Monday, November 16, 2009 10:40 AM, CST
Good Monday morning!
I just wanted to check in an give you an update. Carrie is doing well today. She will have a procedure around Noon to install a new port through which she will be able to received injections. She intends to write a note to you that will be posted later today.
I am doing fine. Six days out from surgery I am having to remind myself that it is going to take a little while longer to heal. Nights have not been too restful. It seems like I need to get up and walk around every couple of hours or the soreness will be more acute. The good news is that I have the whole day to take it easy if I need to.
It is very nice to have my mom here. I'm getting plenty of good home cookin' and TLC.
Please keep the prayers coming!
God Bless!
Fr. Mark
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:13 AM, CST
Dear all,
Today marks one week from a day of which I remember little. At the same time it is a day I will long remember. How's that for a little riddle to get things started?
I am sure that I am continuing to make good progress in healing. I feel more mobile and less tender. At the same time nights have continued to be my most challenging times. It is at night that I tend to feel the most pain. Although it is not acute, it has been enough to keep me up quite a bit.
So I decided that perhaps I had earned membership into a rather elite club of "Night Watchers". Not everyone knows that this special group exists, but they are definitely out there. They faithfully keep watch through the hours of the night when the rest of the world sleeps and they ask profound existential questions like, "What is the meaning of my life?" and "Is there no one who can walk this path with me?" and "When will things get better?" and "Where is God?"
As a novice member of this group who has only experienced this in a mild way these questions have not been too imposing on my consciousness, but I can certainly begin to understand them. I can also take great comfort because I realize in Faith that this "club" of "Night Watchers" has another member. He has been there before us all. He waited through the night in prayer and he waited through the night alone and in agony.
He joined our club so no one would ever have to go through the night alone.
Carrie should be going home today but I have been unable to get an update. Hopefully you will hear directly from her soon.
God Bless!
Fr. Mark
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:57 PM, CST
Good Afternoon,
I just had the opportunity to speak with Carrie on the phone. She will be working to get her own message up soon, but in the meantime asked me to catch you up a little.
She did have her mediport installed yesterday afternoon as planned. That went smoothly. She has not yet been discharged from the hospital, however. Her new kidney is working just great (as I might well have expected). !The main issue she is dealing with is wildly swinging blood sugars as her body deals with all the anti-rejection meds. She is inclined to want to stay in the hospital until she feels she has a handle on that. Right now she is thinking in terms of a Thursday departure. That would still be well ahead of the two weeks they told her she might anticipate.
In reference to my earlier journal entry for today, I had wanted to mention that I have felt particularly close to some other wonderful members of the club from St. Rita. They, of course, include Carrie. Other members are Cindy Bartkoski, San Ruffing, Claire Dieter, Evelyn Helms, Kathy Rortvedt and Jack Gates. Also included as a new member is Barry, the husband of my longtime friend Doris Macha, who had surgery yesterday for the removal of a cancerous kidney. There are many other members, but these have been particularly on my mind.
I hope and pray that all will find great comfort in the knowledge that when you are a member of the Night Watchers you are never alone. In fact, there is One who is full of compassion and always with us, "for he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases." (Is. 53: 4)
God Bless!
Fr. Mark
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:13 AM, CST
Good Morning, Faithful Reader!
I just spoke with Carrie and she sounds very good. She is not scheduled for any tests today.
I am doing well today. Last night I took a stronger medicine before bed so I didn't need to spend much time among the "Night Watchers". Hopefully my dues are paid for now.
Unfortunately, I have a new entrant into the club. My brother, Bob, who has had kidney problems all his life, entered the hospital suffering with a high fever and kidney stones. We are taking this kidney focus a bit far. Please keep him in your prayers.
Today my mom, a friend and I will be doing some deep cleaning in my room. It is well-past due and I guess it is time I did at least something productive.
Tomorrow I have my post operative appointment with the surgeon about midday. I'll try to report in after that.
Thanks again for all your wonderful supportive messages and prayers. Y'all have a great day!
God Bless!
Fr. Mark
Delightful updates. God is good. Amen.
Cyndi
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