Back and forth...

Wow, I don't know where to start, but it has certainly been an eventful week. Mom was transfered from the stroke unit at Hoag to the Cancer ward, which is good in that the immediate danger was gone. She was released last night to a nursing home so she could undergo physical therapy. This morning, she had seizures and was taken back to the ER at Hoag hospital. She is now admitted back to the stroke unit at Hoag. Praise the Lord that there was no bleeding in her brain and that she is in a ward where they know her already and are loving and caring.

Thank you all so much for coming to visit, sending cards and flowers... and most of all for your prayers.

May God bless you abundantly!!!

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

New Room

Mom is barely eating the past 3 days. Her infection is getting better after they have removed the porta-cath. They have her on anti-clotting meds now. Last night they moved her to the oncology floor. I wish she could talk so we would know more what she needs. I am thankful to God that the Lord knows all of her needs and promises not to leave us or forsake us.

We have mom's caregiver coming to the hospital daily now. Thank you so much for your cards, flowers, visits and especially your prayers.

Update From Hoag

My mom is stable now and they are still trying to determine the cause of her strokes. There are a few complications. They found a clot in one of her calves but do not seem too worried about the clot for now. One of the concerns is that she has a bacteriological infection in her blood. There are 2 different kinds of bacteria. They are not sure of the source of the infection but are treating her with antibiotics. Please pray that the infection will go away and they will be able to prevent further infection. Mom is still unable to talk but the doctor says this can improve over time and they are having speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy… I am praying that even though my mom is unable to speak, we will be able to understand her wants and needs. There are so many things that are still unknown and her situation is very complicated. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and staff as well as wisdom for our family as we try to do what is best for mom.

We have been blessed by everyone’s kindness and for all of the prayers on my mom’s behalf. This weekend, people have come to the hospital and prayed for my mom and sang hymns and praise songs and we have all been very touched.

Thank you for your love and prayers.

Psalm 121
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

ER Again

We just got home from the ER. Mom is back in the hospital. Her oncologist sent her to a specialist to get another CT scan this morning. She was not doing well today and the CT scan shows that she probably had multiple strokes, though they were small. We are not sure why they didn't show up before but I know that God has given the doctors wisdom to be able to figure out what happened. We are now praying that they will be able to figure out how to stop the strokes and that she will be able to recover.

Praise God that she has a wonderful oncologist who has been referring her to specialists for each obstacle that comes her way and praise the Lord for His watch over my mom.

Please pray for continued wisdom and guidance for the medical team and continued healing for my mom. It is truly a miracle that her pain from the cancer is so much better. It appears the treatments for the cancer are working. She is off of the chemo for now until she stabilizes.

God bless you all!!

Another round of consultations...

After another trip to the ER my mom has been getting weaker and has lost much of her cognitive skills. She is unable to speak. It looks like mom may have lesions on her brain. Because of her pacemaker they can't do an MRI, but it looks like my mom's cancer may have matastasized to her brain. They are not sure whether it is the pancreatic cancer or liver cancer. They also can't rule out that it's an entirely different cancer.

The tests aren't conclusive because the CT scans are not as clear as an MRI. She goes to another oncologist for consultation on Thursday.

There is a caretaker coming on Wed to help as it is too much for my father. I've been staying over here but honestly, I don't know what I'm doing. Please pray for wisdom for my family and for the doctors as we seek the best course for my mother.

Though all of this time has been difficult, God has given us much to rejoice about. My mom's good friends came by this week and one is here visiting from Japan. It was so good to see my mom laughing and listening as they sang hymns to her and then they all gathered around her bed and prayed. Thank God for amazing friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

Thank you for your prayers!!!

I wanted to share some praises this week. God is truly a God of miracles and I
continually am amazed at His faithfulness in spite my own shortcomings.

My mother is home from the hospital. Since she has been back, she got much more
disoriented due to low sodium levels. Yesterday she could not even talk or get
up. The doctor reduced her meds and she is doing much better today, though
still struggling to form words. The wonderful news is that her sodium levels is
back up, her liver functions seems to be improving (hopefully a sign that the
chemo is working). Before she went into the hospital, she was not eating at all
for weeks. Miraculously, for no reasons the doctors can figure out, she has a
very good appetite. We know it is because of all of the prayers on her behalf.
We are so thankful to God for leading us to the most amazing team of oncologists
and for faithful friends and family who continue to pray.

Thank you all for your faithful prayers.

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that
great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make
you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well
pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Linda