Night in the Hospital

Thank you all for your comments!  Since Linh and Tina left last week there have been a few interesting plot twists.  First of all, we are excited and looking forward to our next visitors.  

On the Calendar are:

George & Linda: January 31 - Feb. 11

Bear: February 5 - Feb. 8

Sharon: February 9 - Feb. 16

Grandma Evey: returns to home Feb. 11

Lumi: considering coming in Feb.

Seth: February 20 - March 2

So, the Ohana clan is pretty well booked up until March.  March and April are still relatively free if anyone else would like to come visit (just call the social coordinator, Shanna, first). 

On Friday, Mom and Dad had a call from his doctor urging him to come in for a series of tests.  His CT scan showed that he has one blocked kidney and the doctors were worried that the blocked kidney could lead to sepsis in the blood (which could be very very serious and fatal).  So, Mom, Dad, and I (Katheryn) got Dad set up in a hospital room to begin the tests at 11:00am on Friday.  After a few of the tests had come back negative, a Urologist came into the room and was surprised to see how good Dad looked (normally someone with an infection in blood would've looked much worse).  After a long discussion, the Urologist told us that a surgery to unblock the kidney would involve an external tube that would be there for life and he just didn't think Dad was showing any signs of an infection and therefore wouldn't need this surgery.  We were all so thankful for this Urologist (because the other doctors remained worried that there could be a problem and wanted to continue with the surgery).  Despite the Urologists decision to not do the surgery, the other doctor requested that Dad stay in the hospital overnight.  So, Mom and I stayed with him until visitor hours ended and Mom came back early the next morning to keep him company.  Dad was released from the hospital on Saturday at 1:00pm.  

I am so glad we're out of the hospital!  Hospitals don't feel healthy.  We're grateful to begin to be back on track today with healthy foods and the comforts of home.  Dad has some nausea today but he is doing alright.  Dad has begun to utilize medical marijuana through a special vaporizer (so he doesn't inhale any tar) to work on his pain and nausea.  So far, he's had good results with it.  He is still experimenting with the dosage, but his hope is that he'll be able to take much less Morphine and nausea pills by using the medical marijuana.  

Dad's primary doctor understands that he really doesn't want to do chemo therapy (taxol)..... however, Dad has recently decided that he will give it a try for Shanna.  He will see how the side effects work on him and whether that will determine whether or not he continues with it.

Aaron, Patrick Mellan (long time family friend), Patrick Laughlin (my boyfriend), and Aaron's friend Phil, are all busy working on finishing the underneath of the house (turning it into an apartment, an office, a sauna, and workout space).   

Last Trivia:

I read all of your guesses to Dad.  And you are all very right in guessing some of his favorite foods (canned peaches, pickles & brine, ice cream, bananas, etc.).  The weirdest food Dad has craved has been canned spaghetti.  However, he would like me to note that by the next morning he was no longer interested in canned spaghetti (a passing craze).  

Next Trivia:

Take a guess at a Hawaiian phrase.

What does "Ola Kino Maika'i" mean?

 

A Hard Week & Two Wonderful Guests

Linh and Tina (Dad's nieces) arrived on Thursday and they brought a torrential wind/monsoon with them.  Wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour, palm fronds flying like missiles, rain coming in sideways, and of course many many rainbows.  The storm has cleared today and the peace has returned. 

Over the last week, Dad has entered a different stage in his symptoms.  He has been much much weaker, more tired, nauseated, feverish, chills, and has more painful spots.  He is taking a long-term Morphine as well as Vicodin and a strong anti-nausea medicine as needed.  He is anemic and likely has a mouth infection as well.  Mom is doing her best to get nutrients and minerals in him any way she can.  He is still doing the Vitamin C therapy.  It has been extremely helpful having Linh here because as a P.A. she has a lot of knowledge and clout in convincing Dad to get new tests and consider antibiotics. 

It has been a harder week for us emotionally, but we have a really strong support system set up here and we appreciate all of you for your support from a far.  

Dad has laughed a lot as we reminisce and Linh and Tina tell stories about their lovely families and hilarious kids.  

Last Trivia:

Cheri!  You got the answer exactly right!  James McCord was Isabel's (Dad's mom) boss when she worked for the CIA in Germany.  Later he started his own company and was the main person that led to Watergate (the way Dad described it, "he hired the Cubans").  

Next Trivia:

What do you think the weirdest food Dad has craved over the last few weeks has been (keeping in mind that for the last year he has been living almost primarily on organic, mostly vegetarian food, and mostly unprocessed food)?

Check out our family pictures!

The photos in our slideshow were taken after Christmas of our Maui ohana at Baldwin Beach. Andrew, our talented photographer, helped stage us for our family photos.

In the group pictures (in a variety of positions): Dad, Mom, Aaron, Seth, Katheryn, Patrick, Andrea, Gordon, Andrew, Winying, and Trillium.

Dad is taking the long-term morphine again and continues to have fevers and nausea that come and go as well as general weakness/feeling tired. But his spirits remain high and we ask you to continue to pray for healing, strength, and clarity.

Answer to last trivia:
Dad asked me to revise the trivia question. Rather than using the word hero, he would say the following are some of the top six people he admires (in recent history).

Within the U.S. in recent history:
Ralph Nader
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Ross Perot

Outside the U.S.:
Nelson Mandela
Gandhi
Mikhail Gorbachev

Next Trivia:
* Isabel's (David's mom) CIA boss in the 1950's in Germany became notorious after retiring from the CIA and starting his own security consulting firm in Washington D.C. Who was he and why did he become notorious?

Christmas 2008

Happy New You!

Happy New Year!

What a day to bring in the new year!  January 1, 2009.  Dad is having a great day, he's chipper and sassy and full of life.  After a rainy few weeks, this morning we woke up to the brightest, clearest, most spectacular, beautiful day.  The mountains were illuminated, our farm... brilliant in green and adorned in flower and fruit accents.  

Aaron, Andrew, Wenying and Trillium brought in the new year with a bon fire and playing night frisbee with a multi-lit frisbee and head lamps.  Patrick and I went out cruising around the island looking for adventure.  Seth made it safely to the airport, full of delicious Korean BBQ.  

Dad has had fevers that come and go, body chills, and some pain in his ribs over the last few days, but his energy is higher today.  

We welcome this year with open arms and excitement for new adventures!  

Answer to the last trivia:

The last time a volcano erupted on Maui was in 1790.  

*New Trivia:*

Name one person you think would be one of David's heros.