Thursday, September 12, 2013

On The Home Stretch

September 12, 2013 Day 139.........

I write this post with a heavy heart but relief at the same time that Scotty will soon be free from this ugly disease.  I am relying on my faith and belief that our God is helping him finish the journey as I sit here in his room.  He is now residing in the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice center. Early Wednesday morning he had fallen sometime in the garage and Deborah found him sitting on the steps. She got him in the house and started assessing Scotty. It was very clear to Deborah he was once again very sick. She called Hospice and they sent someone over. His temperature was102 and he was a bit confused. Nothing appeared broken but he did have a scrape on his back and both arms. It was decided that he needed to come to the Hospice House for further evaluation.  Once we got him transported here he was assessed by the nursing staff and we began to wait for the doctor. In previous days before Wednesday Deborah had noticed some changes in Scotty and she felt his pain had started to increase and he was starting to be more confused at times.  However, he was totally alert at times and it was quite obvious he was protecting Deborah from knowing he was in more pain. The nurses gave him Tylenol for the fever and he began dozing off and on. One time he told us he had just sang a good song! And wasn't he good . As I think back I believe the angels were singing a song with him. The doctor finally came in and checked Scotty and gave us the words we knew one day would be delivered to us. He said his right lung was full of pneumonia again and that the cancer/liver disease had taken over his body. With his history he was sure the pneumonia would be MRSA. With that being said it was now time to focus on keeping Scotty comfortable and he would remain here in the hospice house. The doctor explained to Scotty his condition and with tears in his eyes Scotty shook his head acknowledging he understood what was happening. He ate a few bites of lunch and even ate 2 small cups of ice-cream. We enjoyed a few laughs with him as he faded in and out of sleep. That has been his last food at this time. He is now sleeping all the time and they have placed him on oxygen to make his breathing easier.  He has been resting okay until around 3:30 am and I could tell he was agitated. He did communicate to us he was hurting and he was given some meds. He is now snoozing away.

Deborah is holding her own and trying to keep Noah on a normal schedule as possible. His school has been alerted and they are taking care of him on the school front. He only knows his dad is sick again and in the hospital. His doctor in Charlotte will help Deborah begin to explain to him what is going on with his dad.

Please pray for Scotty to find rest and comfort as he completes his journey. Please pray for strength for Deborah and our entire family as we face the days ahead.

"The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory."
Psalm 118:14