3.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in. 

Irene did some heavy lifting today during dialysis treatment, enduring a series of cramps in her kidney, abdominal region and both legs.  The session lasted 4 hours. For the first timein 4.5 years, she required oxygen assistance during the last 30 minute duration of the treatment.

She cautiously drove home and is battling ongoing cramps and raging nausea.  It looks like a tough evening ahead.

...hoping for a better tomorrow…

Thanks for caring,
Dave

9.15 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene rebounded from a very tough Friday night following dialysis and enjoyed yesterday and today's recovery.

Tomorrow she's back at it with dialysis where the technicians are establishing a new buttonhole in her fistula region per the direction of UCSF's medical team...thank you, Scott Bush and Dr. Charles Eichler...!!!

We're reflecting on the reality that our experience today is preparation for tomorrow's uncertainty.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

8.30 pm

Thanks for checking in.

Irene's had the usual week of ups and downs relative the surreal journey of non dialysis days being somewhat normative and the dialysis days being brutal from a NAUSEA perspective. She just shared that it's a 10 on a 1-10 scale.

Hoping the the new day...and thanks for caring,
Dave

This devotional thought is provided by the late Oswald Chambers:

"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" — Acts 26:14

Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.

Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.

7.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene's appointment was very productive today...our friend and UCSF technician, Scott Bush, performed the ultra sound, and she had a good office visit with Dr. Eichler. They are recommending a mitigation strategy at the dialysis center which hopefully addresses the challenges that Irene's been facing.

Thanks for caring...!!!
Dave

8.30 p.m.

Thanks for checking in.

Irene's really tustling through this evening after an extended dialysis treatment today which lasted 3.5 hours on the machine. The nausea is raging, she's fatigued and can't find that comfortable position.

We'll be up and out of the house by 6 am tomorrow for an 8 am appointment @ UCSF with Dr. Charles Eichler. She's hoping to learn more about why she's beginning to once again experience pain in the fistula region which is now enlarged and has taken on a different shape than the surgery was first realized.

On Friday, Irene will again endure 3.5 hours of dialysis treatment (30 minutes beyond the norm) in order to make up for the early withdrawel from treatment yesterday.

Her comment this evening..."I can't believe it's been almost 5 years..." The first hint of trouble was in February, 2007. This surreal journey gives new definition to the word marathon.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

5 p.m.

Thanks for checking in. Irene was relieved early from her dialysis treatment today when the pain in her arm became unbearable. She'll have to make up the time on Wednesday. We have an appointment @ UCSF on Thursday with Dr. Eichler who performed the FISTULA surgery. The timing is good since that 's where Irene is experiencing the challenge today.

She's resting, recovering, nauseated and fatigued.

Thanks for caring,
Dave

Philip Yancey has observed, “Jesus did not come into the world to explain suffering—or to take it away—but to fill it with His presence in His time” (1984)

This post is by Frank Johnson — the guy who helps Dave with IreneDias.com. Here’s a video in which Dave is presented with the 2011 Caregiver Award by the Invisible Disabilities Association. I know that all of us will agree that the award is well-deserved!

“When He was alone . . . the twelve asked Him about the parable” —Mark 4:10

...from Oswald Chambers:

His Solitude with Us. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).
As you journey with God, the only thing He intends to be clear is the way He deals with your soul. The sorrows and difficulties in the lives of others will be absolutely confusing to you. We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone. Are we alone with Him now? Or are we more concerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares for our bodies? Jesus cannot teach us anything until we quiet all our intellectual questions and get alone with Him.

Irene continues to live above her circumstances and enters 2012 with abundant hope faith and optimism.  Her dialysis days continue to be a significant challenge but she courageously faces the next with rigor and enthusiasm.

THANK YOU for the many who continue to CARE and check in.  I’ve been using Facebook as a platform to express our daily comings and goings because of its ease of use…but this website remains a special and more intimate expression of our spiritual lives…and certainly has been a very powerful means for updating those closest to Irene on this surreal journey.  She reminded me this morning that there is no cure for Primary Amyloidosis…yet she’s determined to OVERCOME.

We wish you and yours a prosperous, abundant 2012 and beyond…!!!

Dave

Thanks for checking in.  It’s been awhile since I’ve done an update but for those of you who are connected via Facebook you’ve got a really good idea of what’s going on…!!!

Irene’s journey continues…with some really good days and enjoying the holiday season. 

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays remain the most difficult because the electrolytes and dialysis treatment rears the ugly nausea monster.  She tustles through those challenging afternoon/evening/nights and usually recovers by the following day.

Last evening we had a really fun dinner with Matt, Shannon & Jake Fidiam (Caleb was pre-occupied) at Little Tampico Restaurant in Soquel. 

Feel free to connect via Facebook since my business travel prevents me from doing extensive IreneDias.com updates at this time.

Thanks for CARING…!!!
Dave

Thanks for checking in.

Irene's routine has been steady...weekend reprieve and brutal dialysis days on Monday, Wednesday and Friidays. She's experiencing a VERY ROUGH afternoon.

Last weekend was fun with a visit with Greg & Colleen Dias (my bro and his bride) but it's back to the ruthless and unrelenting GRIND for Irene today.

Hoping for a better tomorrow...

...but I am compelled to conclude with this parting observation...I have NEVER met ANYONE with the stamina, positive attitude, poise, grace and faith that Irene has exhibited on this entire journey...

Thanks for caring,
Dave

Be sure to watch the entire video — and pay close attention to Steve Green’s poignant commentary beginning at the 4:19 mark.

8 p.m.

Thanks for checking in. 

Irene had a good weekend although her energy level continues to be challenging.  Her blood count level is low so they’re endeavoring to increase it with medication.  Today, she had severe cramping at dialysis and the nausea is raging this evening.  She’s DRAINED and wrung out…hoping for a better tomorrow.

Hoping she rebounds…as is her three day a week pattern.

Thanks for caring,
Dave