September 12 - October 2, 2016 - Ron at Cabin, Senior Missionary Reunion, General Conference

September 12 - Today is Aleece's birthday

September 13 - A minimum of pain medicine is all that is being used. I don't want to have to chase the pain. It is being held to a level of "0" with one percocet every 4 hours.  My arm is wrapped and in a splint and a sling. For two weeks the arm will rest and heal. Then we will start physical therapy. The doctor wants to minimize the possibility of infection and opening the stitches. So I am trying to be a good patient and stay quiet.

Today us Ron's 70th Birthday. Not exactly what we would have planned for his celebration.

Thankfully my mother is having no pain from the cancer. Ron is being a good nurse for both of us. Hospice started coming in today to help mother shower. It is more a safety issue--they are  in the room in case she needs assistance. I am of no use to her in that capacity right now,

She has had visits from family and friends since the diagnosis last Tuesday. She is in good spirits and we happily walk down memory lane. She expresses gratitude all the time for such a good life and loved ones.

We are being blessed.  I'm trying not to think too far ahead to physical therapy. We will take one day at a time--one degree of progress at a time.

Ron went to the cabin yesterday afternoon. Needed to check on the grass he planted last Monday.

September 14 -  Ron will be back tonight from the cabin. He and Elder Barlow need to facetime in the morning. Time for soutien to be sent out.

September 19 - It is very difficult to sit here and do nothing knowing that in the Congo everyone is so busy with the every day happenings in the mission. We spent yesterday with our children and grandchildren having a September birthday dinner . It is great to be here with them and spend some time with our mothers and the new baby of course. But our heart is in the Congo knowing that that is where we are supposed to be serving, We are grateful for this time to be here with my mother and hope that her time between now and the day that dad comes to get her is short. We don't want her to suffer. At the moment she's not in pain and we are very grateful for that. It's very difficult to sit day by day wondering if this will be the last. It kind of wears on your nerves a bit but we're making the best of it and trying to handle some of the details that can be taken care of while we are still here. 

Doctors appointment will be this Thursday afternoon hopefully we can start on a rigorous therapy session schedule next week. We are missing the missionaries. It is extremely hard knowing that Elder Bosso,  Elder Yapo, and Elder Bitty will have completed their mission and will have returned home by the time we get back .

I pray for a physical therapist who is mean and will make me work hard,  will push me through the pain and be able to get the elbow back to where it needs to be. Elder Peterson has been clocking in about 4 miles each day he goes out for about an hour so. I thought perhaps I would have a lot of time to study French but my my mind has not been able to focus these past three weeks very much so I am way behind in my French lessons. 

September 27 - first therapy appointment at 9 a.m. Therapist is Darrin Stratford. We really like him. Ron knows his dad who worked for Utah Power. I will go every Tuesday and Thursday for one hour. Everything is pretty stiff. Working on exercises. Hand and arm swollen. Lots of knots in the muscles. Confident the Lord will help me endure and conquer.

September 29 - Sister Cook hosted a reunion for couples who have served in the Lubumbashi Mission. Clark and Shelly Davis from Brigham City picked us up to take us to Lehi. Sister Cook served a delicious salmon dinner.

Clark & Shelley Davis

Brother & Sister Wright

Glenda & Neil Draper

Janet Cook & Heather Vance

Shauna & Ron Peterson

Susan & Gary Neeley

Terri & Kevin Clawson

Vaun & Renee Mikesell

September 5 - 11, 2016 - Shocking News

September 5 - Ron planted grass early this morning.We got a phone call from Dennis about 8:30 a.m. and headed straight back to Roy.  Dennis and Teresa took Grandma Wood to the ER last night for shortness of breath and fast heart beat.  The intent was to determine if she had pneumonia and so a CAT Scan was done to exam the lungs.  Long story short cancer was found in the left lung, in the liver, and throughout the chest and abdomen.  The left lung has cancerous material the size of a small fist and the liver has material just smaller.  She was offered either to see an oncologist or to start hospice or both.  She decided on hospice care only which actually starts tomorrow.  We just met with the hospice care giver an hour ago and completed all the necessary paperwork.  They are so professional. Mom is at peace and is ready to join my father. 

Mom actually said she thinks the reason I fell and had to come home was to be here when she goes. She said she  is ready right now. I don't remember which day it happened, maybe a couple of weeks ago, she was sitting on the bed and was looking out into the hall. She saw grandpa standing in the hall dressed in his white temple suit, standing straight and tall. She didn't see his face but knew it was him. At first she wondered if it was a dream, but she was awake.

Let's pray it isn't long for her. As time goes on she will have more and more trouble breathing. It is already very apparent that is the case. Drastic difference from when we left Thursday  afternoon. She is very calm and wants to be with grandpa. We don't want her to suffer. Pray for a sweet reunion with grandpa soon.Only time will tell exactly what the Lord has in mind as to when she is called home.

September 8 - Surgery for what Dr. Baucom thinks will be an elbow replacement, rather than a repair, will be tomorrow (Friday) morning. We check in at 9 a.m.  Our plan is to work hard at physical therapy, get the doctor's OK, and return to Lubumbashi as soon as possible.

September 9 - The expected 3 1/2 - 4 hour surgery stretched to about 5 1/2 hours. An extremely long time for Ron, but I just slept right on through. A nerve that runs from the pinkie  finger to the elbow and up the arm was moved out of the way. Also, Dr. Baucom carefully worked around the muscle while inserting the replacement so the muscle didn't need to be cut. That will be a tremendous help in the healing process.

Hole drilled in the bone then the metal piece (dark portion) is cemented in. 

Upside down view of the metal elbow hinge. Both ends are cemented into the bone

I stayed in the TOSH hospital side for two nights. We went

August 29 - September 4, 2016 - in Utah & Labor Day Weekend

August 29 - Dr. Switzer called this morning. He will work on getting an appointment with an elbow specialist in Salt Lake for me.

We were able to get in to see the dentist this morning - check ups and cleaning. Also, they were able to start to fix Ron's broken filling.

August 31 -  Unfortunately, we couldn't even get in to see the doctor until tomorrow, Thursday at 11 a.m. Since it is Labor Day this weekend, I am not sure how soon they can get me worked into the surgery schedule. 

Three of our daughters, Erin, Aleece, and Liz took me to the Ogden Temple yesterday for a session. Ron didn't bring his Sunday clothes up here so he didn't go. It was so good to be in the Temple again. That is a major thing we miss in the Congo--being able to go to the Temple.

My mother is having some health issues. She is very weak this past week. And she has had laryngitis for a couple of weeks. My older sister, Vickie, took her to the doctor on Monday and her left vocal cord seems to be paralyzed. My younger sister, Debbie, and I are taking her to get a CT scan on it today. She is scheduled to have injections next Wednesday, Sept. 7th. She is so happy to have me here right now.

Ron's mother is doing about the same heath-wise. We took her out to dinner last night to Costa Vida. That pork burrito sure tasted good. We showed Mom Peterson pictures of Africa.

September 1 - Dr. Switzer says Dr. Sidney Baucom is the best elbow specialist in the Intermountain West. He is very nice and we feel confident he is the one we can trust. Surgery is scheduled for next Friday, September 9 at The Orthopadic Specialty Hospital.

August 22 - 28 - Transfer Week - To Joburg & on to UTAH

August 22 - Busy week. It is transfers. Six departing and 4 arriving missionaries. I spoke with Sister French in Johannesburg. She is the mental health adviser for the missionaries. I have a great deal of anxiety about my arm. Dr. Jubber has recommended that we come to South Africa to check it out. Our flight is Thursday. We should be there for about a week. There is much to do before Thursday. My arm hurts when I type for very long. I place it on a pillow for support.

August 25 - Flew to Johannesburg.  Abraham met us at the airport and drove us to Duke Court where Elder and Sister French showed us the apartment we will be staying in while here.

Went to the mall across to street to check out the eating choices. Bought some food for breakfast at the grocery store there.

Ate a great dinner later on at the mall. Elder & Sister French had a meeting.

August 26 - Elder French drove us to the hospital for x-rays; then back to the apartment for lunch. After lunch Dr. Jubber took us to meet with a specialist who ordered a CT scan. Back to his office for the results. Not good - elbow not just broken. Apparently it will take plates and screws to put it back together. A piece of bone has broken off. It has been without blood now for 5 weeks and may not be able to reattach. After consultation Dr. Jubber recommends we go home to Salt Lake for the surgery and physical therapy.

Elder & Sister Jubber, Sister & Elder Peterson

 Elder and Sister Walton take us out to dinner.

August 27 - A couple drive us north to meet Sean and Dianne Donnelly at a farmer's market. We spent a great day with them, going back to their home in Pretoria.

We had a real South African Braai at their home and they took us to the airport to catch the flight to Atlanta.

Our only regret - we didn't get to go to the Johannesburg Temple while we were there. It was closed for their two week maintenance.

August 28 - Leslie met us in Atlanta.

What a welcome surprise!!

We caught the first flight for Salt Lake City. There was a welcoming committee waiting for us.