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In 2007, I began my original website, Sonshine's Haven. In 2007, it was turned into a blog and used to keep family updated on my first husband's fight with liver cancer. He passed away November of 2009. We were married for 34+ wonderful years and this journals some of that grief process I've gone through.

I have since remarried another widower, but Mike is missed dearly, and will always be a big part of my life.

At times, all of us will be called to act as witnesses to the suffering of another. We will be unable to affect the outcome physically. Words will fail us. Prayer will seem futile. And yet, the act of bearing witness to someone else's trials is a sacred sorrow that offers and astounding glimpse of eternal joy." by Ginger Garrett

"Being willing to stay with a loved one throughout their travail, can be difficult....YES! But offering yourselves as faithful companions on a dark and dreadful journey can be an unmeasured blessing." (paraphrased by me)

7.01.2009

Mike was already feeling much better this morning. I'm sorry I haven't been able to update everyone sooner. I went back to work today, and then we had Mike's appointment this afternoon. It was early evening by the time we finished.

Before he saw the oncologist today, he had another bag of Intravenous Fluids which we're hoping will help him feel much better. His weight was 136 pounds; not as low as we feared. His blood pressure was already heading back up at 101/60. His heart rate though, was 124, first thing this morning....BEFORE getting out of bed. I hate that his heart is needing to work so hard right now.

The oncologist had only good things to tell us, so we let out a huge sigh, soon after we met with him. He believes Mike's Ascites was caused by the two infections Mike had in his belly; not by the liver failing....since Mike's abdomen has returned to it's normal, skinny self. We're hoping we will be one of the few who doesn't haven't to worry about that returning.

Mike's prescriptions that he was sent home from the hospital with, has been changed. He will be taking only 20 mg. of Lasix, instead of 80 mg. a day. He will take the Lactulose only once a day, instead of three times a day. He will stop taking the Spironolactone. And he will reduce the amount of Potassium he is taking by half.

The oncologist would like Mike to rest the next 4 weeks, only having labs. On July 29th, he will have another CT scan of his abdomen and pelvis, in LR. He will then see the oncologist on August 5th to decide how we want to proceed from here. His words were "Take care of yourself over the next four weeks, and rest. We've grown very attached to you!" :)

Mike probably would have been admitted to the hospital yesterday, had not his labs turned out so well. He was severely dehydrated. The oncologist recommended we come into his office for Intravenous Fluids, as soon as we recognize the symptoms returning. We're hoping with the reduction in diuretics, we won't be having this trouble.

Thank you very much for your prayers for us. God's mercy, and your loving and faithful prayers, keep us in this fight. You are so precious to us. Thank you.

"Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." John 1:16 "The Lord knows not only what we need, but also what we are able to handle."
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