Let's Just Praise the Lord!!

Mom had a follow up appointment with Dr. Bayles on Tuesday and received some amazing news. Dr. Bayles said that the tumor had good margins, meaning that when he removed the mass, he checked in the remaining tissue for evidence of the tumor. He takes small portions of tissue and sends it away to the lab to test for cancer. ALL of the samples were negative!!!! This means that he was able to remove the complete tumor leaving no evidence of cancer! This is phenomenal! In addition to this, the Doctor said that ALL of the lymph nodes he removed were negative for cancer!!! According to Dr. Bayles, mom is CANCER FREE!!! He doesn't even recommend radiation. He said that his work in mom's mouth was detrimental, but if she had radiation first it would be more devastating. He feels like radiation is not worth the risk to her body and the risks out weigh the benefits at this time. She will visit the radiologist and discuss this plan with them, but I have a feeling that Dr. Bayles recommendations will be valued highly. On top of all this good news Dr. Bayles staff asked mom to swallow some water and she was able to swallow it!!! She can have her cake and eat it too as far as I am concerned! They said to take eating by mouth very slowly, but to try and over time her coordination will improve. Praise the Lord!
I met my parents at the hospital after their appointment. They were happy, tearful, weightless and praising God. My mom said that she was not looking forward to going to radiation. We decided to celebrate by going to lunch. Mom picked out some jello. She was able to swallow it. When I asked if she could taste it she smiled brightly and said with tears in her eyes, "Yes!" I had a wild hair and asked her if she wanted to just suck on one of my potato chips. She looked like a kid, she raised her eyebrows and said, "Yes." It was a fantastic potato chip! We have so much to be thankful for. God has been so faithful. He has carried mom through all of this for His Glory. For purposes that are higher than us. As we were leaving Zachary said, "Grandma Judy is not in the hospital anymore!" and Elin said, "Yes and Grandma Judy is all better she can eat JELMO (my kids version for Jello) Praise the Lord." Like I said, the Lord has had His hand in our lives through this, molding, even the young ones, to bring them to himself. Praise the Lord!!!
My sister Meg is arriving from Oklahoma to care for mom for the month of June. She may write more updates to this blog. Thank you for your prayers and love on mom!!
Ingrid Hope

Back at the Health Care Center

Today Judy was released from the St. Joseph's Hospital and returned to the Christian Health Care Center. She will be there until possibly Tuesday when she goes to Seattle VMH for her post surgery examination, by Dr. Bayles. At the health center she will receive care for her wounds and her tube feedings. Her antibiotic treatments will take place during dialysis.

Judy was more than happy to be out of the hospital, she is feeling so much better after the antibiotics. She was happily greeted by John John, Erik and Linnea, three of her grandchildren who were so excited to be loved on by her and they were able to express their concern and love for their grandma. Little ones really know how to put a smile on their Grandma's face. Judy and her daughter, Karen were able to get out a little. She was able to walk around downtown Lynden for a couple of hours before returning to the health care center.

We ask that you would continue to pray that the antibiotic treatment will kill this bacteria. Also, that there would be no loss of hearing that could be a side effect of the antibiotic. We want to thank everyone for there prayers, flowers, cards, phone calls, this infection has set her back a couple of days but she is making big strides, which we praise the Lord. She is a walking, talking miracle for which we give all honor and glory to our Lord Jesus. You can reach Judy at (360) 354-4434 ext. 501.

Back to the Hospital

Mom has really done well for the most part at the Christian Health care Center in Lynden. She was feeling better walking better and doing more of her own activities, like showering, dressing and giving her meds and food through the peg tube. She has had many visitors from Victory and Lynden over praying for her and encouraging her. Her Ladies Bible study was so encouraging. They not only encouraged mom they met as a group at the hospital to include her! I was amazed ladies! Thank you so much for reaching out to my mom, she was deeply moved by your love!
Dad asked that I update the blog tonight to ask for prayer for mom. Last night mom was admitted to St Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham. Dad brought her to the Emergency Room after dialysis. She was experiencing pain in her stomach around her feeding tube and her skin graft on her arm was looking red and inflamed. Dad noticed the redness for a couple days, and noticed that mom was more tired and unmotivated. He knew that he had to press for further answers. I am glad he did and that the doctors responded. They have identified that her pain was due to a Staph infection (MRSA). She was started on a very strong antibiotic called Vancomycin. She will need this IV therapy for 4-6 weeks. The details are not very clear about how long mom will be in Bellingham and in the hospital. They placed a long term IV (picc) line to administer the therapy. Need I say that mom is really bummed out!! She has to be in an isolation room by herself. (People visiting her need to wash their hands and plan not to bring in their purse or belongings that they want to bring home. This MRSA bug lives a long time after it leaves its host. Good hand washing will prevent the bug spreading from person to person). I think she is starting to internalize how the surgery has changed her. She told me yesterday that she just wants to feel like a normal person again and be able to walk around. She told me never take for granted the fact that I can walk around! I was moved by that. She never complains about her situation or her life as it is, and to hear that I know that she is working through a loss, a loss of her old life as she was before surgery. Please pray for mom as she is facing this road block. Karen, my sister and her family are going to visit tomorrow. They are planning to be there until Sunday. I will update this blog as I know more. I may ask Karen to post as she will be with mom daily for the next couple days. Thank you so much for your prayers and sweet time with my mom. It is amazing to see the people that have been touched by my mom. May the Lord be glorified and lifted up! Ingrid She can be reached at (360)734-5400 #223

Mom's landing pad information

Mom is currently at The Christian Healthcare Center in Lynden. The address is: 855 Aaron Drive, Lynden, WA 98264. The phone number is 360.354.4434 ex. 523. Thank you and my you be blessed today!

Ingrid

This Chapter is closed!

Today marked the end of mom's stay at Virginia Mason. She was discharged to a skilled nursing place in Lynden. She will be there for one week. She had many staff members stop by the room to ooo and ahh over her. You know, I think anyone looks sick when they are in a hospital gown! It seems to rob people of their personality. She got dressed after a shower and dialysis and she looked amazing. She let me take a couple of pictures that I am currently trying to post, but am running into a road block. I hope to have them posted tonight or tomorrow. She was so excited to be outside. She was able to ride with my dad. What a blessing. It hasn't even been two weeks and she is on her way to going home. Thank you for praying for my mom and my dad. We have been sustained my the power of the Almighty. He has carried us, for His glory and His glory alone. Praise God! I will get the contact information for the place she is as soon as I know it. And please look for her pictures. I know that my dad would love to hear from you too. I pray that you are blessed for all of your thoughts and prayers for my mom. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Ingrid Hope

The Lord has carried mom through!

Yes, that is right. The only thing that is keeping my mom in the hospital is her dialysis schedule. The surgeon has cleared her! She will be going to a skilled nursing center in Lynden for a week to adjust to her tube feeding and get a little more physical therapy. I will give you the information for the Lynden center as soon as I know it. She called me last night about 1100pm and said that the surgeon Dr. Bayles stopped by and reported that the pathology on, the specimens from her mouth, are indicating that all of the cancer has been removed! WOW! Praise the Lord!! I think that radiation is still in order, due to start in about eight weeks. One step at a time. Mom had a number of staff members stop by her room to talk about discharge yesterday. One was a nurse clinical manager. Mom didn't skip an opportunity. She said, "I feel like the Lord has carried me through the hospital." The nurse was touched. She said "He certainly has." Mom smiles and offers her hand to people as she passes them in the hallway. She still reaches out to people even through these circumstances. She has been an inspiration to me. Whatever the circumstances she is praising the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayers! Ingrid

A cheerful heart is good medicine

A cheerful heart is good medicine. Psalms 17:22 Mom's heart has been lifted! Thank you for your prayers. Mom is progressing wonderfully. Her mind is clear, worry and pain free. I called her this morning and something was different. She was verbalizing more, saying "oh, and um" more. I read her a Psalm and when I was done she said, "Praise the Lord." I was in tears, she left ME speechless! We praised God together. A cheerful heart is good medicine. Mom was different today. It all made sense when I arrived to her room to find that she HAD HER TRACH REMOVED! This was in her airway, making it difficult to talk. She just has a bandage over the site. She has to hold pressure over the spot to make air go up to her mouth to verbalize. It takes a little coordination and some getting used to, but this won't be forever. The site eventually will close up on it's own. She is tolerating her tube feeding well. We were there this afternoon and she walked twice while I was there. She is a little embarrassed about how she looks, the swelling is still large on the right side, but it is not getting bigger. Her three drains from around the incision will probably come out tomorrow. I was there with my three children today and it was a blast. I noticed my dad at ease with the kids there. He was finally at rest. He has been so worried about mom, he could hardly enjoy a cup of coffee. I was praising God that he felt like he could engage with the kids. He played with Elin, and read books to Zach. Mom's disposition really rubbed off on dad. They were happy and at ease. I can't tell you what a blessing that was today. I left the hospital with good cheer knowing that happiness is a good medicine, even for me. Thank you Jesus! Ingrid