The Winter Of Our Life

Our Dearest Family & Friends,

So many days I wish that it was the beginning of Spring or Summer, because the days are already hard and cold when your loved one is terminally ill. The promise of Spring.... seeing fresh sprigs, new buds peaking out, and flowers blooming; or the sun beating on our faces, is what my heart is desperately longing for. However, the deep winter freeze is more a reflection of our life, and so it somehow seems appropriate that this is the season in which we are living...

Our neighborhood gets completely dumped on when it snows; a beautiful winter wonderland for sure, however when one needs to leave it makes you feel trapped and claustrophobic! David could barely breathe yesterday, so a trip to the hospital was in order. Thank God for an Angel (Dawn Marie), who drove us to Evergreen hospital, and then later picked us up; such a loving act of kindness. We were at the hospital most of the day, which was very hard on David.

David's breathing was quite labored, and he could only take very short breaths. The ultrasound showed that he had fluid in and around his lungs, which needed to be drained. The doctor inserted a very large needle with a catheter into David's back and drained 1.5 liters of fluid!!! As I saw the large bottle fill with bright red fluid, it was all I could do to stand there and hold on tight to my husband, as he sat there, looking so pathetic and helpless on the gurney. They pulled the filled bottle just in time to slip another one in, which they removed at the .5 mark, leaving .5 still in his chest so that his lung wouldn't collapse.

The doctor said that David would probably be back in a 2-3 days, due to what he saw.

Sadly...today David's breathing is becoming labored again, as it is filling back up. So, we will probably be going to the hospital by Monday. I just pray that each time they do this procedure, that there will be no infections, and that the lung doesn't collapse, or any other complications.

Each week David's condition is worsening; and with that, my body and heart are feeling completely broken. My strength, my comfort, and my peace rests in God's Hands, as I am too weak and too sad on this part of the journey to carry myself...

Thank you ALL again, for your very kind words, support, and amazing acts of kindness and love, for which we are truly grateful.

With Love,
Linda