Adventure Day One – How Do I Leave
November 23, 2008 – In November of 2002 a large part of my job involved traveling and I was fortunate to limit that travel during the month of October because I worked for very understanding and compassionate people. Although it seemed that life was suspended in time inside that hospital room, life was moving forward, and I needed to meet my commitments in my professional life even during our hardest emotional chapters. I needed to travel away for a few days, leaving Rickey for the first time since he was diagnosed with AML Leukemia. I was comforted in the fact that he would be in the care of his sister, Dana-Lee. How do I leave not knowing if he would be there when I returned?
PJ writes November 7, 2002 4:43 AM
Adventure Round Two - Day 9
We gather strength together and in the break of a new day see the light… we have had a non-eventful night and Rickey has turned the corner a bit on the effects of the chemo. The last chemo bag ended around 11:30 PM Tuesday night and he has been able to get some sleep these last few days. Last night he only had a fever of 100.4 once. He still is on oxygen to help him with the breathing stress he is still experiencing, but his echocardiogram for his heart stress issue came back with a normal result. Rickey’s IV port has been moved to his neck, so he can again wear his normal pajamas, and the pneumonia in his lungs showed too little fluid to require them to be drained. We continue to forge ahead with rest and fluids, Rickey has not returned to eating much of anything yet, but we just look forward to the next milestone on the 13th when he takes his bone marrow test…keep those prayers and good vibrations coming!
Incoming from a friend - Just Checking Up On Your Weekend
November 7, 2002 10:45 AM
Just wanted to touch base and see how Rickey is feeling. I would call but I never know when he is resting and don’t want to bother him. We had a special healing service Sunday at church and I felt in my heart that God wanted me to do something and I sat in proxy for Rickey and was anointed with oil and had practically the whole church surrounding me in agreement in prayer that he will be healed and that the hard times will pass. I felt it so strongly during the service that it was almost all I could think about. You have been in my thoughts all weekend. I know that first and foremost, that what is on your mind right now is that you don’t want to leave Rickey right now but you have to put trust in the hand of God that he will protect and watch over him while you aren’t there and that Rickey’s sister will be the eyes and ears for you while you are gone. You need to take care of yourself as well. It will help build up your strength and refresh your mind to nurture Rickey even more when you get back. You need to be revitalized as well. All things are possible through prayer and I felt so strong as our church family surrounded me and prayed and cried with me as we opened our hearts to send a healing spirit to both you and Rickey.
All things are possible, and there is truth in the power of revitalization. Even though I was hesitant to leave, I returned even stronger and with more resolve to be the strength that Rickey needed to get through what was to be his hardest birthday ever.
Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey. You can make a difference one day at a time.
Share your adventure with us!
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