We want to thank all of you who have sent kind messages regarding our trip to Yolanda's mom's. Dozens of you sent encouraging messages regarding her health, as well as our decision to come and we greatly appreciated each of them. Our next blog will cover the last week we were in Zimbabwe and some "extra" things we were able to do for the women due to several of you giving special gifts. It was another crazy week (right after the VBS week), just before leaving.
On our way to England, we were blessed with a 30 hour layover in Qatar. We got a hotel and were able to have a full day of rest. It was too short and was a much needed time to physically and emotionally take time out after a whirlwind of the past couple months in Zim and before the physical and emotional stress of helping a sick parent. We really enjoyed the beach and getting to swim in the Persian Gulf in the 105 degree temps.
On our way to England, we were blessed with a 30 hour layover in Qatar. We got a hotel and were able to have a full day of rest. It was too short and was a much needed time to physically and emotionally take time out after a whirlwind of the past couple months in Zim and before the physical and emotional stress of helping a sick parent. We really enjoyed the beach and getting to swim in the Persian Gulf in the 105 degree temps.
 We left our house keys with friends. This is one set of keys, 17 to be exact! |  We found fleas in our living room the day before we left, so we laid down a powder mixture before vacuuming it up the next day. We suspect they came from the family of one of the poorest in the Wednesday group. |
We've been in England for just over 2 weeks and already have had plenty of ups and downs. Yolanda's mom surprised us by meeting us at the airport. She had previously been in the hospital for a couple days and during our travel days we weren't sure if she was still in the hospital or not. She had also been scheduled to have chemo the day we arrived and she did go to that appointment, but was told by the doctor that even with the reduced amount of chemo and a change of formula of chemo that it was still in fact killing her. So he said that the chemo must stop. Anyone who has chemo gets severe side effects, but she was getting all the known terrible side effects - pain, rashes, blisters, balding, sore scalp, nausea (extreme vomiting which resulted in a 13.2lb weight-loss in her first week of chemo), migraines, blood clots, splitting nails, dry mouth etc, etc, etc, the list goes on. She has truly been through the wringer and ended up in hospital after every chemo session with how deathly ill she has gotten. She even had hearing loss and her oncologist made it clear that if they didn't stop chemo that it would literally kill her.
Since her cancer had been successfully removed, she was doing chemo to prevent it from coming back and now there is nothing preventing that. Lung cancer is number 1 on the top ten list of deadliest cancers, with a survival rate of only 5 years assuming preventative measures are taken, i.e. chemo, etc. So this diagnosis has been a rather scary realization for what the future holds. Meanwhile, while in the hospital, she picked up a lung infection and has been on several prescriptions ever since. Her first lot of antibiotics did nothing which resulted in her needing a stronger course with steroids to get it in check. We have a handful of alarms set on our phone day and night so we remember to make sure that she is taking what she needs. Before her meds Yolanda was up multiple times through the night checking her temperature every couple hours, since any form of fever for a cancer patient is an immediate reason to be hospitalized.
Since her cancer had been successfully removed, she was doing chemo to prevent it from coming back and now there is nothing preventing that. Lung cancer is number 1 on the top ten list of deadliest cancers, with a survival rate of only 5 years assuming preventative measures are taken, i.e. chemo, etc. So this diagnosis has been a rather scary realization for what the future holds. Meanwhile, while in the hospital, she picked up a lung infection and has been on several prescriptions ever since. Her first lot of antibiotics did nothing which resulted in her needing a stronger course with steroids to get it in check. We have a handful of alarms set on our phone day and night so we remember to make sure that she is taking what she needs. Before her meds Yolanda was up multiple times through the night checking her temperature every couple hours, since any form of fever for a cancer patient is an immediate reason to be hospitalized.
Yolanda's mom still has 3 blood clots which need to dissolve on their own, so Yolanda gives her a shot in her stomach every evening to help thin her blood. Her mom gets anxious every evening in anticipation of these shots. They have also caused terrible bruising all over her stomach.
 Prescriptions for each day |  A much needed nap |
During a previous exam, the doctor felt a lump on her side. Yesterday, we went to the hospital for scans and were thankful to find that there was no new cancer and it was actually nothing. She has upcoming appointments for blood tests to check her progress and see if her white blood cell count has changed or not. We continue to ask for your prayers concerning all of this.
She continues to cough quite a bit and is out of breath very easily, whether it's walking up the stairs or just walking from one room to the other. She's been prescribed an inhaler which can help for times when her chest tightens up and struggles to breathe at all. With only 1 1/3 lungs shortness of breath is normal at this point, but it's the infection which has really intensified this. Yolanda also checks her oxygen levels and blood pressure regularly. We are grateful for all these tools on hand at home to check up on mom's medical needs.
She continues to cough quite a bit and is out of breath very easily, whether it's walking up the stairs or just walking from one room to the other. She's been prescribed an inhaler which can help for times when her chest tightens up and struggles to breathe at all. With only 1 1/3 lungs shortness of breath is normal at this point, but it's the infection which has really intensified this. Yolanda also checks her oxygen levels and blood pressure regularly. We are grateful for all these tools on hand at home to check up on mom's medical needs.
 The shot given each evening |  Yolanda had a cold the first week and wore this mask around the house so she wouldn't spread her germs |
Everything is quite busy with the medical side of everything, but also everything else that needs to be done around the house, grocery shopping, cooking, washing dishes (no dishwasher), laundry, yardwork, vacuuming. This is all regular housework, but in addition to not wanting to leave Yolanda's mom alone and the amount of time she sleeps and also burning the candle at both ends to check on her throughout the night and medications early and late, it is all quite busy.
Having cancer is expensive, we are grateful that chemo and medications for the most part have been covered but there is so much more involved. Yolanda's mom hasn't been able to work for 1.5 years now so just regular bills are an on-going struggle. We have been grateful to be here to assist even in those areas. A friend purchased an older, yet road worthy vehicle (barely, but is fine for a few months), for us to use while here to help us do everything that we need to do.
We ask that you also pray for our emotional and mental well-being. We arrived exhausted and that really hasn't changed for us. We are working hard and resting when we are able so that we don't burn out, but our bodies have been under a lot of pressure for quite awhile now. Please pray for continued good health, rest, and emotional well-being.
We are thankful for the blessing it is to be here and care for Yolanda's mom and we appreciate your continued prayers for her health and also us, physically and emotionally.
Having cancer is expensive, we are grateful that chemo and medications for the most part have been covered but there is so much more involved. Yolanda's mom hasn't been able to work for 1.5 years now so just regular bills are an on-going struggle. We have been grateful to be here to assist even in those areas. A friend purchased an older, yet road worthy vehicle (barely, but is fine for a few months), for us to use while here to help us do everything that we need to do.
We ask that you also pray for our emotional and mental well-being. We arrived exhausted and that really hasn't changed for us. We are working hard and resting when we are able so that we don't burn out, but our bodies have been under a lot of pressure for quite awhile now. Please pray for continued good health, rest, and emotional well-being.
We are thankful for the blessing it is to be here and care for Yolanda's mom and we appreciate your continued prayers for her health and also us, physically and emotionally.
 We've already taken care of several repair jobs around the house |  When the mother-in-law wasn't wearing her wig, the son-in-law spotted an opportunity for fun |
Our spare car to use while we're here. Yolanda looking ready to go, but of course the steering wheel is on the opposite side, just like in Zim.
RSS Feed