Hi everyone,
Greetings from the Falk family! We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support of so many people. Thank you for everything you've given and for all your prayers and encouragement. We are grateful for the gifts of food many have given us today to help with the company. Many from the worship arts committee popped by last night and sang in our back yard. They sang a number of worship songs, like caroling in spring. My Dad was touched by the opportunity to worship with some people from his faith community. There's nothing like a cello playing in the great outdoors.
This has been a tough week. Dad has weakened but is still enjoying time with his family (especially his grandkids). When I arrived last night, there was Stephen snuggled up with Dad, sound asleep. It was so cute! Grandma and Grandpa Reimer arrived last night and Dad's older brother John and his wife Hilda arrived this morning. It's great to have family close at hand. Uncle John and Grandpa worked on the yard this afternoon and it looks spectacular!
Mom and I don't really know what to say in this update. Last night as we read and prayed with Dad, we read Lamentations 3:22-27. We were blown away by their simple statement of the sovereignty and love of God. He has a plan for us and it has been crafted with the utmost love and care.
Janice and Ev
Lamentations 3:22-27 (The Message)
22-24God's loyal love couldn't have run out,
his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He's all I've got left.
25-27God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It's a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Friday, May 16, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
There's no place like home...
Hi everyone, this is George writing – something that hasn’t happened for a long while. It feels great to be home. We almost immediately had our first crisis. My feeding tube came out. I had been saying for several days that it did not feel right, particularly with the stitching gone. So that means we need to await surgery. In the meantime, Ev has been pushing food on me like crazy!
George is done, so this is Ev writing now. I now read labels to find high calorie foods and stay away from the tasteless low fat fare.
George has already had a nice look at his yard. So refreshing. It was cool outside today but the temperatures are going to be rising this weekend and we will no doubt be outside. Today George was very tired from the activities of yesterday so we have had a quiet sleepy day. Peter (George’s bro) even joined in the rest fest. He came over to visit George this afternoon and enjoy the massage chair. I went to the kitchen to get coffee and some cookies and when I returned it was very quiet and they were both sleeping.
Well that's about it. Bye for now.
George and Ev
George is done, so this is Ev writing now. I now read labels to find high calorie foods and stay away from the tasteless low fat fare.
George has already had a nice look at his yard. So refreshing. It was cool outside today but the temperatures are going to be rising this weekend and we will no doubt be outside. Today George was very tired from the activities of yesterday so we have had a quiet sleepy day. Peter (George’s bro) even joined in the rest fest. He came over to visit George this afternoon and enjoy the massage chair. I went to the kitchen to get coffee and some cookies and when I returned it was very quiet and they were both sleeping.
Well that's about it. Bye for now.
George and Ev
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Discharged!
Hello everybody,
A lot has happened over the last 2 days. First, we decided that we would end chemo therapy. This was done in consultation with our doctors, who both support our decision to do so. The amount of pain and fatigue has made any hope of the extra month or two that chemo therapy could add just not worth it. We also continue to believe that God has a healing in store for George. And even the doctors agree that faith is what is so important at this point. So that really assisted us in coming to our decision to end chemo.
The next major piece of news is that meant that we would be transfered from the Pasqua hospital to Moose Jaw's hospital. But there didn't seem to be much of a point to remaining in a hospital when home care could do what I need. So this morning, Ev made inquiries with the various doctors, in Moose Jaw and here, about being transfered straight home and having home care take care of our needs. And after some discussion, it was agreed by all that it was a great plan. Most of my meds, I take orally except for my feed which happens intermittently during the day. It is at a much higher dose than it was before when we were at home. So it will have to happen through a gravity IV rather than through a syringe.
So that is our big piece of exciting news. We should be home some time tomorrow. And we are looking forward to seeing our yard, sleeping in our own bed, being able to do short walks, and seeing our grandkids!
Please pray for a speedy adjustment to the change for George's body.
Ev and George
jl
A lot has happened over the last 2 days. First, we decided that we would end chemo therapy. This was done in consultation with our doctors, who both support our decision to do so. The amount of pain and fatigue has made any hope of the extra month or two that chemo therapy could add just not worth it. We also continue to believe that God has a healing in store for George. And even the doctors agree that faith is what is so important at this point. So that really assisted us in coming to our decision to end chemo.
The next major piece of news is that meant that we would be transfered from the Pasqua hospital to Moose Jaw's hospital. But there didn't seem to be much of a point to remaining in a hospital when home care could do what I need. So this morning, Ev made inquiries with the various doctors, in Moose Jaw and here, about being transfered straight home and having home care take care of our needs. And after some discussion, it was agreed by all that it was a great plan. Most of my meds, I take orally except for my feed which happens intermittently during the day. It is at a much higher dose than it was before when we were at home. So it will have to happen through a gravity IV rather than through a syringe.
So that is our big piece of exciting news. We should be home some time tomorrow. And we are looking forward to seeing our yard, sleeping in our own bed, being able to do short walks, and seeing our grandkids!
Please pray for a speedy adjustment to the change for George's body.
Ev and George
jl
Sprinkling Gifts
Dear family and friends:
George and Ev and I were talking about their yard, etc., and we concluded that a sprinkler system would really help reduce work, stress, etc. for George and Ev. So I sent out an e-mail here asking for volunteers to help me dig it in this Saturday.
I just received a telephone call from an individual who had received this request for help, and he has hired a contractor to supply and install the entire system!
So, aside from this generosity, and the generosity of others, it appears that, over and above the $16,000.00 that we have in the bank account, an additonal $5,000.00 has come in via money and gifts.
Wow!
As I think you all know, George is not going back on chemo. It is too hard
on his system.
Have a good day!
Peter
George and Ev and I were talking about their yard, etc., and we concluded that a sprinkler system would really help reduce work, stress, etc. for George and Ev. So I sent out an e-mail here asking for volunteers to help me dig it in this Saturday.
I just received a telephone call from an individual who had received this request for help, and he has hired a contractor to supply and install the entire system!
So, aside from this generosity, and the generosity of others, it appears that, over and above the $16,000.00 that we have in the bank account, an additonal $5,000.00 has come in via money and gifts.
Wow!
As I think you all know, George is not going back on chemo. It is too hard
on his system.
Have a good day!
Peter
Thursday, May 1, 2008
A New Dress Code!
Hi everyone (we hope),
We've heard that the email has decided to drop people off the list so we've used an older list, hopping to have everybody included. Here is an update.
As you know, George is in the Pasqua Hospital in Regina, undergoing chemo therapy. Due to some difficulties with his kidneys, the doctor has decided to stop chemo for about a week. His kidneys are now responding in a healthy way and they are hoping to start chemo again on Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime, he picked up one of the hospital super-bugs, Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE, for short). The primary concern with VRE is diarrhea. Because of this, he has been moved to a private room. Some people will do anything for a little privacy. He is in isolation so if you would like to visit him, be aware of the safety precautions set up for him. You shall wear a lovely yellow gown and matching gloves and put all your belongings in a beautiful transparent handbag. All of these accessories are provided, free of charge, by the hospital.
George is tired but is taking each day as it comes. He is enjoying daily visits with Ev and Janice, who lives ridiculously close by. Tonight we watched an episode of Survivor together. It's like a major sporting event replacement for our family.
Thanks for reading,
Ev and Janice
We've heard that the email has decided to drop people off the list so we've used an older list, hopping to have everybody included. Here is an update.
As you know, George is in the Pasqua Hospital in Regina, undergoing chemo therapy. Due to some difficulties with his kidneys, the doctor has decided to stop chemo for about a week. His kidneys are now responding in a healthy way and they are hoping to start chemo again on Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime, he picked up one of the hospital super-bugs, Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE, for short). The primary concern with VRE is diarrhea. Because of this, he has been moved to a private room. Some people will do anything for a little privacy. He is in isolation so if you would like to visit him, be aware of the safety precautions set up for him. You shall wear a lovely yellow gown and matching gloves and put all your belongings in a beautiful transparent handbag. All of these accessories are provided, free of charge, by the hospital.
George is tired but is taking each day as it comes. He is enjoying daily visits with Ev and Janice, who lives ridiculously close by. Tonight we watched an episode of Survivor together. It's like a major sporting event replacement for our family.
Thanks for reading,
Ev and Janice
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