He started talking. He started talking. He started talking. He is talking!!!!

He started talking. He started talking. He started talking. He is talking!!!!

With the new Palliative doctor they were able to address his pain and his swelling in his tongue has gone down enough that he can talk. He throat is still fried from radiation so the drinking isn't really working but he did successfully swallow one pill today. :) . He is high sometimes and sees unicorns, but most of the time his pain is manageable so he is happy and can fight the fight.

Thursday morning Don Lake, his brother, came to visit for the day. He was here when we met with the dietician. They say he needs 25 syringes of 50ml's a day. We are working up to that slowly. We hope with a pole and a drip tube we can get more fluid in him. Don also helped us order a Cpap machine so Brace can breath better at night. It is a real problem.

Thursday night after the Follow the Star practice, Brace showed me his tube insertion point and sure enough it didn't look good. Robyn Robinson came over at 9:45pm at night to take a look. I called Dr. Carroll and called the amazing Alice, Oncology NP for help. Dr. Carroll called back but my ringer was off. He left a message and said he is now switching over to the new Hoag cancer center. Getting back to the story Alice moved heaven and earth and Interventional radiology saw us Friday at 1:30 right after radiation to examine his tube. They prescribed Kephlex (sp?) to treat the infection just like Robyn said they should. We headed over to Walmart to get the prescription and then bought a better thermometer after I got fever lectures from everyone in the sun. In the future I am going to call Dr. Nguyen, when he has a fever. Even 1 point is a problem. Please don't tell me a story about how your cancer friend almost died from a fever.

Friday morning, Jon Love and Durran Fewkes, surprised him with a visit from Utah. They will be staying through the weekend. They are watching Cowboys and Indians right now while I am getting ready for the Follow the Star choir show tonight inside at 6:15 and 7:15. Repeat Saturday night.

Thank you's

Thank you to Rich Rushton for hanging with Brace, doing meds, and reading the Bible with Brace while I was running tech rehearsal. (Please don't lecture me on how I shouldn't do this) This weekend is the end.

Thank you to my wonderful voice student families for being understanding that I am taking a leave of absence.

Thank to his lifelong friends Jon and Durran for coming to visit with Brace. They shaved for solidarity.

Thank you for the many texts we receive through the day.

Thank you to Jane Larsen and Bob Demmon for driving.

Thank you to Riva for chatting.

Thank you to Heather and Bryan for taking care of Penelope.

Thank you to Bev who is always getting something at Walmart.

Thank you to Vicky Myers for getting stuff at Costco

Thank you for the sweet FB message from Emily, Penelope's dear friend from OCSA.

Thank you to Jon, the Walmart pharmacist, that stops everything when he sees Brace.

Thank you for including Carey Penrod and Brace Lake in your prayers. We feel them. On Wednesday morning after my morning prayers, I heard an audible voice say, "You can do this."