A Rough Day

Today was a rough day as Grandpa had another stroke. We all rushed from work and home to be by his side as he told us stories non-stop and faded in and out. It was definitely scary and emotionally exhausting, but God helped us through.

Hello Family and Friends~

As many of you now this week has changed dramatically for our family. As many of you may remember Dad (Bill) was diagnosed with terminal cancer on July 18th 2008 and given six months or less to live. We began hospice at that time, but he did so well after radiation that we discontinued it the first of December.

For the last month or so I have noticed subtle changes but nothing major. Well, Tuesday morning we have to assume that he had a stroke getting out of the shower. The doctors still say it is an outcome of the cancer which I agree with since the tumor was on the right upper chest area to begin with and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. He is very weak on the left side but speech and cognition seem not to be effected.

We started up with hospice again on Thursday and have a hospital bed, wheelchair, etc.

I apologize for disrupting service last night but as I was getting Dad off to bed his left leg gave out completely. I was able to slide him down against his recliner and on to the floor but there was no way I could pick him up from there. I think I'm super woman sometimes but not this time. All is well and nothing is broken in either Dad or myself ( the Lord was gracious). Thanks to Chris Olsen and Doug, we got him up and into bed with no problem.

Please pray that he will accept this condition as he asks every day at some point won't it get better. We tell him yes when he's in heaven and then he can plant a big vegetable garden.

Pray for strength for my mom (Grace) that she will get enough rest. She has a sinus infection right now and has felt bad all week.

Pray for the rest of all of us as we work to come up with a schedule of help for her in the next week or so that will work for me (so I can continue to work some at my job), John (as he cares for Joel and helps out with Dad as he can), Rian, Emily, Megan and Doug.

Thank you all for your prayers and love. Becky Murnen