Sunday, July 24, 2022 9:00 p.m.

Hello! Thank you for accompanying us!

  After Mass a friend drove me to Surrey Memorial. I was met with more strict covid safety measures than yesterday, when we were told as many as we like could come into Larry's room, gloved & gowned. Today the ruling was 2 visitors only for max. 3 hours each. I quickly sent a text to family who were heading in, about the change. There have been few restrictions since the surgery on July 4.

  A new nurse today. She was hooking Larry up to the dialysis machine, as he had just come back from having a CT scan to check on his brain. Larry looked peaceful (not conscious) but not as rosy as usual. He has always had good colour in his face, which makes him not look sick, except for all the tubes & things. 

   Shortly after I arrived, Fr. James from our church in PoCo, arrived to pray over Larry for healing and to anoint him. Larry was pleased for me to receive the Anointing of the Sick, during various stages of my cancer surgery & treatments. It was very consoling for me to witness Larry being given this special gift of grace. Fr. James told me of a man he had anointed, who was very much in Larry's present state. Although this man was not conscious at the time, several months later he spoke with Fr. James to thank him, and remembered Father's words during the anointing. So that confirms what I believe, in that Larry quite possibly hears us. So I sing my "You'll never know just how much I love you!" ; Play 2 song recordings of him singing & playing guitar; I pray aloud healing prayers, beside his hear. I was able to stand behind the bed, so I could easily stroke his head & closed eyes. There really are few areas on his body that I can stroke, without running into wires or the new dialysis catheter drawing blood from his neck. His feet are always available for a good rub.

  The social worker came to tell me there would be a meeting with the ICU doctor & herself.  I again sent a text to give family the news of the upcoming meeting. Without saying it, we were all thinking the same thing. Our experience at RCH ICU, was when the social worker came to speak with the family of a patient, it was because death was imminent, or had just happened. As many as were at hospital were invited to join the meeting. Although Courtney had not been in Larry's room to visit, she was able to accompany Shane & I to the meeting.   The doctor began by asking us to tell the story from the 1st signs of Larry's stroke. My G.P. did the same after the 1st week. We appreciate being asked to do that, as the staff get a clearer idea of where we are at & what we understand.

  The doctor explained everything that was happening in Larry's body and what they were doing to correct/aid/monitor that. The CT scan at noon showed that the brain bleed had not increased. Because of Larry's dreadful cough & full congested lungs I asked if he may have had pneumonia for a while. He said the last 2 days for sure, but not longer than 3 days ago.

If you know nothing about dialysis, it's fascinating and quite a miracle at work. Larry has *sepsis. So of course, along with the other life threatening issues, that is also being aggressively addressed.

 tissues. When the infection-fighting processes turn on the body, they cause organs to function poorly and abnormally.

The doctor said that the recent set-backs have made the road to recovery even longer.  We asked…"Bottom line, is there hope?" He said, "Absolutely, otherwise we wouldn't be doing all of this!" We told the social worker about the experience at RCH where we witnessed the social worker as the 'Grim Reeper!" She filipped & was so animated, as she couldn't imagine herself giving that vibe. She is so so sweet! At this hospital's ICU, there are weekly meetings with family, doctor & social worker, as a matter of practice. She was very happy to hear the ways in which we have been not only coping, but especially supported by a beautiful community of family and friends. She said it was important to journal & I told her how my blog has done that for me over the past 18 months, starting with my cancer journey, and now it has burst into such a great vehicle to communicate Larry's condition and receive others' messages of love & support. (That's YOU!) She sure was made for her job. We felt very relaxed with her from the start. I think ICU doctors have to have a quick wit & quirky sense of humour. This doctor, while explaining everything so well, had that edge to him for sure.

 We are farther back then square 1, but we take each day, sometimes hour as it comes. Are minds are present to the present. Speculation and worry deplete us of hope and trust. So we choose to have faith, hope and more than ever LOVE.  Thank you for providing so much of that for us! I remind Larry of you every day! God bless you.