Status on GPa Scott Day 7, Tuesday, 4-22-08

Today was another great day, much like yesterday. Dad was able to talk to several people today and once again, very rewarding. A great spirit has been prevalent throughout this experience. We really don't want to let him go, but we know that it's really in the Lord's hands. He has said some pretty remarkable statements which will be near and dear to us. Having some time to talk about some of our experiences in our family, some that are quite humorous, some that are regretful and have been forgiven, others that will never be forgotten. These are precious moments. David and Christopher returned to California this afternoon. Greg and I met with the Hospice of Spokane rep tonight and signed the papers to have him moved tomorrow. Sacred Heart has been a great facility with a wonderful staff, like a bunch of Boy Scouts, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, clean, and reverant! We have really appreciated these wonderful people.

Status on GPa Scott Day 6, Monday, 4-21-08

It was after 10 this morning when we got to the hospital. When we walked into the room, it was rather amazing. Prayers are answered. Wide awake and alert, easily carrying on a conversation, dad was really with us. What a great opportunity to talk about some necessary things about what the very near future holds. He doesn't want to have a funeral, a viewing in Kennewick and then a graveside service, similar to what mom had 15 years ago. Then a chance to talk on the phone with a number of people to express love and thankfulness for having had these earthly relationships. Truly amazing as those conversations took place with very candid conversations, emotions touching all. Then talk of Hospice and moving him in the interim to another room in the hospital that is very Hospice like. Decisions to cease transfusions and monitoring are made by dad with agreement from both myself and Greg. No real need to continue with hourly checks on the vitals, but not everyone has been instructed on the latest doctors order to only provide "comfort care". It's about 4 pm and they come to move him to the next floor in the hospital. This is a very homey room. On the way up, I meet Susie coming off the elevator. She goes up to the next floor and I'm able to speak with her and give her the Book of Mormon and the letter. She commits to read the book and promises to keep in touch. I'm very optimistic. The Kraus' stop by on their way back to the TriCities and supplied a much appreciated dozen of Krispy Kremes! After such a great day, we were so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord.

Status on GPa Scott Day 5, Sunday, 4-20-08

My body alarm goes off this morning at 6, so not much sleep, but enough. I get ready to go to church and at 8 I am at the hospital planning on being there for about 45 minutes to visit dad and then off to church for sacrament. When I arrive at his room, there is a nurse just beginning to make another attempt to set a PIC line. She tells me that I can come in the room but that I will need to wear a mask since it needs to be a sterile room while this takes place. So I put on a mask and she says that I can help by holding dads hand to keep him from moving and making it difficult for her. He is still quite groggy, much like last night. He responds to requests with either nods or short answers. The nurse gets everything ready and makes the first poke. She is in the vein and takes the next step by inserting a wire which makes it about 3 inches in the vein before stopping. She pulls it out and sees that it is bent. She pulls the needle out and resets. She goes above the initial poke and tries again. No success. Resets and tries a third time and by now it's 845, time to go. But I can't. The nurse decides to try the other arm. Wow, they usually give up way before now. But not Susie. I get to know a little about this lady and who she is, what she believes, and what's important to her. After she cleans up everything and moves to the other arm, she replaces all the sterile necessities and begins again. First poke in the left arm, she doesn't even hit the vein. You need to know that each time she sticks dad with that needle, I have to turn my head because of the pain that it causes him. He winces, and I squeeze his hand and encourage him to keep enduring. When she fails to even hit a vein, I offer up a silent prayer. She resets and makes the second attempt. She hits the vein. She begins to insert the wire. It takes about two seconds. Incredible. She says something along the line of Praise the Lord. I said to her, "You must have said a prayer." She responds that she indeed had said a prayer. The conversation continues in more religious tone as she continues with the rest of the procedure in setting the PIC line. She calls for an XRay to check the placement. As she finishes cleaning up and the XRay people show up, I express my gratitude for her extreme efforts, and prepare to leave the room. She says that she would like to pray with dad and I. I quickly agree and we decide to wait until after the XRay. I go to the waiting room and ponder. I return to the room and she asks if I would still like to pray with her. Again, "Absolutely". She offers a prayer that is quite touching. As she concludes the prayer, I begin to express thanks for prayer, she is quite moved as well and gives a caring hug. As I return to the waiting room, I ponder what has happened this Sabbath morning and determine to write a letter and give Susie a Book of Mormon. As I finish the letter, Brooks and the children arrive. They visit with Grandpa and I prepare to go to the local chapel to get the book that I will give to Susie. As I go to leave, the Kraus' arrive to lend support. What a wonderful surprise. Soon, Greg and his boys will soon be arriving, and dad is watching the clock awaiting that. He is still quite groggy and it seems pretty bleak. I leave and make a trip to the chapel, and then to the airport. When I return, Grandpa is again still groggy, but very much aware of who is around him, and tries to answer, even though they are short answers, they are very much answers that he would give normally. We spend most of the rest of the day visiting together with him until Brooks leaves with the children. Saying your last goodbyes to your Grandpa or your father-in-law is not an easy thing. We are very uncertain what tomorrow holds, and it doesn't look very good.

Status on GPa Scott Day 4, Saturday, 4-19-08

I get out of TriCities about 730 am and head for Spokane. I call my brother in California and let him know what's going on. Upon my arrival they are planning to take him for the procedure about 11. When they come to get him, there has been an emergency that the anesthesiologist's team is called away for, so dad is put in a holding area. He is able to rest a little and again very patient. The radiologist comes and meets with me to explain the procedure and what to expect, both good or bad. At 2 pm, the teams are assembled and dad is taken in for the procedure. I go and grab a bite and then play my own version of patience. Finally about 430, the radiologist comes to the waiting room. Not good news. He was unsuccessful in placing the stint because of the hardness of the liver tumor. He tried several times to penetrate the liver, but to no avail. Although I know that dad has had this mass on his liver for at least the last 3 years, there had been so much done to try and alleviate, if not eliminate the cancer from his body. Now to hear that this is the end of the battle, the fight is over, it hits me, dad is nearing the end of his mortal existence. He ends the day still groggy and sleepy from both the anesthetic and the lack of sleep for the last few days. He is able to respond when I talk to him. I try explain the seriousness of the situation. This is no easy thing to tell your dad that his days are numbered. I call my brother again to update him and he indicates that he will be here tomorrow afternoon with his two youngest sons, David and Christopher. Brooks will be here in the morning with Derek, Alexis, and Dustin. Finally around midnight, I feel tired enough to go and find a motel to try and get some sleep. I plan on going to a sacrament service that starts at 9 so that I can be back to the hospital when Brooks shows up.

Status on GPa Scott Day 3, Friday, 4-18-08

The doc continues to look for another location to have the procedure done. Dad is being a patient patient. They attempt to place a PIC line, but his veins are pretty wimpy and they are unsuccessful. Brooks, Alesha, and I visit since Alesha will be leaving to go back to school tomorrow in Rexburg. About 1045 pm a call comes in that they are transferring him to Spokane to Sacred Heart where the radiologist will perform the procedure tomorrow. He leaves just before midnight on a fixed wing aircraft and is in his bed by 2 am in Spokane.

Status on GPa Scott Day 2,Thursday, 4-17-08

Dad got up this morning after having been given laxatives to clear the lines and went to the bathroom. Suddenly he became very nausiated and vomited a significant amount of blood. The GI doc was contacted and he came right to the hospital to perform an upper GI scope. He discovered that there were vericose veins in both the esphogus and stomach, an indication that the blood flow through the liver was clogged. He recommended a procedure called TIPS http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/0200/0237.asp?index=4956 be done at UW Medical Center. Problem being no beds available for 5 days. He is given 2 units of blood to bring up his levels.

Status on GPa Scott Day 1, 4-16-08

After a few weeks of internal bleeding problems, dad woke up today with enough bleeding to have him take action and call his GI doc. The doc put him in Kadlec hospital to do a cleanout prior to performing a double scope. He didn't rest much, and thought that they would be doing the scopes early Thursday.