Every day, we see progress in Melvine's battle with ovarian cancer. Really, the battle is not Melvine's but God's battle with Satan the author of everything that is destructive to mankind.
On Thursday, three professional members of St. Mary's Hospice Home Care Professionals came to visit with Melvine and me.
First, there was the tech who comes twice a week to help Melvine with a shower and shampoo. Her name is Crystal.
Second, there was Melvine's chaplain, William Cato. He has spent a number of years getting prepared for this significant position. He is a seminary graduate and has done a number of units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He comes to our home with a balanced approach to ministry. He and I have hit it off admirably.
Third, Melvine's nurse, Carol, came. She takes her vital signs, listens to her heart. Asks Melvine questions. She knows her nursing skills and helps me with ordering Melvine's medications.
I learn something new every time I talk with the members of this professional team that demonstrates compassion and love for their patients.
Melvine is taking more initiative to do various things. She was able to get things together today for her lunch. She was able to take out of the refrigerator what she wanted, heated it in the microwave oven, and got her drink.
I continue to prepare all of her medications, keep an inventory of them, and order more medicine as needed. I do the laundry, and Greg does the folding of the clothes. Sometimes, Melvine helps with that process.
The work never ends. I will start again in the morning, and give Melvine all of her medications and inject insulin when needed. I have a chart to go by according the number of the blood sugar count.
I pray a lot, read Scripture, meditate upon it, and ask God to help me to apply it to our lives day by day.
Our pastor, Terry Kesling, called today to check up on us, and prayed with me over the phone. A pastoral call means a lot to me. I am sure it is a blessing to many others he calls or visits.
Bonnie and Sam Bender came to our home today with our supper. It was a pork sirloin with sweet potatoes, and a garden salad. It was really good.
Sam is a master mechanic. He put together a brand new Cubii to exercise my feet and legs while I sit at my desk. I want to get my feet and legs in shape so I will be safe in driving again.
My left knee really needs to be replaced. I had an x-ray this week, and it is arthritis and bone on bone without any cartledge. My pain management doctor is going to inject medicine in that knee to see if he can bring me relief. I learned from Melvine's Social Worker that they have a Hospice House in Athens where Melvine can stay for 5 days and nights when I go to the hospital for surgery. I have put off surgery to take care of Melvine. I now believe with the help of the ladies from our church and the provision of the Hospice House, I can get Dr. Mahoney to do my total left knee replacement. He is the best in the known world. I want to get him to do the surgery before he retires.
In the meantime, I am endeavoring to lose weight again. I know the Bible way of losing weight and that is by bridleing my appetite. I need to present a better physical image in public and home.
The Scripture I have discovered in losing weight is this one recorded in The Message:
Proverbs 23:1-3
23 When you go out to dinner with an influential person,
mind your manners:
2 Don't gobble your food,
don't talk with your mouth full.
3 And don't stuff yourself;
bridle your appetite.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
On Thursday, three professional members of St. Mary's Hospice Home Care Professionals came to visit with Melvine and me.
First, there was the tech who comes twice a week to help Melvine with a shower and shampoo. Her name is Crystal.
Second, there was Melvine's chaplain, William Cato. He has spent a number of years getting prepared for this significant position. He is a seminary graduate and has done a number of units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He comes to our home with a balanced approach to ministry. He and I have hit it off admirably.
Third, Melvine's nurse, Carol, came. She takes her vital signs, listens to her heart. Asks Melvine questions. She knows her nursing skills and helps me with ordering Melvine's medications.
I learn something new every time I talk with the members of this professional team that demonstrates compassion and love for their patients.
Melvine is taking more initiative to do various things. She was able to get things together today for her lunch. She was able to take out of the refrigerator what she wanted, heated it in the microwave oven, and got her drink.
I continue to prepare all of her medications, keep an inventory of them, and order more medicine as needed. I do the laundry, and Greg does the folding of the clothes. Sometimes, Melvine helps with that process.
The work never ends. I will start again in the morning, and give Melvine all of her medications and inject insulin when needed. I have a chart to go by according the number of the blood sugar count.
I pray a lot, read Scripture, meditate upon it, and ask God to help me to apply it to our lives day by day.
Our pastor, Terry Kesling, called today to check up on us, and prayed with me over the phone. A pastoral call means a lot to me. I am sure it is a blessing to many others he calls or visits.
Bonnie and Sam Bender came to our home today with our supper. It was a pork sirloin with sweet potatoes, and a garden salad. It was really good.
Sam is a master mechanic. He put together a brand new Cubii to exercise my feet and legs while I sit at my desk. I want to get my feet and legs in shape so I will be safe in driving again.
My left knee really needs to be replaced. I had an x-ray this week, and it is arthritis and bone on bone without any cartledge. My pain management doctor is going to inject medicine in that knee to see if he can bring me relief. I learned from Melvine's Social Worker that they have a Hospice House in Athens where Melvine can stay for 5 days and nights when I go to the hospital for surgery. I have put off surgery to take care of Melvine. I now believe with the help of the ladies from our church and the provision of the Hospice House, I can get Dr. Mahoney to do my total left knee replacement. He is the best in the known world. I want to get him to do the surgery before he retires.
In the meantime, I am endeavoring to lose weight again. I know the Bible way of losing weight and that is by bridleing my appetite. I need to present a better physical image in public and home.
The Scripture I have discovered in losing weight is this one recorded in The Message:
Proverbs 23:1-3
23 When you go out to dinner with an influential person,
mind your manners:
2 Don't gobble your food,
don't talk with your mouth full.
3 And don't stuff yourself;
bridle your appetite.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)