Only 5 days into our new “home” and it still feels like I just got here!  This morning I got to listen to rounds, which is always encouraging to me, and fills in the gaps on what’s going on.  Kevin has been awake all morning and able to listen to the plan for the day.

He does have a build-up in his lungs and with its location, they are unsure if they will be able to remove with a catheter.  They may have to remove it in the OR.  This is a bit discouraging, but Kevin and I both understand.  It is possible it is the cause of the fever, but nothing can be proven right now.

Kevin still has a fever, so they are doing several more tests to see what may be causing it.  While it is always a possibility that the fever is caused by the tumor, they do not seem certain  this is the case.

They are going to get Kevin to sit up and get him on some meds to feel more positive.  Kevin is looking forward to getting up and moving around a bit.  They’re also going to bring physical therapy in to move his muscles and keep him strong.

He is doing well, just overwhelmed with everything that is going on with his body.   Needless to say, he is feeling depressed, and rightly so.  We are praying and staying strong with him.

Much Love, Brenda

Linda and I were able to sit in on the resident rounds today and ask some questions.  Apparently, we were given mis-information, and Kevin is not on a low setting on the vent.  He is breathing on his own, but the vent is supporting him quite a bit.  The doctor explained that his lungs are like a new balloon, and not quite stretched out yet to function.  They’re not sure why this is: whether it’s from fluid, infection or just the cancer.

There are still no answers about his fever, it could be caused by infection or by the tumor.

He is developed a fungus in the area, but he is and has been on an anti-fungul that should combat that.  Kevin i resting comfortably now after having a CT scan today.  It did show some fluid again in his lung, so they may again do a drain.

He is holding steady and was quite awake and talkative earlier, which was nice.  We are just waiting on the answers for the biopsy and cancer results and treatment decisions.

Please pray for understanding and guidance, as well as calmness in all of us.  Thank you everyone!

Linda and I were able to sit in on the resident rounds today and ask some questions.  Apparently, we were given mis-information, and Kevin is not on a low setting on the vent.  He is breathing on his own, but the vent is supporting him quite a bit.  The doctor explained that his lungs are like a new balloon, and not quite stretched out yet to function.  They’re not sure why this is: whether it’s from fluid, infection or just the cancer.

There are still no answers about his fever, it could be caused by infection or by the tumor.

He is developed a fungus in the area, but he is and has been on an anti-fungul that should combat that.  Kevin i resting comfortably now after having a CT scan today.  It did show some fluid again in his lung, so they may again do a drain.

He is holding steady and was quite awake and talkative earlier, which was nice.  We are just waiting on the answers for the biopsy and cancer results and treatment decisions.

Please pray for understanding and guidance, as well as calmness in all of us.  Thank you everyone!

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/surgery/faculty/Yang  Just some information on our amazing surgeon that helped Kevin get through that difficult surery.

Dr. Yang visited with us this morning and said that he didn’t expect Kevin to look so strong and awake.  I should have told him it was because our Faith is keeping us that way!  The Dr. said we are still just in the waiting process for everything, but that Kevin is doing well.  The big step now is just getting his fever down. There is still no word on the blood cultures that will tell us if an infection is causing the fever.  We should have some answers on that test in 24 hours.

Praise be to God.

Also, I got to actually communicate fairly well with Kevin this morning on the white erase board.  I told him about some decisions that were made, and he told me not to make ANY decisions until he can speak.  I informed the staff that when they’re in the room, they speak to BOTH of us, since Kevin is now awake enough to comprehend.  I did explain that the surgery that was done, was life saving to Kevin’s recovery.  He understands that, but now that he is awake, he wants to be active in his recovery and the decisions made regarding his treatment.

He said that we have no idea idea what is is like here, and I agreed.  I assured him that I would do my best to make sure he was included on everything.  I asked him about staying positive and his faith and prayer, and he nodded that it is good.  That was very reassuring to me.

Please pray for calmness for Kevin as decisions come to our plate.  Pray that our communication increases.  Pray that they can get him off the vent and that his fever will cease.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers.  I know thousands upon thousands of you lifted us up in your prayers yesterday when you gathered in your churches, with your family and with your friends.  While we depend on the hospital staff to determine the course of action, we depend on God to direct the staff, to direct Kevin’s treatment, to direct the way we are heading.

Change has been inevitable, and uncertain.  Uprooting ourselves from Lancaster has been difficult, at least for me.  We were finally coming into a time of steadiness in our lives, after being married almost a year and a half, and finally having good jobs, and answers to immigration.  However, the Lord does not guarantee us comfort, he just assures us that he will always walk with us, and never give us more than we can handle.

Today is a phone call/visit day for me.  I have a TON of phone calls to make to immigration, insurance, my Dr, and a handful of other things.  It just so happens that now is the time we were to re-submit for Kevins’ 10 year permanent residency status (he is only a 2 year, and that expires in January 2009).  With this submission, we need to interview at the Philadelphia Embassy to prove that we married for love.  I am praying that they give us an extension, and that I can get some answers today.  I am praying that insurance will pay for some of my housing staying here.  I pray for my job to understand and accept my requested leave of absence.

I have a close friend coming to visit and take me to run errands to the grocery store and just to get out of the hospital for a bit.  Also, some family and friends from New Danville plan to come to Johns Hopkins tonight to pray with me.  Although I am not letting anyone besides immediate family in to see Kevin at the moment, I have no objections to visitors to pray with me, as long as you call me and ok the time and date.

Thank you for all you are doing.  Below is the devotional for today..again, God places these amazing verses and devotionals in my path for a reason!  Blessings to all of you!

Change

Read Philippians 3:7-11

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

LOOKING up at the hills near Lake Elsinore, California, I remembered the hills behind the neighborhood where I grew up. They were a great place to play – fairly safe, with just a slight element of danger to add excitement to our days. Several years later, those hilltops and tiny caves were gone, replaced by large, modern homes.

Just as neighborhoods change over the years, so do people. We go through various experiences that change us. Whether the results are for the better depends largely on our attitude.

Consider the apostle Paul. Both he and his living conditions changed after his experience with Christ on the Damascus Road. Rather than arresting Christians, he became a courageous and bold defender of the faith. He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned. Paul certainly had good reason to complain, but he thanked God. Why? Paul recognized that his greatest treasure was Jesus Christ and the righteousness Christ offers.

Change is inevitable for all of us. So when it comes, we can look for the new opportunities God is offering in it and, like Paul, we can rejoice, give thanks, and embrace the change.

Star Ferdinand (Texas, U.S.A.)

Today has been fairly uneventful.  I was blessed today to have some family in to visit and take my mind off of things.  We are doing well, as well as Kevin.  He is doing fairly well, but is having trouble with anxiety and the ventilator.  Pray that he is calmed and that they can steady him to come off of the ventilator.

Pray for calmness, understanding and the Doctors guidance for the road ahead.  We are standing with God through all this!

Good morning from the Weinberg building at Johns Hopkins.  We are now officially moved to the oncology ICU, which is a blessing.  The rooms are 3x the size AT LEAST and this ICU specializes in oncology.  Kevin had a stable day and night.

He is still on the vent, and according to my nurse, will continue through today as well.  We are still praying he can get off soon.  We are communicating SLIGTLY better, and I am quickly trying to become interpreter.  Apparently, I’m not that good at it yet, as I couldn’t even figure out WATER!

His nurses here are very nice and communiting.  We still have no answers . Despite the situation we are in, pathology cannot be expedited.  We are trusting God’s hands on the pathologists to finally make a solid determination about Kevin’s tumor.  We are trusting God’s hands on the surgeons, doctors and oncologists to be able to custom fit a treatment plan JUST for Kevin so that he can BEAT THIS!

Kevin is remaining optimistic.  It is hard sometimes, especially with communicating now that he awake a good majority of the time.  He even was able to give me a wink today, which just made my heart sing.  It was nice to have a quiet moment alone.

Kevin’s mom is dealing as well as can be expected.  It is difficult for anyone, especially a mother, to witness someone she cares so deeply about in this position.  We are able to stay at a house across the street.  We are on a waiting list for some of the houses nearby that house oncology patients and their families.  We are praying that on Monday, we can get a room, as it’s only $46 a night there and would alleviate some financial concerns in regards to housing.

I am officially declaring myself on a leave of absence from work.  Kevin needs my support here, as I need him.  I still have no idea how the logistics of being here in Baltimore long term will leave us financially, but nothing else matters right now but our faith, and getting Kevin better.

This will be my new home, OUR new home.

My your prayers be specifically with Ken and Marty as they travel down here soon.  Be with my family as they travel to visit us today.  May you continue to give Linda and I comfort and rest as we stay here with Kevin throughout the days.  May you bless Kevin with peace and rest and relaxation.  Give him the strength and ability to prove he can breathe on his own and to get him off the ventilator.  Give him the strength to fight the tumor inside of him, and give the staff knowledge to fit a treatment plan to aide him in fighting this tumor.

We thank you God for all you are doing, and continue to do in our lives.  Bless you all.

PS_to everyone that has sent us financial help, I apologize for being on hold with thank you cards.  So for now…THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  Because of you, I am able to be here with Kevin and not worry about our financial difficulties.  THANK YOU.

Blessings to all.

Dear Friends and Family,

It hard to follow my last post with such encouragement.  Kevin came out of surgery last night a bit before 3 am.  We got a call around 1am informing us they had only just drained the lungs, and were then entering the “meat” of the surgery in doing the esophagectomy.  Kevin came out and did GREAT.  However, the surgery did not go as originally planned.  Although they were able to put in a feeding tube, remove the heart catheter for drainage, drain his lungs, and do the esophagectomy, they were unable to remove the tumor.  It was with great disappointment, that the Dr informed us the tumor is almost growing outside the area, and is possibly connecting to the liver.  Being that his surgeon deals mostly with esophagus issues, he did not feel comfortable removing the tumor for fear Kevin would not do well afterwards.

The risks now are high, I will not sugar coat.  However, today is encouraging.  Kevin is out of sedation, and they are slowly weaning him off of his ventilator.  They hope to have him off of it by tomorrow.  If not, they will have to consider doing a traecheotomy and using the ventilator that way.  We want to avoid this, and so far Kevin is adjusting well to being less sedated and being weened off.  We are just having difficulties in communication as Kevin does not have the strength to write, and we cannot read his lips with the tube in his throat.  It is frustrating to say the least.

They did biopsy the tumor while they were in surgery, and are now evaluating what the tumor may be.  Although, they are still leaning towards GIST, nothing is confirmed.  Just more questions, and less answers.

Kevin’s mom and I are now here alone, but my family was able to be with us throughout the surgery and into this morning for support.  It was very encouraging.  They will all be down again to visit tomorrow.  We ask that no one except family visit for the time being.  Kevin is easily aggitated in this state.

We are very uncertain of what lies ahead.  The next week will most likely be filled with complications, but are optimistic of God’s love and direction.  The only answers we have, are that he survived the surgery, and is so far, doing well!  And to us, that is the most important.  We trust God’s hands to guide the Dr’s and pathologists to finally diagnose this mystery tumor.  We pray for there to be a CURE.  We are asking for a CURE.  We know we have an extremely rough road ahead, but we are faithful.  I prayed with Kevin this morning, and although he is frustrated, we are staying positive and faithful together.

Here are our prayer requests that we lie before you Lord:

Healing and a Cure for Kevin

Understanding and strength for us and family and loved ones

Housing that is inexpensive while we’re here

Money to support us so that I can be here with Kevin

Safety in travel as Ken travels down here from Winnipeg with our friend Marty

Guidance for the Dr’s and pathologists as they determine the type of cancer and its treatment

A deep understanding of God’s plan and direction for our lives

We ask this of you Lord..be with us now. car rentals .

We just got the second update.  The nurse reported to use that he got through the bronchiectomy (sp?) and the second part of the surgery.  They are now entering the major part of the surgery: the esophagectomy.  He is reported to be doing, and I quote, “GREAT”.  Our spirits are high and my anxiety is relieved thanks to prayers, cool towels, and walks around the hospital 🙂  We are pushing on, waiting for Linda to get to the hospital and our McD’s to come so we can eat!  Kevin is in God’s hands and we are privileged to have the greatest care from the greatest Being.

I cannot believe it’s already the 9th of August.  Miracles really DO happen.  Linda just arrived, and soon after we received an updated call saying that Kevin is doing well and they will wrap up the surgery and he will be out in 1-2 hours.  Thank God for his miracles, the stability he provides and his loving arms.  We have a long road ahead, but we are faithful in what God has provided to us.  Thank you all.