"At This Point"

Since the last post, things have declined rather rapidly. The drain exchanges happened on Friday, in addition to the placement of a third drain that takes the place of needing to have a paracentesis every 10 days. Friday evening was rough but not unusual after a procedure. However, things did not improve Saturday or Sunday.  She began struggling to form complete sentences or finish a thought, and the pain was still significant. Both of those are signs of liver failure - the body isn't able to flush out toxins, and a whole host of complications follow. 

Sandy enjoyed having "Second Sunday" lunch at her house, and she surprised us by eating everything on her plate, including ice cream cake for dessert! By the evening, however, she was really struggling. Rod called hospice this morning, and they came out a couple hours later and set everything up. Sandy has a nice hospital-style bed, fresh sheets, and a good dose of morphine helping her remain comfortable.

While we are always hopeful, always looking for the miracle, always keeping eyes open for mighty works of God, we are also looking reality in the face. The hospice nurse who provided great care this morning kept saying "at this point..." - and we didn't like the conclusion each time.

At this point our goal is comfort
At this point move her around as little as possible
At this point it's not necessary to provide those medications anymore
At this point it's good to let friends and family know what's happening
At this point....

So let's change the dialogue a bit.

At this point, we are thankful she is able to rest after months of poor sleep
At this point, we are thankful that she was doing really well on Thursday when Katie and the kids came to visit before leaving for a week-long mission trip.
At this point, we are choosing to remember that good is still all around us
At this point, God is still good, still strong, still in change, still in the business of bringing good out of every situation.

Visitors are welcome at the house. You don't need to call first, though you are welcome to check in if you prefer. In case dad is able to get a good night's sleep, please wait to come until at least 10am each day. We will try to update the blog as there is new information.

Please pray for comfort for mom, family, and friends, for timing to work out with Katie's family coming back to town, for wisdom about medicine types and dosages, and for everyone to strongly feel God's presence. Thank you for continuing to support mom, even at this point.

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."

Home sweet home!

Sandy arrived back home this afternoon! Another remarkable improvement - thanks for continued prayers.  She has a few hours of school work to complete, her office to clear out and items to give away (no immediate deadline for that though!), and then "all" she needs to do is find her new normal without teaching. While she's glad to be able to rest more and is definitely looking forward to more time with friends and family, retirement is also, in some ways, a loss. It is often difficult to let go of an ended season and hold empty hands still while trusting that God will fill the new season with just the right things. Additionally, though having to get up, get ready, and teach was a challenge this semester, it also helped her not dwell on often overwhelming physical difficulties.

Please pray for continued healing, renewed purpose, pain management without side effects, and moments of laughter in each day.

This next week will be full of fun as she reads through the cards she has received and opens gifts received. You all have been tangible expressions of God's love to her, and for that we are all thankful.

Regular Room

Sandy was moved to a regular room at Wesley last night. No details on release, but she's doing better today.

Five Days and Counting!

It's early Wednesday morning, and Sandy is still at Wesley in the ICU. So far she had an EGD, an ultrasound, banding of two varices, and both drains exchanged. Her pain level is still an issue, and one of the medicines makes her pretty foggy. She worked very hard to finish grading finals and post grades by the deadline, but it will all have to wait a few days until she is able to think clearly for more than a few minutes at a time.  Perhaps the hardest part about that is when she knows she isn't thinking clearly but can't do anything about it!

While she is disappointed to still be here, she is glad not to be worrying about missing class. She has had amazing nurses who have become friends. Sandy has a selection of rice bag hand warmers up here, and she has given them to several people who have brought comfort to her during her stay.

The drains are currently hooked up to external bags that the nurses empty periodically. The bags are kind of a pain, but so far her drain sites have been doing better than they did the past several weeks. Several medical staff and doctors have come up to see how she's doing, whether or not they have direct input on her current care. Everyone wants to know how she's getting along!

We're not sure what needs to happen in order to be released, though for sure she needs to be ok, pain-wise, with only oral medications instead of a combo of IV pain meds and oral meds. She needs her labwork to remain normal, and she needs to gain strength.

Please pray for those things, as well as for a good night's sleep, clear thinking, and patience.

Retirement Celebration...Sandy Style!

The past few weeks have been extra full with end of semester activities, finals, and grading. The departments she works for at WSU each hosted a retirement reception; both were carefully planned out and very thoughtful. The support she continues to be shown speaks to the character of her colleagues, and she will definitely miss seeing them several times each week.

In addition to all of that, Sandy was working on the plans for her retirement reception scheduled for this morning at church. Her plans included baking dozens of cookies, something she enjoys doing. However, her body was rather uncooperative. Evenings were filled with significant pain that was not alleviated easily or quickly. Sleep was spotty. Drains were oozing. Discouragement threatened to overshadow the joy she has so fiercely protected.

Everything came to a head Friday (yesterday) morning, and Rod drove her to Wesley. She was admitted to ICU, given three units of blood and additional medications, and monitored with labwork. One question in everyone's mind was whether or not she would be able to attend the retirement celebration. After talking with the medical team and brainstorming options, it was decided that Sandy could be temporarily discharged, attend her celebration at church, eat lunch with family, and return to the hospital. People shook their heads with a mixture of disbelief and amusement that she, once again, was following an unorthodox path of hospital dismissal.

The retirement celebration was wonderful! Seeing so many friends, past and present colleagues and students, and family from both far and near was quite a treat, and Sandy cherished each moment. She had rice bag hand warmers for each person, with Psalm 86:17b tied to each one: "For you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me."  Next to the pile of rice bags was the following note:

I am often cold these days, especially my hands. Warming a rice bag (or two or three!) in the microwave for 30 seconds has brought comfort on many occasions. When I think about comfort, I also think of each of you. 

You have brought comfort to me through calls, texts, emails, hugs, prayers, and acts of kindness and service.  In moments of weakness and doubt, I am encouraged by the love you show me.  

Please accept this gift of a rice bag hand warmer as a reminder of the blessings we receive both when we comfort others and when we allow ourselves to be comforted by others – and ultimately by God! 

At this moment, Sandy is back in her cozy ICU room, sipping chicken broth, joking with her fun evening nurse, taking a break from grading Trig finals, and getting ready for bed. Tomorrow afternoon she has an EGD scheduled, which will help doctors figure out the source of and solution for the pain. She is hoping for a dismissal, without strings, tomorrow late afternoon or evening.

Please join us in thanking God for answering our prayers about today's festivities with a "yes" and please continue praying for resolution of the current medical issues.

Career highlights

Peter Abood, the Worship Arts Pastor at church, wrote the following piece to highlight some of Sandy's professional accomplishments. While Sandy is always quick to point to the team effort that goes into receiving awards, and while she prefers to focus on humbly and passionately teaching instead of receiving accolades, Peter was right when he said that it is appropriate for people to realize a bit of the magnitude of Sandy's influence on countless students over the years. Thanks, Peter, for putting this together!

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You are invited to celebrate Sandy Peer’s retirement after an illustrious 44-year teaching career.

Since 1975, Sandy has been used by God to influence and guide hundreds of students of all ages.  She is grateful to all of the cheerleaders and encouragers that have helped her along the way.

Her professional journey includes Topeka High School, Highland Park, Curtis Junior High School, and Northwest High.  She is retiring from the Mathematics Teaching staff after 12 years at WSU.

Among her many other awards and achievements Sandy has received: 

1985—The Golden Apple Award

1986—The Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.  As a result, she was given many opportunities for speaking engagements in cities which included Boston, New Orleans, and Montreal.  Her main topic was Music and Math.

1988 She received National Board Certification

2007—State Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year

Sandy made each student feel special by always asking them this first question: “Tell me your story.”  She appreciates all of the hundreds of student relationships brought on by simply offering a caring attitude.

As a faithful Worship Arts Choir member for many years, we all marvel at Sandy’s courage, stamina, and trust in the Lord as she gives Him all of the glory.

Congratulations, Sandy!

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