Coasting through the valley

The last 24 hours have continued to spiral downward for Marilyn, leaving me in a state of mental exhaustion. With school about to begin, I need to focus much of my energies towards preparation in readiness for opening day. Usually this is an exciting time anticipating another year with a new group of happy and excited children. I am looking forward to a new position, new responsibilities and an opportunity to let my creative juices flow. In some ways the diversion from constant concern over Marilyn's current state has been therapeutic, pumping me with with a few extra ounces of energy to face the next phase of events in Marilyn's hospital room. On the other hand, the human body and mind begins to slow to a grinding halt when the balance between rest and stress becomes weakened. I am welcoming the weekend with outstretched hands and very glad that it is a long weekend.

Over the past 3 days I have watched Marilyn go from her bubbly sweet disposition filled with mischievous jokes and chatter to a countenance of uncertainty, unable to understand her plight and condition. However, even through her pain she still manages to force a smile and bring the twinkle into her eye from time to time. These moments though, are becoming further and further apart.

Thankfully for me, and of course for Marilyn, many friends and family have been there with kind words and prayer. So far Marilyn has not had to travel the long trail to testing and treatment alone. Yesterday, when I thought she would have to make it all alone our daughter-in-law took time from her day to spend the morning at the bedside and throughout the treatment process. Later in the evening she returned with a friend for a second visit and an invitation to dinner for me. Earlier this week Marilyn's cousins, Virginia, and Judy arrived from out of town for a visit and another dinner invitation. On Thursday morning Ardith, another dear cousin and friend was there to support Marilyn as she started the latest treatment regime. Over the past few days several have left encouraging emails and messages. If it were not for the constant prayers and these gifts of love and encouragement, I would have come to an unceremonious and crashing defeat long ago. Marilyn, I am sure is feeling supported even though in these hard times doesn't have the strength to hardly acknowledge.

Here is an update on her current condition. When I left her room on Thursday evening, the pain had once again taken control, Nothing, medication, soothing cream, aroma therapy or even resting motionless seemed to help. I had to leave her with a prayer on my lips asking for some relief. A phone call to the nurse on duty Friday morning revealed that the night had been filled with even more suffering. I was able to only leave a message to inform her that Tracie would be coming up soon to be with her, hoping that this news would somehow give her spirit a ray of hope for the day. Tracie called after the treatment to report that she had managed with much assistance but felt that in spite of the difficult circumstance had been very brave through it all. When I arrived on the scene around 5 in the late afternoon, the nurses were elated that she had struggled through her pain and made a self powered trip to the bathroom on her good leg. During the course of the day Marilyn had lost a significant amount of blood and the doctor ordered 1 unit of a blood transfusion to be administered ASAP. Most of my visit was spent watching nurses flurry around the bed setting up the blood transfer and then constantly monitoring her vitals as the blood began to slowly drip through the IV. Marilyn gave a valiant effort to choke down a few bites of her dinner and then could only lie quietly, hoping that with new blood would come new energy.

For me, it is now Saturday morning with the whole weekend ahead. I have been able to rest well and pray that this new day will bring another upturn in Marilyn's roller-coaster ride of life.

Love and prayers
Bryon