I ' m Back

Greetings to everyone. I am very happy to be back on the blog myself. It has been a long time. Thanks to my family who have tried to keep everyone up to date with what has happen to us. There has been talk of writing a book, I am not sure, but I will say that the time from Dec 22-Jan have been extremly interesting and definitely different than anythin we anticipated. The story is different and I hope to be able to share it all some day. I will tell you that the problems I have had have not been the tumor, which seems to surpriae most people. I guess that is good, though we are still not sure what the problems were. I suspect a combination of things and I very glad that evereything is improving a little every day. And I hope to be back at Bethesda soon. I am able to walk, once I get on my feet, so I am hopeful it will not be much longer. Most days I can feel the progress I am making and know that I continue to get stronger. I am getting PT 3x w and OT 2X w........I am tired this afternoo.......these girls mean buisness!!

It is so rewarding to know that you all are still keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. I will not ever be able to express my gradidude for your prayers and concern.

I have an appt. tomorrow and pray that I will be able to reduce some of the medicine. I hope to be able to go back to MD in a couple of weeks and be reevaluated for for treatment options.

Hoping all of you are doing well. Keeping you in my prayers also.
Rem: God is Good all the time....I have learned much about his goodness and His Blessings every day.

gotta go check on Roger, he has a "herd of deer" in the back yard. Love to all.......Marlene
PS......FOR ALL OF YOU WHO KEPT ASKING, YES, I DID GET MY FLU SHOT!!

Getting Stronger

Marlene continues to improve and grow stronger each day. Her stomach problems are greatly improved and she is walking better each day. PTL! She is taking physical therapy each day and doing well. She is scheduled for an MRI on Tues. afternoon at the local hospital. This info will be sent to NIH for evaluation. Please keep us in your prayers as we pray for God's Will in our lives. We know that He is with us on the mountain and in the valley as we travel on this journey because we know God is good..........and all the time............ May God Bless, M & R

Getting Ready!

After a week in the hospital, it sure feels good to be at home sleeping in our own bed. After having to eat hospital food for the past few days, Marlene has decided my cooking isn't so bad after all. The physical therapists came today to evaluate her and to start the exercises she will need to do to regain her strenght. She is already showing signs of improvement. God has been so good to us this past week by puting wonderful caring people in our path. We could not have been more blessed. Praise His holy name! We ask you to continue to pray that His will be done in our lives and that we will be an influence on others who need to know about Him. Thank you again for your prayers and supportand rem. God is good...........and all the time........... In His love, M & R

Home again!

Well, I didn't want to be outdone by Patti, so tonight your update will come from #2 (as Dad so proudly refers to me)! For those of you who do not know the story of the past week I will give a brief run down. Last Monday, January 14, our mother had an appointment with our local physician. When he saw her leg and learned that it had been swollen for a few days, he immediately sent mom to Holston Valley Hospital for an ultrasound. His fear of a blood clot was confirmed and mom was immediately admitted. I guess when we hear the word 'hospital' there is a sense of dread because we know it must be REALLY serious for them to admit her in such a rush (at least that is how I felt when Patti called me!) But once again, the Lord proved to us that he is the commander and chief on this journey. Every nurse and care attendant that worked with mom was wonderful. For the past week she has been in good hands and gradually felt better each day. As Patti mentioned in the last post, Mom has been going through some challenges since December 21, specifically with GI and digestion. Her stay in the hospital allowed her the time to work through this while giving Dad a little break. While he was by her side the whole week, the nurses and aides were just wonderful. Why do we continue to be surprised by the people that God puts in our path?

Today we received the green light to come home. It has been nice to be home with her and we are looking forward to some Physical Therapy in home tomorrow. We are hoping to overcome some physical challenges. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers while we work to get back up to Bethesda!

Lots of people went to the hospital today in search of our mother - and we thank you all for your thoughfulness and concern. It is wonderful to know that we have so much love and support. Our family also knows that many of our family and friends are facing their own sets of struggles. We love you all and keep you in our prayers. Remember, even when you are in the valley, God is good....all the time.

Love,
Laura (#2!)

Down, but not out!

Greetings to all! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and great time with family and friends. Our hiatus from the blog sight was not on purpose; Mom has been very ill since December 21, after she returned from her last trip to Maryland. At first, we thought she was simply tired (8 hours one way is long for anyone!); but we soon realized there was more to the problem. She has suffered what I will call a combination of GI issues, compounded by the timing of their onset--Christmas is no time to fall ill! Because of the quick onset of the symptoms and their severity, Mom was temporarily taken off her cancer medication. However, God is in control and has remained with us in every detail! She has changed doctors here locally, and he is in contact with her physicians at NIH. Improvement is a slow process, but she is improving every day. We are very hopeful that she will regain her stregnth and be able to travel within the next couple of weeks. We know that God has a plan and a purpose for all that has happened, and we are faithful to follow his lead in this journey. Thanks to all of you for your prayers, cards, kind thoughts, and your love. We are sustained by them. Thanks, too, for allowing me to be Mom's voice for this message--but not to worry! She is right here beside me, proofreading and editing! Love to you all, and remember--God is good... and all the time... Patti