New Game Plan

Pain has continued to be high, despite a recent change/upgrade in pain medications. Sandy isn't one to complain, but it is often nearly unbearable. Because of this, her doctors have recommended that Sandy bring hospice onto her team for pain management. There are limits to what doctors can prescribe, but those limits are more flexible with hospice. The biggest challenge with making this decision is the feeling like this is giving up or making a "final" decision. However, a number of people have clarified for Sandy the role of hospice, the fact that they can provide somewhat long-term care, and that she has the option of pausing or discontinuing hospice care at any point. 

Are things dire? In some ways, yes. In other ways, Sandy is still planning a trip to the lake, time with family and friends, church and choir, and miscellaneous outings and errands. Due to weakness and medication side effects, she decided to stop driving. While this can at times be frustrating or inconvenient, she is choosing to see it as an opportunity to have time with people in the car as they drive her from place to place. 

Today Sandy will have both drains exchanged and will have a third, different, kind of drain placed in her abdomen. The third drain will take the place of the paracentesis procedure she has been having every 10-14 days by allowing her to drain, at home, excess fluid as it begins to accumulate, rather than waiting until her abdomen is painfully full with significant fluid pressure.

Please pray for peace as she begins this leg of the journey, significant pain reduction, quality sleep each night, favor with each member of the hospice team who will assist with her case, and comfort - not just physically but emotionally as well. We thank God for the option of hospice care, for the ongoing support she receives from her medical team, for moments of laughter, and for faithful friends. 

God already knows the next steps, and His provision is already there, ready for us. 

Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."