Back home

Thursday Jan 13th

First of all, its Mark’s paternal grandmothers birthday. Not that you know her but…

2nd…I did come home. I met with Alyeska and her cc coach at GRCC to get a tour and talk to the coach. She is very nice and alot like me (as far as personality not the niceness although I’d like to think I am nice…just let me think that) …but GRCC isn’t super exciting but it is smart and she would be a top runner which is always fun and she would be close to home with is also fun. She can go there for 1 or 2 years and then transfer. Its not a bad choice. I do think she would like to be close to home for a while since Mark is going through so much medical stuff.

So to be home is good but I worried all day…I called the hospital 4 times. I texted Mark all morning and then realized he went to surgery. A doctor called me and then a nurse and then nothing. I did later get another call from an oncology doctor and he told me all went well. Mark said that at 6am they were coming into his room prepping him for this and by 11am he was in or started surgery but I did not hear from him until 6pm. He got out about 4:45pm. You could tell by his talk he was on alot of drugs. He said that its the worst pain so far (and tomorrow will be worse). Today was an embolization and as I was talking to a friend tonight it all came together for me. When Mark got kicked in the ribs 3 years ago playing soccer, they pulled his chest tube out and knicked a small artery in his chest and he started to bleed out. An emergency surgery was required to go in an embolize that artery. So today…they were basically cutting off all blood resources to the tumor and I guess it can be a messy bloody process so they do it before the surgery so when they remove it later…its already on its way to death. Those are my words, not medical. If you couldn’t tell. Now tomorrow they go in and create space in the spine to take pressure off the discs/disks (?) and off the spinal cord and they will insert screws to the good bone above and below. There will be fusion as well. I was told that they will try to get him up and walking Saturday and Sunday. I will keep you posted.

He said they put him on a renal diet and I told him to tell them its not necessary for him but he probably will be too tired to get to that point. This is what happens. They realize he is a kidney failure patient (by day 2 or 3) and then declare that he needs a renal diet which he does not. Instead of just assuming he is like every patient, they need to look at his chart and see that his numbers are all good. His sodium, potassium, phosphat etc…do not indicate that he needs to be on a renal diet like most dialysis patients. I say this because Mark finds great joy in food…so when they say no to salsa, salt and other condiments…it makes food taste crappy. He also said it would be nice to have someone to put his slippers on for him. 🙁

So he is probably sleeping now and will wake up to do it all over again. This one will hurt more though. Lets pray for a great recovery and good pain control. Lets pray he does NOT have to spend a week in recovery but that I can be ok with that if need be.

I went for a walk with a friend. Her husband came by as well to see if we can find the bat. It had the nerve to fly UPSTAIRS while I was gone. Time to be sought out and get its quick death. I’m done with it. We need to be able to live in our house. Hatcher sleeps upstairs and since it comes up now…we may all be in the loft soon. Or at my parents. It was good to talk life out and get fresh air. The bat was not found.

I think, unless I get an exemption, we will all take Cora back to school. We can so why not? I talked to a nurse there that will be talking to our charge nurse (but I have already spoken to her) and I do have connectons to someone who has connections…to someone who knows the big wigs at UofM and I still couldn’t get in so…I have one more avenue I will try tomorrow. Mark told me not to spend too much time and energy on it but I think he is worth it so I will spend some for sure.

So I had someone contact me and she felt is was placed on her heart to fast and pray for Mark. I think that is great. She wanted to invite anyone who also felt led to do so to join her. I feel like when you decide to fast and pray…that it should be a very personal and private thing so please do not feel like you need to let anyone know if you choose to do this. She had put together some scripture to share:

***Hi All! It has been pressed upon my heart to ask that as many of you as are able would consider fasting in prayer on Mark’s behalf on Friday. Whether it be a meal, some thing/an item such as sweets or technology or whatever would be some sort of sacrificial item, would be awesome! I know that when we pray God’s word over someone it doesn’t return empty. Here are some verses that you may consider praying for Mark while doing your fast.

(she has inserted Mark’s name into scripture….obviously. I put brackets around his name because she has quotes and since Mark’s name is not in scripture, it can’t be quoted. Just felt like I should say that)

1st Corinth 5:5-7 “Thanks be to God He gives {Mark} the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Isaiah 53: 5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds (stripes) {Mark} is healed”.

Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing {Mark’s} disease and sickness.”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that {Mark} may have life, and have it to the full”.

Psalm 30:2 “O Lord my God, I cried out to you and You healed {Mark}. Thank you, Lord, that you are {Mark’s} healer”.

Psalm 103:2,3 “Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all {Mark’s} iniquities, who heals all {Mark’s} diseases”.

2 Kings 20:5 “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal {Mark}”.

Jeremiah 33:6 “I will heal {Mark} and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth”.

Isaiah 58:8 “Your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, {Mark}, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

And friends let’s stand on Matthew 18:19-20 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”. Thank you all for your consideration of joining in this prayer fast on Mark’s behalf.

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Also I know that the people who have purchased and own Mark’s Mission shirts are all going to wear them Friday in honor on him…and they are going to post photos tagging me and Mark and flood facebook with them. I know Mark will see it all but probably not til Saturday…as he will be recovering. But when he does he will remember how loved he is and how many people are praying for him. This surgery will (hopefully) take the back pain away and allow him to enjoy life more by being able to do the basic things like walk and sit and even drive a bit but we still need a miracle people! The treatment isn’t working and he has to switch it up. This surgery and radiation delays the start of new treatment…but its all necessary. I ask God to show himself through a physical miracle in Mark.

I love you all!!!