Gratitude

Wishes and Prayers, #Health and the Road to Victory

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gratitude

Once again, I’d like to thank you all for so many wishes, prayers and good thoughts you’ve shared with me here and in your hearts for my husband’s recovery.

 

I’m touched by the comments I’m still receiving from so many, and dropping by to ask how my husband is progressing. I was going to post earlier this week, but to be honest, I’m superstitious, and I was afraid I’d jinx the progress by talking about it. Now, it’s been one week since my hub has had the paracenteses at the hospital, and although, we’ve still  been running to doctors appointments and therapy treatments almost daily since last week, I’m over the moon to report that although still not as strong yet as he was before, my husband is feeling so much better.

 

After the last drainage, 4 liters of fluid was taken out of him, leaving him with a weight loss of almost 9 pounds. He wasn’t feeling as energetic afterward, as he did the first drainage, and then he had an awfully painful test last Friday, which didn’t help things along, but he could breathe with ease once again.

 

Saturday hub was lethargic, but I was thrilled that he hadn’t gained back an ounce of fluid. Sunday he felt a burst of energy, and insisted that he was taking his car by himself, to get gas and a car wash. I was filled with worry to let him go out on his own, almost feeling as though my child had just gotten his license and was going out driving alone for the first time. But I felt compelled to give him back some independence. I worried the whole half hour he was gone but managed to refrain from calling him.

 

Monday, he finally lost 1 pound. Tuesday he lost 2 pounds. Wednesday, another pound, and Thursday he lost 2 more pounds! Somewhere between altering the diuretic prescription and the I.V. therapy from the naturopath to help push the fluid over to the kidneys, his body began pushing out the excess fluid by itself!

 

I’ve been overwhelmed with happiness for the progress that is finally happening after a 2-month road which seemed to have no end. I was petrified that his body would never cooperate with treatment to rid itself of excess fluids, and that he’d become ‘one of those patients’ who would have to go for drainage every two weeks for the rest of his life.

 

I know it’s early yet, and treatments, fluid retention, and drugs are still being monitored closely by doctors, and ESPECIALLY by me, but the improvements I’ve seen in this past week are nothing short of miraculous. Along with hub’s progress, his personality and sense of humour have also returned. Although it’s still early in recovery to be certain what the status quo will be, I can’t help but feel that this long nightmare is on its way to becoming a distant bad memory.

 

Next week hubby wants to go into work for a few hours on the days he doesn’t have doctor appointments. If I feel he’s up to it I’ll set him free. And I don’t mind saying, I’m happy not to have to be the chauffeur anymore. I hate driving, lol.

thank you so much

Once again I just have to say how grateful I am to all of you for the kindness and support you’ve shown. Besides the worry and fear I lived through these past few months, it was your prayers, comments, and conversations I’ve had with many of you that helped keep me sane and grounded; as though I had a place to come to where my life still felt familiar. I cannot thank you enough, I’m blessed to be part of such a wonderful community of friends. Thank you. ❤

83 thoughts on “Wishes and Prayers, #Health and the Road to Victory”

  2. This is fantastic news. I`m so happy and glad that your hubby is feeling so much better and is making good progress. Blessings on your household and both of you now and in the future.

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    1. Thanks so much John for your encouragement through this very long process. Determination and positivity can lead to great rewards sometimes. Now I’ll be watching carefully to make sure this progress is stable. We received ‘the proof in the pudding’ yesterday from the naturopath, as the I.V. treatments are a huge part of this recovery. Yes, between the correct dosage of meds and the I.V. therapy the fluids are being redirected to the kidneys now, but the best part is, the I.V. therapy is to also help regenerate the function of the good parts in the liver, this is where the high enzyme count was the alert of the dangerous cell multiplication. This therapy has brought down the levels from 124 to 52 (one point above normal range) in only 2 weeks! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the lab report yesterday! 🙂

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  8. It is excellent to know that your hubby has made progresses in the treatments…
    I am superstitious too, Debbie, and seen it that way I might think that good thoughts and energies could help… Call it animistic thinking or magic realism, if you wish… and yet, I still believe so. ? Best wishes, always. Aquileana ?

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    1. Thanks so much dear Aq. Absolutely, good energies help counteract the negative forces, it’s the law of attraction. Many don’t understand the power, especially when things are looking pretty glum. But we have to believe in order for the negativity to not draw us down. 🙂

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  9. Dearest Debby, I’m so very happy to read this wonderful news, your relief pours through every word! Phew…I imagine you flopping down into your nice comfy chair as you imagine life slowly returning to ‘normal’…I use quotes as you and I both know that ‘normal’ is never to be taken for granted, lol 😀 But seriously, this is fantastic news. I pray that hubby’s recovery continues in great strides…and yours too! Sending love and hugs for the best weekend you’ve had in a long while! 🙂 ❤ xoxo

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    1. Thanks so much Sher. Indeed, I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted in the progress department. Now I shall be monitoring closely to make sure things remain in this positive direction. It’s rewarding to find that all of the baby steps along the way have lead to giant strides. xoxo ❤ :)Hugs to you my friend!

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      1. ❤ ❤ ❤ xoxo 🙂 I'm so glad for you Deb…your baby steps covered a lot of ground. I'm so proud of you my friend!

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  10. Debby that is so wonderful to hear! Thank you for taking time to update us. I can only imagine how relieved you are. Still afraid, no doubt, but relieved nonetheless.
    Wishing you a restful, peaceful, happy weekend. Mega hugs

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    1. Thanks a bunch Teag for always leaving your kind words and wishes. I’ve spent much of today catching up on blogs, which I’ve enjoyed and tomorrow I’ll be having my day out with my cousin and sister for my cousin’s birthday. Certainly a lovely little getaway time. 🙂 xo

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  11. Wonderful news. When fluid retention in or around the lungs can’t be handled by the body, it’s bad, bad news. I just had my third experience of that in the last eight years. What a huge relief for you and your husband. May everything continue working just as it should. And you’ve shared lots of great information about dealing with critical illness and this will help many others when it’s their turn to take care of someone this sick.

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    1. Thanks so much Elaine for dropping by at this hard time in your own life, and leaving your positive words. I sure hope you’re doing okay and having some love and support yourself right now, and that your lungs are cleared as well. I too hope that by sharing my journey I have helped someone else along the way. As we both know, serious illness is a challenge in itself for the patient and caregiver, besides the many obstacles we encounter with the medical system. 🙂

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  12. Yay! What good news! Phew. You do sound like a parent letting your teenager drive to the market alone for milk 🙂 I’m so glad your hubby is improving physically and getting his spirit back. Keep up the healing and positive energy. Sending hugs your way!

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  14. I am so happy for you both, Debbie… This is wonderful news! Iwill continue with possitive thoughts for you both and wish you many blessings. ?

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  16. Prayers to you, and your husband, Debby. This good news is wonderful to hear, and such a blessing to you both. Continued recovery with rest to you as well. 🙂

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    1. Ellie, you give me goosebumps. I will never forget that you messaged me, telling me how many were sending prayers from your congregation. It still fills my heart to know that there are so many wonderful, compassionate people in this world. And God is good. xoxo ❤

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  20. This is such wonderful news to read, Debby. I’m so happy that hubby is on the road to recovery. Wanting to go back to work is a very good sign that he’s getting better.
    Big hugs to you both.
    xx

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    1. Thank you Hugh. And thanks for hanging in through the journey with me, checking up here. It feels like nothing short of a miracle I tell you. The naturopath, once again has brought hubby new life. And hub went to work this morning as we speak!!! ❤ xo

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      1. That’s even more great news to hear, Debby.
        I hope the awful fire in Canada we are hearing about on our news is not affecting you? I can’t remember whereabouts in Canada you are located.
        xx

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      2. Thanks again Hugh. And yes, that fire is horrendous. It’s still going and people who’ve been evacuated are now being evacuated further south because of the spread. The fire is in north Alberta, we’re here in Ontario, 2 provinces away. Our province has sent firefighters and many volunteers from here are sending aid and care packages. 3 days and it’s not yet contained. Over 80,000 people have lost their homes. Amazingly, no fatalities. ❤ Lots of prayers.

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  21. D~ I am definitely saddened that you went through all of this, telling us about your husband and my not even showing up to send him well wishes. I am on the other hand very excited that you are mentioning progress and he is getting stronger every day. I will head back to find out more details of what started this and if it is an infection that got out of hand. . .
    ps, my Dad had a very bad infection he got from hornet’s nest and swarms of them and their stings having poison in them. He had a full recovery and yet, there were liters of fluid built up to fight the infection, which was a rather horrendous and scary thing, this was in his early sixties, and only “cancer took him down” at 69. Not the infection! He battled that courageously, as he did with the four months of cancer, fading quickly in that battle.
    Sending you belated wishes for a complete healing, tremendous heart felt hope sent along with a silent prayer, D.G. ❤

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    1. Robin, it seems that so many have had their hardships with health. I’m sorry to learn about what your father went through, and now your mom’s demise. Certainly you and I have traveled this road of health woes with loved ones. I shared my husband’s journey of illness, not only because I had so many wonderful friends here inquiring about the progress of recovery, but to help spread awareness for those who may one day have to face the medical system with a loved one, so they could learn from my experience what they can do to help push things along and care for themselves or a loved one.
      Thanks again for your visit and words of encouragement. ❤

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  22. Debbie this is such great news as I catch up with you here.. I was scrolling down to approx the last date i was here.. So pleased your hubby is making such great progress.. 🙂 Love and Hugs my friend. with big smiles 🙂 xxx

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  23. Glad for the update, Deb. It’s the caretaker who suffers deeply when a loved one’s put out. All the unsung labor…you can’t just lie there being cared for! Give yourself a coupon for a magnesium bath, redeemable soon. Just 20 min and you’ll feel renewed.

    Xxxx
    Diana

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    1. Thanks so much Diana for dropping by. I’m just catching up with my own health and doctors now. Natch, those things have been put to the wayside. And thanks for the good reminder on the magnesium bath, that’s a for sure! 🙂 ❤

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  24. OMG Deb! What a nightmare for you both. I have just brought my hb home from hospital after a 3 day/2night stay following post colonoscopy bleeding and removal of 2 small polyps. His story pales in comparison to what you have been through!!! I note this was over 12 months ago so I trust things have improved. Well, I know you have been away on holidays recently 🙂

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    1. Thanks for your concern Raili, Yes, this was last year now, that was a long year that aged us both. There were many other complications and we just encountered a new one last week. Grateful for every good day. And I’m sorry to hear what your hub went through. You know they say there is always a risk with colonoscopy, we often don’t hear about the ‘risk’ stories. 🙂

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      1. When someone pokes around in your innards with a bendy tube it’s surprising there are not more of them! Sorry to hear more complications have emerged. Sending you much love, blessings and healing xxx

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  25. Oh my dear, dear friend – WHAT a nightmare! I just read the backstory and the comments on this post and I’m sending prayers for continued good health for BOTH of you.

    The information you shared serves as a helpful warning to all of us, symptom-wise – and a weath of information about treatment options. The most valuable & important take-away from these posts, IMHO, is to *stay on the health care system* – especially when anyone over 55 is concerned.

    I don’t know if it is true that “seniors” are not given priority care, but it certainly is true that our fears about “being a pest” need to be set aside where our health care is concerned — no matter where we live. As you know all too well, it is all too easy to get “lost in the system.” I am so happy to read that your due diligence paid off!

    I know that writing is soothing for you, but how in the world have you managed to find the TIME to keep up with book and blog writing as you became a one-woman triage? I am all that more impressed by you.
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
    ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
    “It takes a village to educate a world!”

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    1. Wow! Thanks for reading this older post M. Yep, I’m a triage alright, lol. 🙂 It was a tough time and lots has changed since then. I don’t often talk about crap I deal with but I had let my readers know what was going on because I was on and off the computer randomly for awhile. I’m just so used to ‘doing’ I just keep going all the time, it’s just part of who I am, lol. Thank you again for your lovely and concerning comment. ❤

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      1. You are so welcome, Debby. I’m sorry I didn’t find it sooner, when I could have added my support at the time.

        btw – I *finally* got “Words. . .” to download to my Kindle – after several “you have already purchased this book . . .” notifications from computer and Kindle Store.

        I “purchased” a free one I wasn’t planning to read, just to see if maybe that would download and voila! BOTH of them appeared like magic. Yours opens (I checked, of course!) – I’ll delete the other once I figure out how to do it lol – it’s a Harry Potter, so I doubt I’ll be missed.

        So I’m off for some couch lounging with a good book — YOURS!
        xx,
        mgh

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      2. Lol, I just read your other comment and tried to give you some tricks to try, lol. So glad you got it! I’m not sure which version your Kindle is so I’m also not sure how to delete it right from your Kindle, but I can give you a work around, what I use sometimes to delete. If you load ‘Kindle for PC’ to your computer, you can also read from your computer or manipulate functions from there. If you have the app loaded and click on it, your library of books will open and you can delete it from your library there, which will make it disappear of your Kindle. Here’s the link https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp

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      3. It says “Kindle Fire” when it turns on – and, once I got it working, there is a manual ON the darned thing (anybody else see a problem with this idea? lol).

        Thanks for the link.

        In any case, I think it was an Amazon glitch of some sort, given how I finally managed to get it from my MAC to my Kindle.

        Read it last nite, btw – surprised at some of the specifics you shared, but nodding my head in agreement with the manner in which you shared them. How *anybody* as great-looking as you are could ever think otherwise MAKES the point of your book: early word wounding “carried” thru life.

        WILL write a review, but it may take some time to work it into my schedule.

        Thanks again for the offer – it was SO nice taking some time to read in my living room vs. on the computer in my office.
        xx,
        mgh

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      4. Wow! I’m truly humbled my friend! I’m sorry I’m not familiar with the Kindle Fire, but I hear a lot of good things about it.
        Thanks for taking the time to read my book. And I’m kind of blushing on your compliment, lol. But it proves a point that we don’t always see in the mirror what our mind’s eye sees. Words have impact and are the barometer of our self-esteem.
        And thank you so much for writing a review. It would be much appreciated and of course, absolutely no hurry! ❤ xxx

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      5. The Kindle FIRE was a re-gift from a friend who had another eReader she preferred. I didn’t “choose” this one specifically, just accepted it gratefully.

        My comment came from memories of my mother. HER mother did such a number on her self-esteem that she never saw in the mirror what was obvious to everyone else. As my father said, “She was a real looker.” So are you!
        xx,
        mgh

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      6. Ok, now I’m really blushing. But while we’re on the subject, it’s not hard to see how the apple doesn’t fall far the tree with you and your mother. Touche! xoxoxo (P.S. just about to email you again 🙂 )

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      7. Super – I have to leave in moments, but I’ll go take a look first.

        Re: “fallen apples” – I picked up on my mother’s negative self talk, underscored by the marketing aimed at teen girls, thinking that if SHE didn’t think she looked great, what chance did I have?

        There was a time I didn’t even go from dorm-room to laundry-room without FULL make-up and hair. I had to work through it in my 30s. Happy those days are long behind me.
        xx,
        mgh

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      8. Thank you for sharing that and just one more parallel between us ❤ You've read my Words book now so you know how I can relate 🙂 xx

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      10. No doubt, much of our self-esteem issues begin in teenhood. But when we’re teased and have nobody to lift us up it’s a lot worse. xx

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  26. I just read all of this, Deb. Awful experience! I pray complete healing is happening. Here’s something to meditate…”And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:15 Blessings, my friend for you and your husband

    Marianne xox

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