Home is where the Heart Is

Dear Family and Friends, 

Jack, Sarah, Sean, Paige, Lori, Lanny and I all arrived home on Friday to the great delight of Cody (our little dog) who had been a nervous wreck since we left Tuesday night.  Elise and my sister Kathy (with the help of hospice) had the house all set for us to move into the downstairs bedroom.  We had everything we needed to make the transition.  

Sarah, Jack and Sean before we left the hospital

Jack is on steroids which is keeping the swelling down in his brain.  They are also giving him energy, albeit temporary,  although he does wear out easily and needs rest.   He is also in a great deal of pain, that with the help of hospice we are managing to get under control.   I fear the tumor in his abdomen is giving him the most pain.  As it continues to grow it is displacing his organs.  You can see in the x-ray below how much it has squeezed his lung.  It also is moving all his major organs as it continues to grow.   In the CT scan they did on August 1st (without contrast, so it is not an accurate measurement) here is what the report said on the mass.  
"There is a large mass centered in the left upper quadrant and extending to the right of the midline, displacing the pancreas, spleen, and left adrenal gland and kidney. The mass measures up to 17.7 x 24.4 cm transverse dimensions; it is likely grossly unchanged in size since previous study. The mass closely abuts and displaces the the stomach and closely abuts loops of bowel in the left upper quadrant."
  

chest x-ray they took last Tuesday at Duke ER

 I can only imagine the pain he must be in and wish I could make it go away.  

Jack has had a few close friends stopping by... but this weekend was about his kids Sean and Sarah spending as much time with him as they could.  Sean had to leave last night to head back to work at ESPN, working on a big website launch and Sarah leaves tomorrow.  I know how hard this has to be on them both.  However, Sean's wife Paige is staying with the grandkids, Lori and Lanny are still here and Paige's parents Pat and Joe have come up to help with the kids so Paige can help at the house here.  
   

A big plus is Lanny and Joe are excellent cooks, so they've been preparing meals for us 

I know how much so many people want to stop by and see Jack, and let him know how much they love him. It's hard, because he wears out so easy.  A lot of conversation is hard for him to follow between the brain lesions and drugs and he ends up getting confused.  Friends are more than welcome to stop by anytime, but please we ask that you give a call before you come to make sure he is awake and up for visitors.  Even then, we may have to limit your time, due to his discomfort/pain.   

Yesterday, some of our friends that are musicians have been trying to get back together with Jack since they played together back in late March.  Jack was working on making a CD of some of his favorite tunes to leave his grandkids and he had incorporated Cecil and Charles to help him out with it.   Well the timing never worked out.  I spoke with Cecil Saturday morning and he wasn't sure if they would be able to, but he was going to try and get Charles Welch and John Kirby to come over and play.  He called first thing in the morning and told me it would out for all of them to come.  It was great, they gave Jack a little listening session in our living room.   When he hit is wall of pain, he went back to his room... but asked that they keep playing a song or two so he could hear from his bedroom.   We have another musician friend who is planning on stopping by tomorrow to play for Jack... and also a friend who is planning on reading to Jack, since he has a hard time reading himself anymore.  We are blessed to have such a great network of family and friends indeed during these troubling times.  

   

Speaking of bedrooms, we have created a memory wall of sorts for Jack in his... so he knows how many people love him.  

And just because they are as cute as anything and always brighten our day, here are our grandkids Tanner and Grayson.

Thank you for all the prayers, love  and support we continue to receive.  We are truly blessed by all of our families and friends.   The trail may get steep and winding, but the love will feel will strengthen us for the journey ahead. 

Peace and Love
Helen


“I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.” 
― Vincent van Gogh

"Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles."

Psalm 73:25-26