Please pray for the family on Tuesday

Please pray for the family on Tuesday afternoon. At this time the Hospice people will be evaluating Dad. We were informed today that because Dad has decided to stop Radiation that he may no longer remain at Freedom and that Medicare will no longer pay after Friday. So what this means is Dad will be transferred to the Hospice House and private pay will begin.This was a little bit of a surprise but they feel that there will no more improvements.April 14 was to be Dads last day at Freedom before this announcement. Dad has really had 2 straight good days. There has been a lot of reminising and story telling going on. It is amazing the people that knows and the great sports stories he can tell. Please pray that Dad will take the news fine that there no complications in transfering him there. Please feel free to visit. Dad is prime form these days. I've never seen him so humorous. He is the best Dad I could have ever asked for!
Love,
Tim

Sunday update

The Lord has led Dad to make the decision to stop Radiation treatments. He is at peace and had his best night sleep in a while. Family and friends are all in agreement with him. It was just too much for him. He had come to the understanding that he will not be able to walk and why should I do this and feel so badly."I have no regrets he continues to say." We will find out what will be the next step and what can we expect in the coming week. Dads sense of humor was quite something to today as well. What a card. Here I am Lord your good and faithful servant were heard coming out his mouth today. God has been so good to Dad and the family. We know his last days on this earth will be good also. Those who have volunteered to help ride with Dad to Radiation we say thank-you. We believe Dad will now feel better and may not be as tired as well.

Love Tim

Saturday February 24th

Please pray for Dad as he continues his daily radiation treatments. He is feeling quite nautious now that he has had 7 treatments. Food does not taste well also. Thanks to all who have accompanied Dad to his treatments so far. This has been a big help for Mom. Please pray for her as well as she continues to struggle with sleeping. The Doctors have reported that Dad has made as much progress with his movement rehab as we can expect.This continues to frustrate. Visitors are always welcome. We ask that you visit between 4-5pm during the week and most anytime during the weekends. He is just too sick and crabby after treatments.Please limit yourself to short visits. Please understand that he can be quite confused at times so don't be surprised if doesn't make sense when visiting.We have also seen a change in personality with Dad after the surgery. Please accept our apologies if he is grumpy and talks differently than you formally know from Dad.

Tim

thursday

Dad was able to have his first radiation treatment. All went well. Pray that Dad can have the strength to continue. He has times of 2nd thoughts. "Is it worth it he says"? But then he says I will keep fighting. The family will evaluate as the treatments go along to see how he is holding up. Fatigue definitely is an ongoing issue with Dad. We wish he could just regain full strength. The family will accept whatever Dad feels is best for him. We do not to see him miserable in his last days on this earth. We pray that the ambulance trips to the treatments do not continue to be such a big trouble. He has been waiting for over an hour more after visits. Emergencies take precedence over transport. There are only 2 ambulances to cover all of Holland. We are checking into reserve a MAX for the future. Thanks for all the continued prayers visits etc. Dad has received over 225 cards. Wow.
thanks all.

Tim

Sunday-pray for patience

Please pray for Dads patience. It has been quite thin lately. So much so last night that he became impatient waiting for the ladies to put him in bed that he tried to do so himself and fell on the floor. He was not hurt but he just sat there on his bottom until they arrived. Dad has had some very good days this week. He was able to walk 60+ steps on Friday. He has been shown how to assist himself into bed. Friday was quite a special day for DAD as Jack DeWitt presented him with a addressed and signed book and photo from John Wooden. Tears could be seen flowing down Dads face. The big sports and basketball junky that he is. We have heard Dan Seeborn talk about the great Christian man John was in addition to the great coach he was. Thanks Jack! I'm sure many individuals will have the opportunity to read the book to him. Today the family will be celebrating Moms 62nd birthday. The special day was Thursday. Continue to pray for Mom to keep up the strength.The days can be long and wearing,and house is lonely without Dad at night. Dad will meet with Chemo doctor on Monday afternoon. We still believe he will begin Radiation on Thursday and chemo.

Thanks again for all that everyone has done. The amount of visitors is amazing.

Love,Tim

Monday report

Dad was able to have quite a restful weekend while everyone else dealt with the blizzard of 2007. Dad was able to participate in the special Superbowl activities that were held at the Inn. Monday was a very big day for Dad as he visited with the radiation Dr. and nurses. 4 hours in the wheel chair really made him tired. He was fitted with his mask that will be used for the treatments.I told him it was a little early for Halloween:) Radiation should begin next Thursday. We anticipate that he will meet with the Chemo Dr. also next week. He will most likely go to both treatments each day to minimize on the AMR rides. Please continue to prayer for continued good results from the rehab. It was real neat to see Dad lift his left leg up and down for the Dr. while in the wheelchair. I can now see how he was able to walk on Thursday. Way to go Dad!

Love Rose and family

thursday night

Dad has had another very good day. He was able to walk 34 steps with the walker. He is definitely looking like his old self. Dad has gained 5 lbs again in the past week. This is good news as Dad had lost 25lbs since just before surgery. It has been real nice to see all the guests that continue to visit Dad. His routine has him sitting up for very long times all during the day to build up more strength.I believe this makes it nicer for visiters also. We are having visitors interact with Dad by reading to him and work on improving his attention span. Dad will be down sizing his wheelchair soon. The bigger model is no longer needed and the small one should help Dad be able to move around with his good hand and foot. Dad was also been able to move his left arm forward and push a bean bag off the edge of table. Dad will have his consultation and fitting for radiation on Monday. The 5 day a week radiation will begin Monday February 12th. Visitors are still very welcome, we just asking that you do not visit unless you very healthy. We cannot afford to get Dad sick before radiation begins. Thanks for all you continued thoughts and prayers. Dad ended his day with thick Malt from FRANKS:)

Tim