Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
I wish I had some really good news for you, but I don't. We continue to deal with the negative symptoms of Harriet's lymphoma. She is taking medication every 3 hours around the clock. Unfortunately the pain medication which is Didlaudid, is very strong and has unusual side effects. It makes you very groggy and hard to remember things. It amplifies your senses of time, sensation of speed and sound. When I took Harriet for a short drive yesterday, it seems to her that we are driving very fast even though I was driving the exact speed limit. The same applies to sound, it is very loud in her ears, louder than it normally would sound to her or anybody else. Time, takes on a whole new dimension and it seems that an hour equals half a day.
So these are some the things that we are dealing with. I wanted to thank you for your continued prayerful support and encouraging words to Harriet. It is important that she keeps a positive attitude.
Tomorrow is Sunday and I want to encourage you to be in the house the Lord to worship the Creator. My message tomorrow will be, "Jesus wants your lunch". I hope you can make it.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Saturday, July 11, 2015
7-11-15
Good morning everybody! I guess I'm starting to put these blogs out later and later on Saturday. Things have changed quite a bit and I will tell you what's going on. Usually on Friday evening I teach Bible class which starts at 6:30 PM and goes for a little over one hour. But the last couple of weeks I have been picking up our 2 grandsons Joe and Timothy and they live in Lakeside. I bring them to church about 5:15 PM and they are learning how to set everything up for the sound and video production. They're doing a great job and have a good attitude. Joe is 17 and Timothy is 16. Then after we have class and go through comments and questions I need to take the boys home to Lakeside and then I get to go back home. So it makes a much longer evening to do this, but it is well worth it.
Harriet's week has been up and down. We went to the doctor on Monday and they wanted to do some tests which she did. Her liver numbers are way up and her potassium is way down. So on Thursday evening the nurse called and said that they wanted to increase her potassium pills and she did that on Friday and it just wiped her out. I guess this is not uncommon. But, having to deal with it is a bummer. I'm spending more time at home and making sure that Harriet is taken care of.
On a side note, I did something I haven't done for many decades, iron my shirt. I used to do this when I was in the Coast Guard and I would iron my uniforms. But that was almost 50 years ago. I know I don't do as good a job as Harriet, but I'm trying to relieve the burden of the things that she normally has done.
Our son Joe and Hilda have been a real godsend. Along with their boys they do everything they possibly can to comfort their mom and to make her feel loved and she does feel loved. The nicest times she has is with them, it brightens her day. I'm going to pick up Samuel and Ethan age is about 8 and 5 this morning at 9 AM and bring them over to our house. This way they can visit with their grandmother (Nana) and then we'll get down to some serious business, playing Jurassic Park on my tablet. This is something that I've been doing with these younger boys and we are having lots of fun. It is a free game and you are building your own Jurassic Park. I acquire the gold coins which are used to buy food for the dinosaurs in my Park. Then when the grandkids come over I let them spend all the gold coins and they love it. It's really a lot of fun.
Harriet enjoys being with us and these young boys make her so happy. Then I'll take the boys out for a lunch and a round of miniature golf.
That's pretty much it for today. Thank you for your continued loving support. I want to thank you all, it's a big deal and I never take it for granted. You pray for Harriet and for me on a regular basis.
Don't forget, tomorrow is Sunday, the Lord's day. Go to your place of worship and give thanks to God for all he's done for you. Romans 8:28.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Harriet's week has been up and down. We went to the doctor on Monday and they wanted to do some tests which she did. Her liver numbers are way up and her potassium is way down. So on Thursday evening the nurse called and said that they wanted to increase her potassium pills and she did that on Friday and it just wiped her out. I guess this is not uncommon. But, having to deal with it is a bummer. I'm spending more time at home and making sure that Harriet is taken care of.
On a side note, I did something I haven't done for many decades, iron my shirt. I used to do this when I was in the Coast Guard and I would iron my uniforms. But that was almost 50 years ago. I know I don't do as good a job as Harriet, but I'm trying to relieve the burden of the things that she normally has done.
Our son Joe and Hilda have been a real godsend. Along with their boys they do everything they possibly can to comfort their mom and to make her feel loved and she does feel loved. The nicest times she has is with them, it brightens her day. I'm going to pick up Samuel and Ethan age is about 8 and 5 this morning at 9 AM and bring them over to our house. This way they can visit with their grandmother (Nana) and then we'll get down to some serious business, playing Jurassic Park on my tablet. This is something that I've been doing with these younger boys and we are having lots of fun. It is a free game and you are building your own Jurassic Park. I acquire the gold coins which are used to buy food for the dinosaurs in my Park. Then when the grandkids come over I let them spend all the gold coins and they love it. It's really a lot of fun.
Harriet enjoys being with us and these young boys make her so happy. Then I'll take the boys out for a lunch and a round of miniature golf.
That's pretty much it for today. Thank you for your continued loving support. I want to thank you all, it's a big deal and I never take it for granted. You pray for Harriet and for me on a regular basis.
Don't forget, tomorrow is Sunday, the Lord's day. Go to your place of worship and give thanks to God for all he's done for you. Romans 8:28.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, July 4, 2015
20,114 Page Views Since We Started The Blog
As I have mentioned in the past coming up with a name for each blog posting is the most difficult part of blog posting.
During the past week different symptoms have arise that cause difficulty for Harriet. It's just tough when there doesn't seem to be a solution in sight. We need a miraculous healing! I really do appreciate your continued prayerful support. Thank you for sending a card to Harriet, it is uplifting for her to know that you're out there praying for her.
On another note, no word yet on Daniels parole date. It's been almost 50 days since the parole hearing. Many people have asked me isn't there something we can do, to get them to release Daniel earlier and expedite this process? You know how the wheels of government turned so slowly. They have a way that they do things and that's just the way it is. But, yesterday I decided to send an email to Daniel's attorney that represented him at his hearing. Explaining the situation and what is going on with his mother, healthwise. I asked her if there's anything you could do to get them moving I would really appreciate it. She promised that she would write the Commissioner who presided over the hearing.
She CCed me in on the email (that means I got a copy of the email she sent to the Commissioner) and explain the situation to him and forwarded my email that I had sent to her explaining the situation with Harriet and asking for his help. A couple of things, one it was very nice of her to do this and I really didn't expect her to follow through. The other thing which was kind of funny, for those of you been following the blog for many months and have read her emails that were sent to me concerning Daniel know what I'm talking about. The attorney referred to Daniel as "the fast talking kid". That was not a negative comment. For those of you that are not aware of it, the attorney mentioned this to both Daniel and to myself that Daniel is the fastest talking guy that she is represented and that he should teach the other men to represent themselves in the same manner. You can imagine when they go to a parole hearing and the people are stumbling over their words and are very unresponsive. When Daniel spoke at his hearing it was very factual and he had all his thoughts prearrange so that they just came pouring out. He's been practicing speaking at "Toastmasters of America". So, hopefully we will get a response back from the Commissioner maybe this next week.
Daniel calls me every Saturday morning at 8 AM. I told him last Saturday that I am prophesying that he will be out between July 15 and the end of the month. I told him that if he does get out during that time frame don't forget that I told him so. And if he doesn't then, nevermind.
He's thinking more in the month of August which is probably more realistic. Anything before October 15 and that's a early release. Because they're supposed to let them out within 150 of the parole hearing.
That's it for now and I hope you have a great Fourth of July weekend. The message this Sunday at church will be centered around God's blessing on the United States and the founding fathers Intention for our country.
I hope that you'll be able to worship the Lord this weekend at your favorite place of worship.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
During the past week different symptoms have arise that cause difficulty for Harriet. It's just tough when there doesn't seem to be a solution in sight. We need a miraculous healing! I really do appreciate your continued prayerful support. Thank you for sending a card to Harriet, it is uplifting for her to know that you're out there praying for her.
On another note, no word yet on Daniels parole date. It's been almost 50 days since the parole hearing. Many people have asked me isn't there something we can do, to get them to release Daniel earlier and expedite this process? You know how the wheels of government turned so slowly. They have a way that they do things and that's just the way it is. But, yesterday I decided to send an email to Daniel's attorney that represented him at his hearing. Explaining the situation and what is going on with his mother, healthwise. I asked her if there's anything you could do to get them moving I would really appreciate it. She promised that she would write the Commissioner who presided over the hearing.
She CCed me in on the email (that means I got a copy of the email she sent to the Commissioner) and explain the situation to him and forwarded my email that I had sent to her explaining the situation with Harriet and asking for his help. A couple of things, one it was very nice of her to do this and I really didn't expect her to follow through. The other thing which was kind of funny, for those of you been following the blog for many months and have read her emails that were sent to me concerning Daniel know what I'm talking about. The attorney referred to Daniel as "the fast talking kid". That was not a negative comment. For those of you that are not aware of it, the attorney mentioned this to both Daniel and to myself that Daniel is the fastest talking guy that she is represented and that he should teach the other men to represent themselves in the same manner. You can imagine when they go to a parole hearing and the people are stumbling over their words and are very unresponsive. When Daniel spoke at his hearing it was very factual and he had all his thoughts prearrange so that they just came pouring out. He's been practicing speaking at "Toastmasters of America". So, hopefully we will get a response back from the Commissioner maybe this next week.
Daniel calls me every Saturday morning at 8 AM. I told him last Saturday that I am prophesying that he will be out between July 15 and the end of the month. I told him that if he does get out during that time frame don't forget that I told him so. And if he doesn't then, nevermind.
He's thinking more in the month of August which is probably more realistic. Anything before October 15 and that's a early release. Because they're supposed to let them out within 150 of the parole hearing.
That's it for now and I hope you have a great Fourth of July weekend. The message this Sunday at church will be centered around God's blessing on the United States and the founding fathers Intention for our country.
I hope that you'll be able to worship the Lord this weekend at your favorite place of worship.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, June 27, 2015
The Last Weekend in June
We had a long meeting with Dr. Bronson who is Harriet's primary physician. He's really a nice guy and he's a Christian. He's actually in charge of the entire place at the VanDerveer Kaiser facility. So we had the meeting with him on Tuesday evening at 6:20 PM.
He went over all the options and he said that he'd discussed with Dr. Chen (the oncologist Dr. Chen) what are the options. Dr. Chen said that they could try the extreme chemo, but it would only postpone the inevitable. Since we know for sure that Harriet could not handle the treatment we have decided not to go that route.
We continue to pray for divine intervention. I will tell you that I went to see Sister Lois who is in Grossmont Hospital on Thursday afternoon. She had fractured her spinal column. I asked her what scripture she would like me to read to her and she said Psalm 73. I would like to quote to you the last few verses:
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
It is a decision that each one of us must make. Are we going to trust the Lord or not?
I made the decision many decades ago and not only I but Harriet and I will both stand and declare as did Job, "
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." Job 13:15
Thank you for standing with this in love and prayerful support.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
He went over all the options and he said that he'd discussed with Dr. Chen (the oncologist Dr. Chen) what are the options. Dr. Chen said that they could try the extreme chemo, but it would only postpone the inevitable. Since we know for sure that Harriet could not handle the treatment we have decided not to go that route.
We continue to pray for divine intervention. I will tell you that I went to see Sister Lois who is in Grossmont Hospital on Thursday afternoon. She had fractured her spinal column. I asked her what scripture she would like me to read to her and she said Psalm 73. I would like to quote to you the last few verses:
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
It is a decision that each one of us must make. Are we going to trust the Lord or not?
I made the decision many decades ago and not only I but Harriet and I will both stand and declare as did Job, "
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." Job 13:15
Thank you for standing with this in love and prayerful support.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Liver
Good Morning everyone! Just a reminder that I update this blog every Saturday morning.
We went to the Doctors yesterday morning. This is a new Doctor, but his name is Dr. Chen, same and the Oncologist. This Dr. Chen is a gastrointestinal Dr. and he is a Christian.
Dr. Chen explain the situation with the liver. He can put a stent in and it should elevate the jaundice, but not the pain. I was under the impression that the pain Harriet is dealing with was due to either the Kidney or the Liver problem, but that is not so, it is because of the Lymphoma.
There is a 10% chance that the procedure will fail and the results are irreversible. So we will have to think about this. Even if the procedure is 100% successful, the pain will still be the problem.
We continue to ask for your prayers on her behalf. Harriet needs a grade A miracle.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
We went to the Doctors yesterday morning. This is a new Doctor, but his name is Dr. Chen, same and the Oncologist. This Dr. Chen is a gastrointestinal Dr. and he is a Christian.
Dr. Chen explain the situation with the liver. He can put a stent in and it should elevate the jaundice, but not the pain. I was under the impression that the pain Harriet is dealing with was due to either the Kidney or the Liver problem, but that is not so, it is because of the Lymphoma.
There is a 10% chance that the procedure will fail and the results are irreversible. So we will have to think about this. Even if the procedure is 100% successful, the pain will still be the problem.
We continue to ask for your prayers on her behalf. Harriet needs a grade A miracle.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Complications
After all the tests the Dr. has determined there is pressure on Harriet's Liver and that they will try and relieve that pressure. Won't know till next week, need more data.
Harriet's Sister, Lee Ann and her husband Spencer D. along with Harriet's brother John and his wife Diane are going to be in town for this weekend. It will be nice to see them.
I know that this is a short blog post, but we have limited info. I would really appreciate you praying for Harriet, she really needs a miracle.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Harriet's Sister, Lee Ann and her husband Spencer D. along with Harriet's brother John and his wife Diane are going to be in town for this weekend. It will be nice to see them.
I know that this is a short blog post, but we have limited info. I would really appreciate you praying for Harriet, she really needs a miracle.
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Saturday, June 6, 2015
New Problem
So sorry about the delayed posting. I know I'm going to take the heat from my friend Larry who checks it out every Saturday morning first thing. We had family night at our church last night and we had way too much fun. We had it catered by a Mexican restaurant and the food was great!
Harriet wanted to come, but was not quite up to it. It seems that somewhere during our vacation she picked it up and infection that is landed on her liver. (How does the stuff happen?) Anyway, on Thursday she went to the doctor because she had not been feeling good for days and had some blood tests and an exam. Her normal primary physician, Dr. Bronson, was not available, he was out of town. Well, when I got to Family Night at our church last night I received a call from Harriet and just from the time that I left the house to the time I got to the church which is about 10 minutes driving time, she received a call from Dr. Bronson who had checked her blood tests and determined certain factors, so he called her.
Comparing them to the blood tests that were done just about 6 to 8 weeks ago, the liver has shown dramatic numbers off the chart. In the earlier blood test everything was okay. Which leads him to believe that she is picked up some type of infection and it's affecting her liver. This of course leaves you feeling bad, jaundice and out of energy. I remember when we moved out of state for three years between the years 1981 and 1984, we moved to Oklahoma. We had a favorite restaurant to eat at and somehow we picked up hepatitis from eating there and the entire family, except for Daniel who was just a little baby at the time, picked up the hepatitis. Which makes you jaundice and causes all these problems but in a greater extent than what Harriet is feeling right now. But, the symptoms are very similar. It took a long time to get over the hepatitis. Lord willing the medication that she was given on Thursday is helping her. I did ask her this morning and she is feeling better.
So Dr. Bronson told her to go down to Kaiser this morning and get some more blood test done today and that the results will come back and he will review them on Monday and let her know what he thinks.
That's pretty much the latest information I have. I did ask Harriet if she has any special requests for all of you that read the blog on a regular basis? She said that she asks for prayer that she could get over this liver infection. It has definitely limited her quality of life.
Changing the subject to Daniel, he's going to call me this morning as he does every Saturday morning. I've not received the transcripts from the hearing. We are looking forward to his home coming. I do ask you to continue to pray for Harriet and her situation and I do ask you to pray for Daniel. It's not a slamdunk. Things can change and I hope that he'll be able to come home.
Thank you so much for your willingness to pray for our family and for your great love!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
Harriet wanted to come, but was not quite up to it. It seems that somewhere during our vacation she picked it up and infection that is landed on her liver. (How does the stuff happen?) Anyway, on Thursday she went to the doctor because she had not been feeling good for days and had some blood tests and an exam. Her normal primary physician, Dr. Bronson, was not available, he was out of town. Well, when I got to Family Night at our church last night I received a call from Harriet and just from the time that I left the house to the time I got to the church which is about 10 minutes driving time, she received a call from Dr. Bronson who had checked her blood tests and determined certain factors, so he called her.
Comparing them to the blood tests that were done just about 6 to 8 weeks ago, the liver has shown dramatic numbers off the chart. In the earlier blood test everything was okay. Which leads him to believe that she is picked up some type of infection and it's affecting her liver. This of course leaves you feeling bad, jaundice and out of energy. I remember when we moved out of state for three years between the years 1981 and 1984, we moved to Oklahoma. We had a favorite restaurant to eat at and somehow we picked up hepatitis from eating there and the entire family, except for Daniel who was just a little baby at the time, picked up the hepatitis. Which makes you jaundice and causes all these problems but in a greater extent than what Harriet is feeling right now. But, the symptoms are very similar. It took a long time to get over the hepatitis. Lord willing the medication that she was given on Thursday is helping her. I did ask her this morning and she is feeling better.
So Dr. Bronson told her to go down to Kaiser this morning and get some more blood test done today and that the results will come back and he will review them on Monday and let her know what he thinks.
That's pretty much the latest information I have. I did ask Harriet if she has any special requests for all of you that read the blog on a regular basis? She said that she asks for prayer that she could get over this liver infection. It has definitely limited her quality of life.
Changing the subject to Daniel, he's going to call me this morning as he does every Saturday morning. I've not received the transcripts from the hearing. We are looking forward to his home coming. I do ask you to continue to pray for Harriet and her situation and I do ask you to pray for Daniel. It's not a slamdunk. Things can change and I hope that he'll be able to come home.
Thank you so much for your willingness to pray for our family and for your great love!
Maranatha,
Frank and Harriet
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