doctor call
Hello dear friends,
We received a call from Steve's cancer specialist today. He presented Steve in a meeting with all the cancer doctors Monday of this week. His nurse told us that as a group they believe that Steve would benefit from palpative care. She asked Steve how he would feel about that. I was very quiet as we both were on the phone. Steve looked at me and said is that part of hospice? She assured him that thier main concern was his comfort. And she encouraged him to come for a visit. After a few seconds Steve told her he was willing to try anything to help with the pain. He is my hero.
I have been a nervous wreck all afternoon. My insides feel as if they were quivering. I know in my heart it is the right thing to do and I have tried to be up beat with him. How did we get here from a broken rib? Chemo is not letting it heal and he can't stop the chemo because of kidney distress. So here we are. 14 years of fighting and I am wimping out now? Not by a long shot, My GOD IS IN CONTROL! I admit I am scared but I will do this and be there for Steve no matter what! Like a lot of you have already done for your husbands.
I found this in my daily devotion by Anne Graham Lotz, Dr Billy Graham's daughter:
Neither death nor life...
or things present nor things to come....
shall be able to separate us from the love of God.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
she went on to say that there would be nothing to separate us from each other or from God. Ever!
Praise God for his promises!!
love you all,
Wanda
Please join me in praying for Meriel's David. He is close to ending his journey on earth. I pray for God's mercy.
We received a call from Steve's cancer specialist today. He presented Steve in a meeting with all the cancer doctors Monday of this week. His nurse told us that as a group they believe that Steve would benefit from palpative care. She asked Steve how he would feel about that. I was very quiet as we both were on the phone. Steve looked at me and said is that part of hospice? She assured him that thier main concern was his comfort. And she encouraged him to come for a visit. After a few seconds Steve told her he was willing to try anything to help with the pain. He is my hero.
I have been a nervous wreck all afternoon. My insides feel as if they were quivering. I know in my heart it is the right thing to do and I have tried to be up beat with him. How did we get here from a broken rib? Chemo is not letting it heal and he can't stop the chemo because of kidney distress. So here we are. 14 years of fighting and I am wimping out now? Not by a long shot, My GOD IS IN CONTROL! I admit I am scared but I will do this and be there for Steve no matter what! Like a lot of you have already done for your husbands.
I found this in my daily devotion by Anne Graham Lotz, Dr Billy Graham's daughter:
Neither death nor life...
or things present nor things to come....
shall be able to separate us from the love of God.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
she went on to say that there would be nothing to separate us from each other or from God. Ever!
Praise God for his promises!!
love you all,
Wanda
Please join me in praying for Meriel's David. He is close to ending his journey on earth. I pray for God's mercy.
Replies
Wanda, I know it\'s scary, but we had a wonderful team caring for Bob in palliative care. The focus was on pain management and living life to the fullest. I do not regret his seeking palliative care, as there were so many compassionate people doing what was best for him. Your strong faith is shining :) Prayers for you both.
Karen
I\'m praying for you, Steve, Meriel and David. Hang in there! Steve is a fighter...and so are you!
Much Love,
Ingrid
Wanda, I know it is hard to hear those words. You both have fought for so long, longer than alot of people. Hopefully they will make him comfortable.
Love Julie
Hi Wanda,
When I read the first sentence I thought wow, they are presenting Steve\'s case as a wonderful miraculous example of how kidney cancer can be fought and fought some more. He is a miracle and so are you.
Now as to palliative care,,,,,,,,,do not fear that! People go in and out of that type of care you know, it is not a death sentence. It is a life line and truly helpful to you the caregiver especially! This is a good thing Wanda.
I pray for all our brave heroes and right now particularly for Meriel\'s David.
I hope his journey\'s end comes swiftly and peacefully IF it must come.
Lv, gloria
Wanda,
When I first heard the words Palliative Care I also became scared and wasn\'t sure what to think of it. We had a wonderful woman named Lisa come out to our house and she explained everything to us. She said when we were ready to make that decision to call. Because she liked us so much after meeting Buddy and myself when we finally called she decided to be the one the take our case. She was wonderful and so were all the staff that came out. Even the man that delivered the hospital bed as well as other equipment as it was needed. I can never thank them enough for there caring and support...God hand picks these wonderful people...because in time of comfort they know exactly what to do..Wanda you and Steve are always in my thoughts..love and peace...Ellen
Wanda, I know that was difficutl for your and Steve to hear, I feel it is a good step in his journey if it will help to ease the pain.. continued in prayer and our God is in control.
luv ya,
Annette
Wanda,
I know how scared you are my friend even though Steve is seeing the heart of a fighter. And you my friend have never been nor will you ever be a wimp! You and steve have been CHAMPIONS through this whole ordeal you both have had to face.
palliative care is pain amnagement, and that\'s what you need to focus on for the both of you. that Steve will be comfortable now, and you and he will have time together without the pain being the main focus. You will get more time to focus on each other.
I wish NONE of this ever had to happen to such good people. i wish i could wish it all away for you, but am happy that Steve hopefully will be free of some of that pain that has to be so excruciating for him and for you to watch!
BIG HUGS to you all the prayers i can muster, and my love to both of you.
Diane
Dear Wanda and, please tell Steve this is for him.....as Gloria said so perfectly here, people use palative care on an \"as needed\" basis. Both palative care and hospice help to make patients have less pain, but with hospice, there is no further treatments to prolong life. Palative care is for those who are still fighting for their life. Please make sure Steven understands this difference. With M, there was no palative care...only hospice. Like Gloria, I thought the gathering of the doctors was to put Steve\'s name in the medical history books or something. I am hoping and praying that he will be the first to be declared cured from that wonderful treatment that I know will be coming. I hope you and Steve can catch your breaths and continue your fight. You are so very brave to have fought this battle so long. You know how to do this...and, you can do this! Love you, Linda
Wanda....Oh Bless your heart, my dear friend!!
I agree with each gal who said that Palliative care is meant to ease Steve\'s pain while treatments are still provided !! Bob had palliative care from such wonderful, caring, sweet Doctors. We were so grateful for their terrific care and easing his pain and discomfort. Treatments were still being aggressively provided!!!
Take heart...I pray this will take away his pain and ease his discomfort!!
Love ya, Linda
I stopped just now and prayed for you and Steve both. I heard something recently that touched me. I think it was our pastor who said \"prayer changes things\" BUT not because it makes God change his mind, but be cause it changes our attitude in how we react as God\'s will takes place in our lives. Nothing earth shattering there, but it just gave me a sense of comfort and a whole new way to look at that phrase \"Prayer changes things.\" God IS in control and He will never leave you or forsake you.
Hugs
Angie
Dearest Wanda, I only want to reassure you in the same way as Linda and Gloria and others have done - D has been on palliative care ever since diagnosis, and the biggest and best thing it meant is that he had quick access to better pain relieving treatment. It does not mean the end. Really. It just means there are different folk trying to figure out how to help the pain, and, here anyway, palliative care teams are often at the cutting edge of pain relief. My prayer is for you to be calm, dear Wanda, and use the team as you need them. I understand the quivery insides. I have the quivery insides, I feel the shock that comes from what seems to be a big change. Dear Wanda, all my love and prayers to you and Steve
Meriel
Dearest Wanda,
My prayers and thoughts are with you both.
Love and hugs
Angel
Thank you to each of you. I looked it up last night and now fully understand what they do. I am comforted by your comments and the knowledge that you will be here for me. Praise God for all my friends.
Much love,
Wanda
Wanda, I know that this is a scary step, but I know what a wonderful group of people work in this field. It will help manage the pain that Steve is in and make thinkgs easier for you both. I know that your strong faith in God will guide your decisions, Your faith has given me strength many times, I pray for you both and for your friends as well. Love Jane
Oh Jana I have missed you so. I pray you are doing well are happy!
Love Wanda