Oct 21, 2008
This morning, in a change of plans because he was doing so well, they took Tim off the ventilator - and he never missed a stride. He has been breathing on his own for more than 12 hours with barely a wrinkle in his aplomb. What good taste I have! Mama, smiling.

Oct 21, 2008
I wanted to give an update to those of you who know of our travails. (For those of you who don't - a brief synopsis is in order: On July 20, we discovered that my husband had a brain tumor and required immediate surgery, which was performed on July 21. We then learned that tumor had metasticized from the lungs. Doctors found tumors in both lungs at that juncture. Incredibly, he was discharged to my care two days after brain surgery - on Wednesday, 7/23, and felt good enough to insist on going out to breakfast on 7/24. On that Sunday (7/27) he experienced the first of three diabetic comas, initiated by a combination of factors - reduced appetite, steroids from the surgery, too-heavy a regimen of diabetic meds. Because they adjusted his meds (finally) and prescribed Megace - an appetite stimulant which works wonders (write it down, in case you ever need to make someone eat) - his sugars then shot sky-high, preventing addressing of the lung cancer while we regulated the sugars. On 8/25, he was feeling good enough to go to the store with me, and in the parking lot, took off chasing a shopping cart that was headed toward a shiny new car - he actually caught it, but then it caught him and flipped him into the air and down on his head. Back to the hospital for a subdural hematoma (brain bleed) and a broken arm. Finally last Monday (10/13) he underwent surgery for the lung tumor (after three months of prayer, they could find cancer in only one lung, which, while it may SOUND like a 'half-hearted' answer to prayer, is not...it dramatically reduced the already incredible trauma to his poor body). He had a severe reaction to the anesthesia and for all intents and purposes has been in a medically-induced coma for nearly a week. He developed pneumonia (they believe he aspirated something into his lung) and on Wednesday last, there was a 'code' in ICU - and my husband was the code. They brought him back, re-intubated him (reinserted the ventilator) and performed a tracheostomy (inserted the ventilator in an incision in his throat, instead of through his mouth, which is easier on him and less dangerous, they tell me). When at last he opened his eyes, I saw instantly he is still in there, my brilliant, funny, kind, keen-witted husband. I was terrified he would not be. I request prayers from anyone who is willing. He still has a long row to hoe, but to paraphrase a favorite hymn of mine: "'Tis faith that brough us safe thus far, and faith will bring him home." Thank you. Mamapolo (Leslie)

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