Memorial Service Invitation

We invite you to celebrate and remember Doug's life with us this Thursday. Below are the details for the memorial service:

Thursday, November 13th

at 7:00 PM

Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home

740 S. Edmonds Lane

Lewisville, TX 75067

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Gerazim Chrisitan School in Guatemala (hisappointedtime.com).

Monday, Nov. 10 - Doug's Passing

At 1:04 this morning, Doug passed away peacefully with his family around him. We have returned home from the hospital and are at the Ryans' house. Please check back for details about Doug's memorial service and celebration of life.

2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Sunday, Nov. 9 Update

Doug was stable for most of the day and  his O2 was steady in the low 90s. He wasn't as responsive today as yesterday. He only responded to a few of our questions. 

We were waiting for the hospice nurse to come to see if we could take him home, but she didn't arrive until 6pm. She assessed Doug's condition and said that she didn't recommend moving him home in his current condition. She pointed out that he had a slight temperature (100.1) and some blotchy-ness and discoloration in his hands, feet and ears, which are signs that he may pass away soon - in the next few hours/day. 

After she left, his heart rate increased to between 140 to 150 (previously in the 120s) and his O2 dropped to the high 80s. His breathing has been more labored since then and he is sweating slightly (because of the fever). 

Our prayer is that The Lord would miraculously heal him or that he would take him home. 

One of Katie's friends was sharing the news about Doug with her husband and their 5-year-old son overheard. When the husband explained that Katie's daddy may be going to see Jesus soon, his eyes lit up as he cheered, "Yay!!! That's so awesome! I wanna go!" 

Luke 18:17 -"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of a God like a child shall not enter it."

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Romans 8:37 - "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

If you would like to help the family by providing a meal, you may sign up at the following website:  https://lotsahelpinghands.com/c/722602/

From the other day:

Saturday, Nov 8 Update

Not a lot of news today. Doug slept well last night and his O2 stayed in the mid-to upper-80s. In the morning, it increased to the low 90s and has remained there all day.

Around 9am, Dr V and the team came in and said to continue making him comfortable. The most recent blood test showed that the leukemia blast cells were increasing exponentially in the blood. It went from hundreds to 2,000 to 6,000. His platelets are also low.

Doug is receiving a small, continuous dose of morphine, which tends to make him sleepy. However, around 10am he woke up and was responsive, nodding yes or no to certain questions: Are you comfortable? Are you in pain? Do you want some Diet Coke? The important things. He has been in and out of sleep all day.

Proverbs 3:24 - "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

Friday, Nov. 7 Update

Doug was coherent today, holding conversations and continuing to crack jokes. We started working toward going home on hospice.

Later in the afternoon he had a breathing scare. The doctor was in the room and he complained about feeling short of breath. She hooked him back up to the O2 monitoring machine and saw that his oxygenation levels were quickly dropping. It dropped to the mid 30s (90 is a preferred minimum) before the rapid response team was able to stabilize him on a BiPap machine.

The BiPap pumps air in and out of your lungs and delivers almost twice as much Oxygen than he was receiving through the nose plug. It is also the last resort before going onto a ventilator.

The BiPap mask is somewhat invasive, so he couldn't talk and was getting frustrated. We were finally able to have him communicate by writing in a journal. He said that the lack of Oxygen caused him panic and got his attention. Doctors call this "air hunger." He said he was not afraid of death, but was worried about that transition; he didn't want to experience that again. The doctors agreed and decided to give him increased pain medication and an anti-anxiety med to make him more comfortable.

Because if the episode and need for the BiPap, Doug decided that it would be less of a hassle to stay where he was in the hospital rather than going home.

The medication they gave him put him to sleep for a while. When he woke up, he took the BiPap mask off and after Respiratory came they were able to switch over to a less invasive Oxygen mask that allowed him to talk. This mask doesn't force air into his lungs and doesn't provide as much O2 as the BiPap, but he seems to be doing fine. They gave him more medication and he fell back asleep.

There were a number of people around after the nurse gave him the meds. She ensured us that he could still hear our conversation and encouraged us to talk to him and share stories. For about an hour, we had a beautiful time as we told our favorite Doug stories: conquering Pompeii with Sherry in a wheelchair, taking her to the top of every castle, Smokey the Cat, movie lines on napkins in Katie's middle school lunches, Drew and the Honey Pot, Ronald capturing Doug on film in mid-throw-up, being a Monopoly cheater, and much more.

Psalm 18:29 -"With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall."

Thurs., Nov 6, Update

 Doug's lungs are filled with quite a bit of liquid. The pneumonia is getting worse. He is being given the maximum amount of oxygen. He has decided not to go on a ventilator.

Doug's brother Don and long time friend Davy from MS flew in today. We will talk to the social worker and doctor about Doug going home under hospice. At this point, the battle is the Lord's.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 ESV)

Tuesday, Nov 4 ~ Very Bad News

Dr. V came by with several residents and her PA. She told us, based on a blood telimit*#ry (?) test that the aggressive leukemia had returned. The biopsy isn't necessary. This is very bad news.  They might have tried a second transplant if it were 6 months past the first transplant. But it isn't even 100.

The strategy right now is do a strong dose of steroids. Hopefully it will calm done the nerves, keep the leukemia at bay, and help with the pneumonia and bowel infection. The goal is to get rid of these infections. I am dying (no pun intended) for a diet coke. They said maybe tomorrow. It depends on the esophagus and how well I'm swallowing. The pain is in different parts of my body is excruciating.

M.D. Anderson in Houston is doing a clinical trial of some medicine that might help me. I am not strong enough right now to qualify. So, getting rid of the infections is important. 

In a couple of days they may do another round of chemo.  At this point the survival rate is about 10%.

I figure I've got around 10 days to turn this around.

I know that you can do all things; no plan of ever can be thwarted. Job 42:2

Mon, Nov 3

 I moved from ICU to  the 8th floor around 2 PM. I took catnaps consistently from 2 to 5 PM. Last night I battled with pain to get through the night. They would give me morphine interveniously. The morphine would break the pain to help me to sleep, but only for an hour at a time. I would struggle to sleep between the times I couldn't take it.  The morphine made my thinking muddled. I had hallucinations and couldn't determine whether it was reality or not. It was very disorientiing. I thought I called my brother at 9 am but it was really 9pm.

A doctor from ICU listened to my chest. It was a lot better. The neurology doctors dragged a few new med students along when they came by to show them my rare condition. The surgerions also came by. It sounds like that the nerve biopsy may happen tomorrow They are concerned about low platelets. I will have an infusion to increase them probably tomorrow before the surgery. My  platelets are now around 20,000, they want them around 40,000. I asked him about putting the feeding tube in. They said not right now because they want to get in and out quickly for the nerve biopsy. Dr. V my oncologist  is waiting for the nerve biopsy. If it shows leukemia it will help her to determine what chemo drugs to use. If it is HVGD, it will help determine the steroids to use. She wants to load me up with fluids before I start the chemo. If they do the biopsy early in the day and get the results back, chemo should start tomorrow. If it's late in the day I may still get some fluids but the chemo wouldn't start till the next day.

The speech therapist came by and is my new best friend. She said that I could have ice chips 4 times a day. Chewing ice chips felt glorious, after not eating or drinking for five days. Chewing ice chips is better then…well, it's better than a new car. She also gave me exercises to do to improve my swallowing. I had two major bathroom accidents last night and today. The nurses are great.

And if your [lateral nerve on the outside of your left foot] causes you to sin, [have the surgeon] cut it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matthew 5:30 ESV).

   "This too shall pass", said Doug from the portable potty.

Sunday, Nov 2- latest news from ICU

I slept ok last night...maybe 4+ hours.

The pain from left rotator cuff moved to left hip and down hamstring.  I felt like it was beginning to tear, so I had nurse wrap it in AC bandage at 2:00 am.  This morning was much worse, so I had ice pack put under bandage.  A little while ago a doctor came and inspected it.  She thought it had weakened, but had not torn.  Just keep ice on it.  They are also going to get me some cough medicin.  

About returning to BMT 8th floor (my latest goal in life)?  First, I must qualify by receiving oxygen in single digits.  Yesterday, they reduced my flow rate per minute from 12 litters per minute down to  8 and were able to maintain same oxygene level of 95%.  BMT wanted to see min of 92%.  They turned down oxygen again and my oxygen level actually increased to 97%.  So, it's beginning to look favorable to my return to 8th floor today!  A very big yea!  This will allow me more freedom to move around and get better than is permitted in ICU.

What about permission to drink?  No such luck till at least Mon or Tuesday.  Docs want to see improvement in my nerve, not just pneumonia...which has no time goal just yet.

Just saw ICU doc.  He listened to my lungs and thought pneumonia sounded much better and noted I was way down on oxygen.  He will recommend to BMT on 8 that I return.

Surgeons may talk with oncologists today to see if they want or really need info that would justify ignoring three risk factors: my level of oxygen, blood clot and high blood pressure.  Head surgeon won't return till Monday to make final call.

I will update this post throughout the day.

Sat. Nov 1

Daily blog info:

ICU doc still hears sounds pneumonia; doesn't think they will release me back to BMT  8th floor today, which is depressing.

Question as to when on nerve biopsy?  According to Paul in Neurology, decision held with pulmanatorty guys, who are afraid of pneumonia, which equals delay.  Bummer!

I have requested a Physical Therapy while in ICU.  I really need to get out of bed.  After hitting the call button and then getting permission, it took ten minutes of unhooking tubes to allow me to walk 12 feet to toilet.  I wobbled a bit, which got the nurse concerned.  If they would allow me to walk 1,200 feet, with shoes on, I'd do better,

I've requested swallow test, which has been delayed because of pneumonia.  I have't ate or drank anything for days...that hasn't gone through a tube.  It doesn't look promising that I will eat or drink until pneumonia cures up.  Bummer!

Met my new oncologist doc for month of November.  They aren't starting chemo in any serious way until they see nerve biopsy, which is on hold (even with local).  They all agree lots of steroids would help.  I can't return to 8 because I'm taking so much oxygen.  They have begun to cut the rate back the flow rate from 12 to 10 liters/minute and see if my oxygen level stays above 92%.  Still no rush on doing swallow X-Ray test .

Well, who can I blame for all my problems?  Doctors, Obama, the Tea Party?  No.   Sadly,
I am responsible for aspirating food particles into my lungs.  I'm the one to blame,

Surgeon walked for a talk.   She will talk to  her  staff and try to schedule nerve biopsy in a few days.