The First Week

On Tuesday morning, Jim underwent a bone marrow biopsy. Even as sick and sedated as he was, the nurses told me later that he gave the doctor doing the procedure a hard time about the type of instrument they used to tap into his bone. He suggested it might work better to use a double helix screw. The doctor guessed, at that point, that Jim was an engineer. It was great to see that Jim still had a sense of humor, but it was also very difficult to see him so sick. Later in the day, he underwent a "bronch" where a tube was put down into his lung to "wash" the lung and gather a sample to determine what type of bacteria he was fighting. That procedure was very successful in terms of helping Jim to breathe easier and easing his cough.

We didn't realize that the results of the biopsy would take a while and even though we didn't have all the results, we felt it was necessary to tell our boys the full story of what was going on with their Dad. I returned home from the hospital to be there when they came home from school. Telling them this news was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. After lots of tears and working through the initial shock, they boys wanted to go to the hospital to see their Dad. It was a tender sweet family moment full of tears. but we also reassured each other that the Lord has aways been faithful to us, and we will depend on Him again for our strength and peace and for healing of this disease.

Wednesday was a better day for Jim. The medications he had been receiving seemed to be doing their jobs. He looked better and felt better and even walked a lap around the ICU. The procedure for that day was to do an ultrasound to make sure Jim's heart was strong enough to start the chemotherapy treatment and the results showed it was. They scheduled the chemotherapy to begin on Thursday.

Both Thursday and Friday were good days for Jim. The chemo was started but he really didn't feel any effects from it. He was determined to work his lungs and got up two to three times a day to "power walk" laps around the ICU. He did 4 to 5 laps each time. The nursing staff teased him that he should start a walking club so they all could get their exercise. He was reminded that not many patients in ICU do powerwalks and it was fun for them to see him doing so well.

Saturday, he was moved from the ICU to the Oncology Unit. He had a good day but was much more fatigued. Today, I cherished the time I was able to spend with him just hanging out with him in his room watching a little football. He is tired but feels well. We went for a walk together and ate dinner together. Jim's mood is very positive. Though the news has been very difficult and he has been understandably emotional at times, he finds comfort in his faith in Christ which encourages me as well.