Day by Day

One particular song that keeps running through my head is “Day by Day” from Godspell. I have always felt a connection with the lyrics, and sang the song as part of a great choir at church, a few years ago. Talk about moving mountains; that is one powerful message. Listen to it sometime.

Thursday started well, with some apple juice going down slowly, but OK. The poached eggs did not go down too well – less than one. He mixed himself an Instant B’fast, but refused to let me measure the milk so we know how many calories he is getting. It was probably less than 6 oz. and he did not finish it. This was followed by 30-45 minutes of distress and pain. He gets hiccups frequently and by the way he flinches, I know they are very painful. My sister called and asked again if we need anything. She has been over or called everyday, besides being with me on the day of surgery & bringing the kids to the hospital on Father’s Day. She brought over a pack of furnace filters that we needed and also some food items she thought Earl would enjoy. Unfortunately, I doubt he will try & eat or drink anything until the tumor shrinks. By lunchtime, I thought I had convinced him to use the tube, but he became very upset and said he wanted to taste some chicken broth & carrots. After one spoonful, he started to mash the carrots with his spoon, and then asked for the potato masher. He wanted to put the broth in the tube, so I got out the blender & that is what we did. I was afraid it would clog, since the broth was homemade yesterday and more fatty (he can use the fat!) than canned. After the broth, he agreed to a supplement, so we injected that, as well as his pain medicine. When he wanted to rest, I told him I would go & see if we could find a better clamp for the tube & also buy a pill crusher. I went to two home healthcare places in Valpo, but they do not carry clamps for his G tube. I figured Ace Hardware or Auto Zone would be my only alternatives, but I went instead to Dr. Gupta’s office and talked to him. He explained a little more about the tube, arranged to have the VNA come & talk to us and made me feel that we were not going at this alone.

I called Dr. Warren’s office for the 2 week check-up appointment (July 6); that same day we are seeing Dr. Abrams, the radiation oncologist. Earl will need to get a chest X-ray that day also, before seeing Warren.

Friday has been a much better day for Earl, as he has resigned himself to not attempt to take any nourishment by mouth. As I write this at 7:45 pm, he is up to 1,070 calories, which is the most he has had in several days. He is napping now, but I hope to get another can of supplement in him yet tonight.

A wonderful R. N. named Deb came this afternoon from the V. N. A. She did an initial exam and assessment and even came back several hours later with a case of 300 calorie supplement cans after speaking to Dr. Gupta. Earl is to have 4 cans a day, during waking hours of, say 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. A nurse will call us tomorrow and come over if we need her, but we will get set up on a schedule next week.

We also enjoyed visits today from Ray & Lynda Grivetti and Miguel & Esta Rosario. Earl was very glad to see them, although I could tell he was tiring. After they left and we switched on the Cubs/White Sox game, (is that what they call it when it is a blow-out?) we BOTH had no problem going to sleep. I woke up when Deb called saying she would bring over the case of supplement, called Isosource. (I think I will just call it Food from now on; it actually says that on the can anyway.)

Our minister, Dave Byrum, had called a day or so ago to check on us, and then came over Thursday afternoon to visit. The three of us talked of many things, some things I had been afraid to say out loud until now. He spoke of God’s calming presence in a Sea of Chaos and prayed with us. Earl and I can feel the strength of the congregation and the love of God through Dave. Even though our Sunday attendance lately has left much to be desired, we know that God is with us all the way, and we will continue to take it “Day by Day”.