, that tomorrow is a better day.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

8.30 p.m.

I read this the other day:

“God has generously granted you the privilege, not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Christ’s sake.”
Philippians 1:29

I am musing on that verse….....and have a few questions for you and me…....

* Would you (would I) consider it a privilege to suffer for Christ?

* Is Irene suffering for Christ’s sake?

* How does or doesn’t Irene’s journey relate to the suffering of Christ?

Food…for thought,
Dave

5.30 p.m.

Irene was able to muscle through dialysis treatment today without significant pain…...so the only challenge this evening is the ongoing nausea and chronic fatigue.  Sounds kind of funny to write that…........

Thanks for caring,
Dave

8.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in!  Irene had much better weekend. 

On Saturday we enjoyed a drive to the greater Monterey/Pacific Grove region and this morning around the greater Santa Cruz area before just relaxing around the “neighborhood” for the balance of the day.  Her nausea remained “at bay”.

We’re hoping this next week she overcomes the challenges that she’s recently experienced @ dialysis.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

7 p.m.

This late breaking email from Dr. Damon is encouraging!

Enjoy!

Dave
_____________________________

Dave,
Below are Irene’s lab tests – nothing remarkable. The free light ratio remains normal, so she continues to be in complete remission of amyloid!!

The labs do not explain her anemia beyond renal failure. The TSH is a bit high, and might suggest a low thyroid function (which can cause anemia), but her T4 is normal, ruling out a low thyroid function. Her ferritin is high, seen in renal failure, and high enough to rule out iron deficiency. The retic count was a bit high, reflecting young red blood cells made by the bone marrow in response to her epo dose the day before. In sum, this lab work does not explain her anemia, except for the renal failure. If the anemia continues to be an issue, then we’ll need to do a bone marrow biopsy – time will tell. L. Damon, MD

DIAS, IRENE                           USER:Damon
===============================================================================
*=abnormal   l*=low   h*=high   L*=panic low   H*=panic high   #=normal unknown
SITE   DATE   TIME LABORATORY         RESULTS   UNITS   NORMAL   ACRO
===============================================================================
PARN 3-15-12 12:11 DIRECT COOMBS TEST                         DRCT
              DIR. ANTIGLOBULIN TEST   NEG                 %DBS
          09:52 UNACCEPTABLE SPECIMEN                       USPE
              BLOOD BANK                             UBBS
                Patient info on requisition missing, incorrect or
                illegible
                DIRECT ANTI HUMAN GLOGULIN TEST (DCT)
                Unit or MD notified
                PAULA ACC TX AT 3 2252/RJT
          08:30 CBC WITH/DIFF & PLT CT
              WBC COUNT           5.1   x10E9/L 3.4-10   WBC
              RBC COUNT         l*2.90   x10E12/L 4.0-5.2   RBC
              HEMOGLOBIN         l*10.1   g/dL   12.0-15.5 HGB
              HEMATOCRIT         l*29.8   PERCENT 36-46     HCT
              MCV             h*103   fL     80-100   MCV
              MCH             h*34.7   pg     26-34     MCH
              MCHC               33.8   g/dL   31-36     MCHC
(Q=Quit, =Continue, P=Patient, C=Copy to ptr, ?=Help,
ARN 3-15-12 08:30   PLATELETS           169   x10E9/L 140-450   PLT
              NEUTS             2.99   x10E9/L 1.8-6.8   N-A
              LYMPHS             1.64   x10E9/L 1.0-3.4   L-A
              MONOS             0.35   x10E9/L 0.2-0.8   M-A
              EOS               0.12   x10E9/L 0.0-0.4   E-A
              BASOS             0.03   x10E9/L 0.0-0.1   B-A
              RETIC CT BY FLOW CYT   h*109.8   x10E9/L 21-80     RETF
              ELECTROLYTE PANEL
              SODIUM, SERUM         144   mmol/L   135-145   NA
              POTASSIUM, SERUM       4.0   mmol/L   3.8-5.1   K
              CHLORIDE           100   mmol/L   97-108   CL
              CARBON DIOXIDE, TOTAL   30     mmol/L   22-32     CO2
              ANION GAP           14           4-14     ANGA
                Anion gap is calculated as Na-(Cl+CO2)
              UREA NITROGEN         h*37     mg/dL   6-22     BUN
              AST                 19     U/L     17-42     AST
              ALT                 24     U/L     11-50     ALT
PARN 3-15-12 08:30 BILIRUBIN TOTAL         0.5   mg/dL   0.2-1.3   BILT
              ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE   h*152   U/L     31-95     ALKP
              PROT ELECTROPHORESIS                 XXXX     PE
                Normal pattern
              PROTEIN, TOTAL       7.1   g/dL   6.0-8.1   TP
              ALBUMIN (PART OF PE)    4.6   g/dL   3.1-5.4   ALBL
              ALPHA-1 GLOBULIN       0.1   g/dL   0.1-0.3   A1G
              ALPHA-2 GLOBULIN       0.8   g/dL   0.4-1.2   A2G
              BETA GLOBULIN         0.8   g/dL   0.6-1.2   BGL
              GAMMA GLOBULIN       0.8   g/dL   0.6-1.6   GG
                Interpreted by: Theodore W. Kurtz M.D.
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
PARN 3-15-12 08:30 IMMUNOFIXATION, SERUM               XXXX     IFE
                No paraproteins present
                Interpreted by: Theodore W. Kurtz M.D.
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              IGG                 1040   mg/dL   672-1760   IGG
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              IGM                 68     mg/dL   39-333   IGM
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              IGA                 163   mg/dL   89-581   IGA
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
PARN 3-15-12 08:30 TSH(THYROTROPHIN)      h*6.48   mIU/L   0.40-4.00 TSH
                ADD 3/15 @9:12 PER JEN 38167
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              FERRITIN           h*994   ug/L   10-291   FERR
                ADD 3/15 @9:12 PER JEN 38167
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              CREAT WITH eGFR
              CREATININE         h*5.90   mg/dL   0.52-1.06 CR
              eGFR IF CAUCASIAN     l*7     mL/min   >60     GFRC
              eGFR IF AFRICAN AMER   l*9     mL/min   >60     GFRA
                eGFR corrected for 1.73 sq meters body surface area
                NOTE: eGFR is only an estimation. Please see on-line
                Lab Manual for potential limitations
PARN 3-15-12 08:30 FREE T4             11     pmol/L   9-24     FT4
                ADD 3/15 @9:12 PER JEN 38167
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              VITAMIN B12           432   ng/L   211-911   VB12
                Request added on
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              FOLATE, RBC         h*1254   ug/L RBC 280-791   RFOL
                ADD 3/15 @9:12 PER JEN 38167
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              CHOL, TRIG, HDL, & LDL
              CHOLESTEROL, TOTAL     184   mg/dL   <200 CHOL
Desirable
TRIGLYCERIDES h*230 mg/dL <150 TRIG
Suggests high cardiovascular risk
PARN 3-15-12 08:30 HDL CHOLESTEROL 49 mg/dL >39     HDL
                Acceptable
              CHOL HDL RATIO       3.8         <6.0     CHOR
              NON HDL CHOLESTEROL     135   mg/dL   <160     NHDL
                Near or above optimal
              LDL CHOLESTEROL       89     mg/dL   <130     LDL
                Optimal
              K/L LT CHAINS,FREE
              KAPPA/LAMBDA RATIO     0.93         0.26-1.65 KLR
                Perfrm’d at UCSF China Basin Lab, 185 Berry, San
                Francisco, CA 94107
              KAPPA LT CHAIN,FREE   h*66.0   mg/L   3.3-19.4   KAPF
              LAMBDA LT CHAIN,FREE   h*71.1   mg/L   5.7-26.3   LAMF

4 p.m.

No word from UCSF today relative the blood test results which were were hoping to have by now.

Irene had significant pain today during dialysis but patiently endured. Her right arm could not straighten for about 30 minutes following her session today. She's at home wrestling with the unrelenting nausea.

Thank for caring,
Dave

8 p.m.

Irene wrestled through dialysis today and ALMOST completed the session. Her nausea is raging this evening but she's still smiling...as usual...!

Hoping for recovery and a better tomorrow.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Philippians 3:10-11 (Amplified)
_________________________

I have been reflecting on this verse in each of those translations and wondering how many followers of Christ can sincerely align with Paul’s prayer. Do we long to participate in Christ’s sufferings? Is it our desire to “share” in His sufferings? My guess is that for most of us the answer is an emphatic “NO…!”

In the amplified version I’m even more intrigued with the emphasis on WHY Paul longs to participate in Christ sufferings, “…as to be continually transformed…” Most of us would probably conclude that we don’t want a transformational life that badly…or do we?

No one in their right mind would choose the bed of suffering that Irene continues to “joyfully” endure. She is not in denial; she is not oblivious of the challenge. Yet she faces the ongoing trial with a spiritual strength and underpinning that most would have relented to long ago. “Redemption” in the midst of suffering is the transformational life that Irene demonstrates before us. Her participation in the “sufferings of Christ” is producing spiritual fruit for today and beyond…as many of us observe with humility and grace. It is unexplainable and beyond comprehension, how one can continue to face the unyielding, 24/7 onslaught without concluding the powerful manifestation of Christ’s love that is in our midst.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

Thanks for caring,
Dave

7.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene's dialysis treatment today was a significant struggle and it's carried over to this evening. She's fighting significant nausea after today's bout.

Earlier today the technicians had great difficulty getting the needles working appropriately in the fistula region and Irene had chronic pain but finished the session.

Thanks for caring,
Dave