What a change!

It has been a great week. Mom is feeling much better and it really shows. She is finally laughing and smiling again! It is so good to see!
She is eating more regularly and up and about a little. They will be in to see the doctor soon to see what the next steps will be.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayer! Keep praying for healing and wisdom in the next weeks and months to come!
Katie

Finally!!

She is home! She has seen the beautiful blue sky again!! She came home this afternoon and was looking forward to resting in her own chair. We are so glad she is home. God has been very faithful to us all.
I will let you know more soon!
Katie

Going home (again)

It seems as though they have found an antibiotic that she can go home with! The doctors have been waiting to find out what sort of medicine will work to send her home on, and I think they finally have.
I believe tomorrow will be moving day! Pray that it really is, and that everything goes well. Also pray that she is ready to be home, and that she will be healthy enough to stay home.
I will let you know more as I do.
Katie

One day at a time

It has been a week of ups and downs. Just when we think she is doing great and will be going home, she spikes a fever and feels sick again. The doctors are exploring all the possibilities and trying to figure her out. Today has been a pretty good day, and they are hopeful with the right medications, they will be able to send her home tomorrow. We take each day at a time, knowing God already has this all worked out and we just have to trust in Him. She know all the staff at the hospital by name, and greets them like they are old friends. That's just the way she is- always making friends!
Keep on praying for strength for mom and dad, and wisdom for the doctors.
I will keep you all posted!

Katie

Being Thankful

Well .....she didn't come home today. I spoke too soon I guess.
She is still pretty sick feeling and they can't seem to figure out why. They are trying to adjust her medications to see if something they are giving her is making her sick. It is really just trial and error.
I heard today maybe tomorrow or Friday the will let her out, but we will just play it by ear. She is ready to be home, but at the same time, she know she needs to be there to get well.
Pray for her as she spends Thanksgiving in the hospital, and that her spirits will be kept up.
God is faithful, we put our trust in Him.
Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for!
Katie

Maybe maybe!

It looks like she might get to go home tomorrow!

If all goes well, they said they will send her home tomorrow. They are adjusting some medication, and watching to see if it help relieves some of her nausea. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, and strength for mom over the next few days and weeks. Right now she isn't able to eat anything and hardly drink. Pray that these adjustments will be the answer.
I will let you all know when I hear more!
Katie

A few more days

It looks like she will probably be in the hospital for a few days. They did the CT scan and found that the surgical procedure looks good. There is an infection and they are treating it with antibiotics and want to watch her closely.
Please keep praying for healing and strength. Nobody wanted her back in the hospital, but that is where she needs to be right now.
I will update you all as things progress.
Katie

Back Again

Well....it was a long night.
Last night and the night before she had spiked a high fever. They decided to call the doctor and he wanted to see her right away. They took her to the ER and they admitted her last night around 11:00pm. to Medical Center of the Rockies. The doctors are suspicious of an infection and they are going to do a CT scan today to look closer. It is hard to be back there again, but God knows where she needs to be. We are thankful if the infection was caught, and treatment can hopefully begin.

Madison's blog contribution for the day: My strength comes from God, not me! That is for Grandma!

I will keep everyone updated as we know more.
Keep praying,
Katie

Home Sweet Home

She is home. She came home earlier this week and is doing well. My dad is doing an awesome job taking care of her night and day. There is a long recovery ahead, but everyday she is making progress.
I think they are still adjusting a little to coming home and being on their own. I think by next week she will probably be up for visitors again.
I am so proud of her for fighting this the way she is. It is hard, very hard, and she takes it all one day at a time, leaving it in God's hands. What an example they both are!
I will let you know more next week. Keep praying for strength for recovery.
Katie

Home

Yeah! She will be home tonight! All that is left now is paperwork and she can go home tonight!
She is very excited and very ready to be home. It has been a long 18 days!
She is doing great!
I will let you know more as she settles in at home.
Katie

There's no place like home!

It looks like tomorrow is moving day! I know, I know, I've said it before. I really think tomorrow is it though. We will see when the time comes, but that is the plan for now.
The doctor was in today, and said everything looked good for going home tomorrow. She is eating real food now, and enjoying it! She is very excited to be coming home.
So.. be praying for a smooth transition home, and continued healing. She will have a at home nurse for a few days at least.
I don't think meals are going to be needed. She can't eat much at all.
Thanks so much for all the offers to help and the visits and cards of encouragement. She is so blessed by her family and friends.
I will keep you all updated!
Katie

Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow....

No news yet today. She is having a cat-scan done today to hopefully find the source of some drainage problems. It is a common problem with this surgery, but they want to be sure of what's happening before they send her home.
She is feeling pretty good, just a little tired. I guess that is to be expected! It could be today they send her home, but I doubt it. Maybe tomorrow. You just never know!
I will let everyone know when I know!

Keep on praying for a smooth recovery!

Katie

Not today!

Well, it doesn't look like she will be going home today. When the doctor came in today, there were a few things that weren't quite like he wanted them to be. So... maybe tomorrow or the next day. If she needs to be at the hospital, that is where we want her! We are all anxious for her to be home, but being in the hospital with the doctors is the best place for her until they think she is ready.
She is doing really well, and she is encouraged by her progress. Most people with this kind of surgery are in the hospital for 10-14 days when everything goes well. Today is only day 12, so she is right on track!
I will let you know, when I know more! Until then keep on praying for patience, and knowledge and healing.


Katie

Feeling Good!

Everyday she gets a little better. She is up and walking on her own- with a walker. She is doing some occupational therapy and re learning how to do steps and get around the house. She is feeling pretty well for having her insides rearranged only 10 days ago.
It may be mid week before she is released. Her spirits are up and she is feeling pretty good. It is going to take a while for her body to adjust to eating again. A new way of dieting is in her future. It will be an adjustment! She is a trooper though and looking forward to healing and moving on to the next step- we all are!

Thanks for all the visitors and cards. Her room is full of the support she needs! God is so good to us, we are so very blessed.
I will let you know when she gets to go home.

Katie

Ready for visitors!

Well, she is finally in her new room! She is feeling and looking much better today. She is ready to see everyone now so come on down!
She is at Medical Center of the Rockies off the Loveland Exit on I25. Just ask at the front desk for her room number.
Keep on praying for a smooth recovery!
Katie

One more day!

A new day!
It looks like tomorrow will be the big moving day! They are going to try and wean her off a few of her many many tubes today and maybe get her up standing and walking a little. She is doing much better than a few days ago. She is talking again, and the nausea has mostly subsided. She is a fighter and she wants to move on to the next challenge.
Keep on praying for this tough recovery. Things are going really well so far. Praise God!
I will blog again in the morning to let you all know about visitation.
Katie

Hanging in there

Just a quick update:
She is still in ICU today. She is feeling pretty yucky still but I guess it is to be expected with this type of surgery. Pray pray pray for her nausea to be relieved. It is really hard to watch her so uncomfortable.
Thanks so much!
Again, I will let you know when they move her to a new room and she is up for visitors!
Katie

A New Day

After a long weekend she is doing a little better today. She has been very nauseous and very achy since the surgery. As you can imagine, this is not fun after a major surgery. Things are going as they should though. We spoke with the doctor this morning and he had nothing but good things to say. He said we are in a curing mode now, not a survival mode! This is music to my ears! They did get the lab reports back on the lymph nodes tested during surgery. 36 out of 37 are cancer free. One tested positive, so some sort of chemo will be necessary. However, 36 out of 37 is a miracle! God is certainly with her!
She is still in critical care in the ICU. This surgery was intense, and it is going to be a long recovery. They will be giving her a few more units of blood today, and if she is able to sit up in a chair soon, they will move her to a regular room. We are hoping for Monday, but it could be Tuesday.
Thank you all so much for all of your prayers and support. She knows you are all praying for her and behind her 100%!
I will let you know as soon as she is up for visitors. Until then, please just keep on praying! Pray for wisdom for the next steps, pray for the nausea to subside, and pray for her strength. This is a battle! She is so strong, she hasn't complained one time! Not one time! Her faith is so inspiring! She just keeps on praising God!
I will keep you all posted!
Katie

Resting after a very long day

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! Psalm 118:1

This is the verse Madison is learning at church right now! How appropriate!
Mom is in ICU tonight resting comfortably, or at least as comfortable as she can be after they rearrange your body. She will probably be in ICU throughout the weekend. Hopefully by Monday she will be up for visitors. I will keep you posted.
She did great and she is already praising God for the success of the surgery! We are all so thrilled!!
I will update again tomorrow. Leave your comments and I will pass them along to her. Keep on praying for a strong and healthy recovery. She still has a long road ahead, we just jumped the big hurdle today.
God is so good!

Katie

Big Sigh

Praise God!

She is finally out of surgery! She did very well. They were able to remove the tumor completely and leave a small portion of her pancreas. They did determine for sure that the tumor was cancerous, but they think from preliminary tests it hadn't spread! The surgeon was very pleased with the outcome. Everything went great. She will be in ICU for a couple of days it sounds like. Family will be able to visit in about 1 hour. I will let you all know more as I do. Sorry if this is confusing, I am very excited and my mind isn't working full speed!
We are so blessed.
Thank you for all your prayers.

Katie and family

Pray

Psalm 72:18
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.


Tomorrow is the big day. Mom will be having surgery at Medical Center of the Rockies tomorrow morning. We are all ready to move forward and start this new journey. We are praying for Gods miracle, that He will do a marvelous deed with her! She is strong, and she is ready too.
We have be so blessed by our friends and family. I just can't say thank you enough.
I know everyone wants to help out. Believe me, the time will come when we need it. For now though, we just need prayer. Pray without ceasing!
She is my mom, and my best friend, and I love her. But I know, that God loves her more than any of us do, and thankfully, he is in control. He is in control!!

I will update you all tomorrow!
Thanks for everything!

Katie

Trusting

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Well we learned this today! God made His path for us very clear. Today Mom saw a surgeon for a second opinion. He was wonderful and he has done this procedure she needs hundreds of times. The more experience the better!! He also did his training in Houston, at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Everything we asked for God placed right in front of us today. We are so thankful to God for his timing and provision!
The surgery is long, and invasive. She has a long, hard road ahead of her. She is ready for the fight though! She is strong.
The surgery will be next Thursday the 25th. I will keep you all posted with new info. For now be praying for her as she awaits this next hurdle. Waiting is hard. Also be praying that she stays healthy prior to surgery as there is so much crud going around.
Thank you all so much for your support!

Katie

A great response!

Well, if you build it they will come!

I am so encouraged by the response I have received from this blog page. My mom is so encouraged by the amount of people all over the place, praying for her. We are so blessed to have family and friends that care so much about our family. Please continue to leave her notes and I will bring them to her. Thank you all so much.

There is no new news to share today. Hopefully we will know more by the end of this week. I will keep you posted.

Katie

Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5: 1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


This is my attempt at keeping everyone up to date with the new journey we, as a family, have been thrown into.
My mom is very loved!

She is doing very well. She went though a tough weekend at the hospital trying to get a stint placed into the bile duct that drains her liver. After two attempts it was a success! She feels better and isn't quite so yellow! She had been very jaundice for a week or so.
This week she will be deciding on the next step to take- surgery. We will keep everyone informed as we know more about that.
She is at home now resting. She would love to hear hear from you here, or by phone.

Thanks for all the offers to help out and especially for all of your prayers!
God is good.

Katie and family