Celebrating Christmas We got to celebrate Christmas early this year. Our dear neighbors decorated their homes with Christmas lights and decor early, just in time for Eli to do a little driving tour. This was likely his last outing. Labor Having given birth to nine children, I am well acquainted with the work it takes …
Tag: doctor visits
Death in Slow Motion
I thought up the title for this post months ago, knowing the final destination, but not knowing how long it would take to get there. Eli is still with us, but I can tell it won't be for much longer. I have sought to learn what to expect here at the end of the road, …
First things first, to the death. No. To the pain.
This quote has been running through my mind since Eli had a bad pain episode a week ago starting about 3 am. He had texted me asking for water for his 3 am meds. I had been woken up by our 4 year old climbing into bed with Adam and me about 2:30 am, so …
Continue reading First things first, to the death. No. To the pain.
Drain, Rinse, Repeat
Radiation Eli finished his radiation Wednesday, October 13th. He had some increasing pain in his back, so he had previously been unable to lay down on the table long enough for the radiation. So, I gave him all the pain meds at my disposal (maybe 5 or 6?) and he was able to finish. Eli …
Alive
For the longest time, when asked how he was doing, Eli's response was "Same as always". In his mind, this response made perfect sense since he felt generally well and that was the same as he always felt. It bugged him to always be asked the same question by every medical person who rotated in …
Raindrops and Rainbows
View as we drove away from radiation treatment As Eli and I were driving home from the couple of appointments he had today, we were greeted by pouring rain, pounding hail, thundering lightning, glowing sunshine, and a stunning rainbow. As I pondered the visits with doctors and staff, I realized the weather was a perfect …
The Boy Who Would be King
Sir Eli the Boss Last Thursday, August 26th, our friend Erin texted me to see if we were going to the Utah Renaissance Faire, which was starting the next day. We've been attending for a number of years, but with Eli's declining health, I had decided not to go this year and I hadn't even …
#1 Nerf Gun War
I wrote this post in October 2020 after September's round of radiation. I never managed to publish it, but no time like the present. This is one of Eli's wishes that I'm surprised didn't happen sooner. With a busy schedule and a failed attempt or two to schedule a battle with Nerf guns, this feat …
Red Tape
I shouldn't be surprised by the complexity of getting some prescriptions filled, but even so, it shouldn't be as difficult as it is. When we were trying to get Eli discharged from the hospital last Friday, July 30th, the only thing holding us up was getting a prescription filled. We had been transitioning from a …
What does it mean to be strong?
I have thought about this question off and on for a long time. There are a couple definitions I found that apply here: 1. the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure 2. the emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with situations or events that are distressing or difficult …