Well the adventure continues. Last monday Pam had some labs drawn that by Wensday had the Oncologist concerned that we needed to get some chemo started. Initially we were going to try to get this done at home. It was however going to be difficult  so we decided to get things started at the hospital. Sort of glad we did. Friday was a miserable day for Pam; very nauseated and it took a lot of drugs to keep her comfortable. This only succeeded in making us miserable since she was stoned. Well the doctors decided that despite the fact that CT scan seemed unchanged the GI doctor rescoped her and found that her stomach was not emptying. They could not decide if the emptying problem was mechanical versus functional. Mechanical would be bad and complicated to deal with. Functional would be something to work with. So another day in radiology for Pam and an NG tube. Despite another day of testing a mechanical obstruction was not absolutely ruled out. They started her on some meds to stimulate her gut. Over the next few days she made some real progress. Her mobility increased. Her nausea was minimal. Need for pain meds was decreasing. Eating better but it will take some time to catch up from the last 6 weeks. Your prayers and support have been life saving for all of us. We also had a wonderful visit from Pam's family. The infusion of family and humor was timed perfectly. Kendal and Scott are and will also be home this week. Mama D is coming next week.

Livin' Large... and Headed Back Home!

With summer drawing to an end in a few weeks, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to share some fun photos from a great summer weekend I got to spend with the Ds. As you probably know, the Dedinskys have a home away from home and that is their fabulous houseboat on Dale Hollow known as the “Pirates of the Meridian”—a play on their Meridian Street home address! Attached are some fun photos from that weekend, which was just prior to Pam’s first stay at the hospital just over a month ago. It was so relaxing and truly a wonderful and special getaway weekend.  I totally understand why they try and get down there as often as they can.

 

Pam and Greg have some colorful and fun houseboat neighbors and the one who particularly stands out to me is “Kurt.” A ‘good ole boy’ from Kentucky, Kurt enjoys life especially when there is some “moonshine” around.  When I asked Kurt how he was doing one day, he replied, “I’m livin’ large!” Wow, what a great answer and more importantly, what a great attitude towards living your life!

 

Since that weekend, Pam has definitely hit some bumps in the road on her journey to healing, which was shared in an earlier blog. As I write this she is on the last day of her second stretch in the hospital. She headed home today!—YEAH!  Even during her hospital stays, she continued to smile despite the pain and hasn’t lost that unique Pam sense of humor and has been heard to still say, “Are you kidding me???”, one of her classics.

 

Pam and I have discussed faith and what a gift it is. Last week we shared an extra special time. I was organizing some magazines for her and came across several prayers that were special to her, including some that she had only recently received from family and friends. I read each one of them to her and her face absolutely lit up and she told me how much reading those prayers help her. Please continue to pray for Pam and her family…and send her a special prayer.  Those prayers are working as she had a positive CT scan today and will, in fact, be going home tomorrow.

 

My dear friend does have a strong faith and is surrounded by an incredible family who loves her so much. I’ve had the gift of seeing Greg, her beautiful daughters, Pam’s mother and sisters help care for her the past week at the hospital as her pain lessened, she gained strength and her appetite came back allowing her to return home.  Yes, Pam is “livin’ large” based on the love of God, the love of her family and friends, and the special way she has touched each one of our lives.

 

Thank you, Pam, and can’t wait to see you livin’ large back on Meridian Street and back down at the Pirates of the Meridian. Please say hello to Kurt for me. J

 

Love ‘ya-

 

Kim Graham Lee

(aka., Dr. Mama Lee)