Day +74 (by Natalie)
Taking care of Aaron these days reminds me a lot of taking care of the kids when they were newborns. I am incredibly busy all day long but, at the end of the day, I can’t really say what I did except, “I took care of him.” It is a constant stress to make sure we get all of the pills down him and (hopefully) in a way that doesn’t make him vomit them right back up. We have developed a system which, Praise God!, has been largely successful so far. The secret ingredient has been IV benadryl. Aaron still has his PICC line in his arm so, about 4 times a day, I give him his dose of benadryl through his IV. He is taking the maximum daily dose of benadryl that you are supposed to ever have. This has been a concern to all of us but the doctor says if it is working, do it. Aaron is taking very little food and his pills are for the prevention of rejection and infection. The IV benadryl is the only thing that seems to keep the food and the pills down. Dr. Paquette said he hadn’t ever heard of benadryl working like this for someone. Benadryl is so much safer than some of the other anti-nausea drugs. I like to think that God having Aaron’s body respond only to benadryl could very well be His way of protecting Aaron from the scary neurological side-effects of the other drugs.
Aaron is really thin. I like to say he’s skin, bones and hair because his hair is growing back so much. Dr. Paquette attributes the nausea that is preventing Aaron from eating to the pills he is taking. The doses of almost every drug have been reduced over the last 3 weeks. So far, their reduction has not improved Aaron’s nausea at all. Aaron has his weekly checkup tomorrow. Please, please pray for wisdom. It almost seems to me like they should be looking into other possible problems and not just assuming its the pills.
Biblegateway’s verse of the day today is 2 Thessalonians 3:3– But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. I love this verse! It reminds me that God is committed to helping me with the absolute daily physical exhaustion I feel taking care of my sweet husband as well as helping me as I strive to keep my eyes unflinchingly on Him in faith.
June 24th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
i am assuming aaron is on an anti-bacterial diet–nothing fresh; everything cooked–even tv dinners in the oven. they stressed that a lot with me and i think prevention of nausea was one of the reasons. (nothing tastes good anyway so cooked foods didn’t bother me) and individual servings of things like chips, peanut butter, etc. so no other hands touch his food except his. you’re probably doing this anyway but just in case i thought i’d mention it.
June 25th, 2007 at 9:02 am
God bless you Natalie! We’ve never met (Aaron is my 2nd cousin) but you’re in my heart and I pray not only for wisdom but fortitude for you both.
June 25th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Dear Sweet Natalie,
I find myself in tears after reading your blog, as I have so many times throughout the last year. It hurts that Aaron is so very sick, that he suffers and is fighting so hard. It hurts to think of the anquish Anne and Ken and you have experienced watching Aaron’s courageous battle. At the same time, there is beauty in your heart and your faith and God’s Grace. All of that is shared with us in your writings and we are honored to partake in the suffering and in the beauty of your hearts and souls as you, Anne and Ken and your family, trust and obey and give God praise, because He is God.
The stress of problem solving every day requires so much strength. I marvel and thank God for giving you the ability to persevere.
I picture Aaron’s hospital room as Holy Ground with angels all around, just like the song says. God is there giving you the courage and strength you need moment by moment.
Yes, Aaron is sweet. He was a sweet little boy, a sweet teenage boy, and is a strong, tough and yet tender man. He has proven his strength more than any soldier in the battlefield could. He is truly a soldier of the Cross.
And he married a really sweet girl, who has also proved over and over the strength of her faith and the power of God’s Grace in the midst of suffering that is beyond comprehension to most of us.
To say we love you and are with you seem like small words when what you encounter every day is so big, but the words are true and from our hearts.
Our prayer is that God will continue to minister to your heart and ease the weariness and continue to uphold you and all your dear family. And we pray for Aaron’s comfort and healing. We pray that the doctors will have wisdom in their evaluation of the current problem that Aaron is facing with nausea. And, as you and Anne have reminded us and taught us anew, we will praise God in all things, because He is God and He is good and we can always trust Him.
Love, Kris and Rick
June 25th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Please Lord grant the doctors wisdom, knowledge, understanding and RIGHT ANSWERS. Please Lord make Aaron well! How about now! Now would be good. :) Hey Natalie, I know we used to joke about your “crown” when you got to heaven, and how it would be green from all the vomiting with Michaela…. So what is greener than green???? My goodness what a life you are having. One day at a time, one moment at a time…. may God make his presence clear to you today. Still praying that you’ll get glipses of His eternal purposes… God Bless You!
June 26th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Thinking of you guys … marveling at how God’s strength is getting you through yet another “newborn” stage of life.
June 28th, 2007 at 9:23 am
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)
That was the Voice of the Martyrs newsletter passage today. We’re praying this for you all today. :)
June 29th, 2007 at 5:25 am
Continuing to pray from New York…had a tragic accident a couple days ago that killed five young ladies who had just graduated high school a few days previous…they collided head-on with a semi…burst into flames; added to the tragedy was that they were being followed by four of their best friends in another vehicle who watched it take place.
Reminds me of the story of a Mom who lost her child to a wreck, visited by a pastor; screamed at the pastor, “Where was your God when my son died?” to which the pastor quietly replied, “The same place He was when His Son died.”
God’s sovereignty…I sure don’t get it; but I try to rest in it; and ask that incredibly wise, loving, and holy Father to heal Aaron even as He encourages and strengthens you all.