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, November 10, 2014
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:
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."
2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Sunday, November 9, 2014
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/
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."
###
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, November 8, 2014
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."
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."
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."
Thursday, November 6, 2014
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, November 4, 2014
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
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