Wednesday, June 30, 2010

June 30

Last day of June 2010 - can you believe that! It is a good day today - Ashley found out that indeed she has passed her boards and is an official Registered Nurse! Not that I doubted that for a minute. Dan and Ashley are moving this weekend to their new apartment, 2 bedrooms, and Ashley's job (yes you heard it right) at PIH (Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier) will begin July 26! Next Tuesday Dan and Ashley will fly up for a CT at Stanford to check on the progress of the regeneration of the liver. He has a tentative surgery date of July 16 depending on the results of the CT. So pray my friends that all will go as planned and we will get back to you with the results.
We are in His hands- the best place to be!

His Word to us:

Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Saturday, June 19, 2010

June 19, 2010

Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the day Dan, Ashley, Bob and I took that trip to the ER in South Lake Tahoe only to discover Dan did not have appendicitis but neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer. Long hard bumpy road we have been on. We are definitely hoping that the road ahead will be a smoother one even though there are a couple of surgeries looming on the horizon. Dan is doing fine right now, eating without difficulties and supporting his wife as she is getting ready to take her nursing boards. The pain he had a few weeks ago has gone away and for that we are very grateful. He will be having a CT scan July 6 to see if his liver has been regenerating. Please pray that his liver will be able to make NEW liver cells and also that he would gain some of the weight he has lost so he'll be physically ready for the next surgery.
We are so very grateful for your love, support and prayers. As you know they are very important. I recently wrote about a family who had been in a car accident. The kids and mom are healing and the father is doing much better but he (Chris) still needs our prayers. He has a long road of rehab ahead of him. Also my friend who told me about Chris and his family and their needs has another family who are in need of our prayers:
We are asking for prayer for Levi and Jessie Benkert and their young family (3 children +1 in adoption process). They have been in Ethiopia for about 1 year in charge of building and administering the orphanage, Drawn From Water. Levi has an illness of unknown origin, perhaps a form of hepatitis.
Know our Lord Jesus hears our prayers and answers.

Psalm 111
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

June 2

Another Procedure
I have to type this very quickly because the hospital has decided that they don't like people blogging on their wireless...thus, I am only allotted 10 minutes on our blog. Weird? Yes.
Anyway, we're back in Palo Alto (SHC) for Dan's embolization procedure. Things are running late, so Dan just got taken back to the preop phase. We have even spoken to the doctor yet. They will blocking off the right portal vein (blood supply to the right lobe of the liver) to allow for quicker regrowth of his liver. We have been told that this should be just an overnight stay, so we're really hoping and praying for no complications and a fast recovery.
I'll keep you posted when I can, but just be in prayer as the procedure should be starting in about an hour.

Prayer Requests:
* Successful procedure
* No complication
* Open and happy bowels without obstructions
* Safe discharge tomorrow as planned
* NO SURPRISES!!!
* Keeping Dan at home with me in SoCal for a lot longer :)
posted by Ashley at 2:14 pm

Rough day? A bit.
So, Dan's procedure went well and ended at about 7pm. He had to stay in recovery for a while to wake up, and the doctor decided to keep him overnight to watch for possible complications. Dan's still really tired, though he woke up long enough to eat some jello and crackers. He's not in a lot of pain, but his stomach is wobbly. He won't go so far as to say it's sick feeling, but he's not feeling great. Stupid anesthesia.
Tonight we watch for his ability to keep fluids and food down and make sure his liver isn't bleeding through the wound it got today. As long as Dan can eat breakfast well and isn't actively bleeding tonight, he'll be discharged in the morning.

Amazingly, Dan was given a private room AND I got a cot! What? The first day? Awesome.
I've been sitting here applying for nursing jobs, while he's asleep. The nursing job market is horrible to say the least. Several polite rejections after making it through the last interview process is getting old. You'd think graduating top of the class, having CNA experience and good communication skills would get you somewhere...not quite.

Dan and I are really beginning to feel the strain of the unknown. We need to know where I'm working before we can move, and we have to be out of our apt on June 19th. Prayers for guidance and a job are coveted. I know that God is guiding me to where He wants me, but this time period kinda sucks.

Prayer Requests:
* No bleeding or complications
* Dan's ability to eat and a hearty appetite
* Safe discharge tomorrow
* Continued health of bowels (no obstructions ever)
* Great re-growth of liver tissue
* A job for me...soon!
* Peace in yet another period of unknown
Posted by Ashley at 9:44 PM

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
Proverbs 3:1-8
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.