Saturday night at the VA

Once again I want to thank each of you for the wonderful cards and thoughtful prayers. I read each blog message and they help me stay in a positive mode which is so important for my recovery. I strive for improvemenmt as to the lack of appetite and continued nausea. With God's help I remain determined to lick this problem. Sometimes it is difficult to remain positive but your prayers keep me on tract. sometimes just being able to feed myself seems like the most wonderful thing in the world. Perhaps God will used this nausea to show His power as none of the doctors have been able to help. We hope to try acupunture.
As yet I can't make phone calls from here or even use the computer. When Cathie is here I can get calls on her phone. Yesterday they tried once more to fix my phone so that I could use the blow pipe to answer. We'll see if it works now. I plan to return home around Nov 21 if the doctors approve. The plans to renovate the house would help me have a roll-in shower and bed down stairs until I am able to walk. I believe that day will come but somedays it is harder to believe than others.
Today I have been without nausea!! Cathie juiced some apples and made a yogurt smoothy. Tasted great.

You lift us up with prayer,
Marvin & Cathie

Trucking on

Marvin continues to work with his physical therapist for range of motion and muscle strength. He also continues to work on eating solid foods with a new Medication (Compozine). The nausea is recurrent and we struggle to find other answers and alternatives that may help to solve this issue.
Plans are underway for renovating the house to accomadate his wheelchair and to provide some form of water therapy. We are currently accepting bids for the project.
Thank you for your continued support as we strive to make these accomadations for his arrival on Thanksgiving.

Taking Care of Cathie (TCOC) Days

Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18-19 was officially declared "Taking Care of Cathie" Days. Hat Ladies Sannie Cook and Archie Burkel picked her up, bright and early, at her home and headed toward Augusta. They went by way of Walterboro, so Cathie could be pampered and prettied from head to toe for her beloved Marvin. A darling hair cut and pedicure was followed by a delicious Greek lunch, and they were on their way once again.

All enjoyed the scenery as the beautiful backroads of South Carolina gave way to the more hilly beautiful back roads of Georgia. Before leaving our car to enter the Hospital we removed our casual hats and donned our more festive Easter bonnet varieties.

Dr. Marvin was outside waiting for us, with his devoted Mandy by his side. He thoroughly enjoyed our "promenade" towards him, and proudly traveled the hallways back to his room...to the "applause" and compliments from staff and residents. Sannie even brought a special hat for him...a snoopy "big dog" hat. We took many pictures, enjoyed seeing many of your cards and letters, helped him with dinner and left (with kisses and hugs)for the evening.

The accomodations at the Comfort House were superb. But we were hungry, so we headed to an elegant restaurant down the street. It had caught Cathie's eye long ago, but she never had anyone to share it with her. This being TCOC Days, we were all eager to go with her. The four of us (Cathie, Mandy, Sannie, Archie) had a glorious tapas dinner, accompanied by "golden oldies" music that evoked the most wonderful memories.

Time to retire to our room. We had an ol' fashion pajama party...complete with "boyfriend" talk, beauty tips, and hair curlers.

The sun shown the next day, and we returned to the Hospital. While Sannie and I scoped out the jewelry in the Cafeteria (so we'd know what to show Cathie later on), Cathie remained with Marvin. It was truly a glorious day, for Marvin stood up. Cathie was also able to get many important questions answered. Naturally we all wore our hats (different ones, of course) to bring smiles to Marvin and others.

Our last stop before heading home was the Hat Shop Cathie had found, but never visited. Now she had the time and company to do so. As the "Taking Care of Cathie Days" came to a close, we all knew it had been "Taking Care of Marvin Days," too.

Phoned Marvin Saturday

Marvin has a new speakerphone with a few problems. I still had to have a nurse get the phone for him but... still try him as he needs to know we are pulling for him. The nausea is getting worse but he still tries to eat a bit for each meal.He then gets the liquid diet through the tube into his small intestine. He has lost the little weight he had gained but he is still trying!
The good new is that he stood for a brief time yesterday. He was support by some sort of walker,I believe, but I was so excited that I cheered. No steps as yet but God willing he will gain the needed strength. I am praying for strenght in his arms and peace from the nausea. When he comes home he will need to help me with his turns in the bed and if he can gain some arm strenght it will be such a help. Please ask for relief from the constant nausea and courage to work through the pain to make those arms stronger.
I still don't have a commitment from a contractor to start the house. I worry about it being ready but there are so many others things that keep me busy. I pray for guidance on this and the van I must buy and convert to carry Marvin as well as needed nursing care when he comes home. So many have done these jobs before me that there must be someone out there with experience to help me. We are clearing out the room downstairs and need to sell the piano. It is an Everett and about 55 years old. It is a reminder of a fifth grade Marvin practicing piano for Veron Weston so many years ago.
I will visit him on Tuesday with some Hatladies from Charleston. Mandy plans to go on Monday to keep him company. She has been so great with his exercises that several asked if she was a physical therapist! There is a thought!
Your cards inspire both of us to keep on trying.They are written from the heart!
God Bless you all
Cathie

THURSDAY EVENING OCTOBER 13 UPDATE

Cathie called this evening and gave me some news on Marvin's progress. He had been doing much better as far as the nausea was concerned but today it returned. Guess we need to turn up the prayers a notch. He is doing more each day with rebuilding his muscles and is even working to see if he can support his weight ( thats what the pictures are showing). Marvin has a long way to go but his spirits are good and he is making progress even if it is very painful. You might notice the tee shirt he is wearing the has a simple message " No Pain No Gain". That was a little gift I gave him the last time I went for a visit. He still looks forward to our cards so keep them coming as they help keep him positive. Well I'll close for now and attach the two pictures Cathie took and sent me by email to put in the Blog. This post does not seem to want to accept the pictures so will try to put them on as a seperate post.

THURSDAY EVENING OCTOBER 13 UPDATE

Saturday with the Big Dog

Dear Frienda,
Please keep the prayers coming. In biofeedback on Friday I saw progress. I continue to recruit new muscle fibers for strengthening. Yesterday I was in the Chapel asking God for encouragement and thanking HIm for all the prayers from people like you. I also ask that He bless you as well for all your support.
Physical therapy continues to work with me and I have found that I have many other cheerleaders beside Cathie. On Monday I hope to be on the tilt table to see if I can support my weight while standing. I even ate better today keeping down watermelon, fresh pear and apple juice and zuccini bread from Betty. Even had some of Shim's brownie for dessert! My voice is a little stronger. The congestion has kept my voice weaker and I pray that this will improve. You are looking after my family for me in such wonderful ways. I hope to be able to see many of you when I come home in Nov.
God's grace to you all
Marvin

Tuesday afternoon

Dear Friends
Your prayers are still reaching us in Augusta and helping turn things around. Last night when I spoke with Marvin I was very concerned about his speech which was slurred and his eating which was little or none. Our great friends Mickey and Betty Floyd were heading to Columbia and then to Augusta and offered me a ride for the day. I was able to see Dr. Thomas and Marvin and get a first hand briefing on what is happening here. Marvin has been on some powerful drugs some of which had him too sleepy to function and the nausea had lessened but he had not eaten enought to keep his body going. This impacted his physical therapy and occupational therapy so much that he was too weak to function. Today we talked about lowering and eliminating some of these drugs. By the time we left we were able to see some small change and with continued prayers we hope the nausea will give him a rest.
Back on the home front we are selling Marvin's car and then plan to trade mine in on a newer van that we can equipt for Marvin to get around and hopefully drive. It is our hope that he can start getting stronger soon and we can look at ways to build things in the house that will help him in rehab and allow him to get to the back yard. If you have a desire to help us with the finishing touches on the new bath we plan to build, please let me know. Sometime in Nov. we hope to have the back wall up and be ready for tile, electrical and plumbing.
Thank you for lifting Marvin and me up in prayer. It has been harder this weekend for me and I can't thank you enough for all you do for us.
In God's love
Cathie