Surgery tomorrow

Dad's upper GI scope this morning showed that the passage from the stomach to the small intestine is completely blocked. The doctors are not sure if it is a tumor, or scar tissue from ulcers. They did a biopsy and expect the results tomorrow morning.

After the biopsy results are in, they are also planning surgery tomorrow to remove the blockage. (The surgeon told Mom that Dad's doctor used "special charm" to convince them to do the surgery on Saturday. :-) We are happy that Dad consented to surgery.

He still has a productive cough, so his lungs need clearing up also. Thanks for caring and praying!

Now It's Dad's Turn

After a year of relatively stable health, my Dad (John) has taken a turn for the worse. He began having difficulty eating early in August, and finally it got so bad that he had a CT scan on August 30. The scan showed a blood clot in his lung and swelling in his stomach, and he was immediately hospitalized at Stephens Memorial in Norway ME.

Dad is on a blood thinner now, and an upper GI scope this morning showed that food has not been getting past his stomach for awhile. The reason for the blockage was not visible. They are going to do another scope tomorrow. Since the stomach has now been cleared, we hope the scope will be able to locate the source of the problem.

Another issue is his breathing. He has a bad cough and is on oxygen. Thankfully he is receiving IV nutrition, which should help to build his strength back up. He grew very frail during the last month of not being able to eat much.

It is so hard to be 1,400 miles away while this is going on. Our family and friends in Maine have been great about helping my mom during this time, with rides and making telephone calls. Thank you Aunt Jane, Aunt Betty, Uncle Ted, Debbie, Stephen, Pastor and Mrs. Tiner, and anyone I have missed.

As always, we appreciate your thoughts & prayers!

Hanging in there

We are thankful for the Lord's continued care of Mom & Dad. They have adjusted to life at Ledgeview Living Center but still miss their home in Gorham. Thankfully their health is fairly stable, although they both have a long list of ailments. We are grateful for the help of friends and family in providing transportation for frequent doctor visits.

Our family (Jack, Alice & children) are planning a trip north this summer and are looking forward to seeing them--it will have been almost a year.

We pray that their house in Gorham will sell this summer, as the taxes and insurance are a financial burden for them.

Thanks for caring and praying.

First Christmas Apart

Well, after 38 Christmases together, this was the first Christmas for me (Alice) apart from my parents. What a blessing that we were able to be together all those years!!

Modern technology is great. Our family in Florida has acquired a Webcam, and Mom was able to see us AND talk to us on Christmas Day. Lois has a Webcam in Ecuador too! We have decided that Skype is wonderful.

Mom and Dad's health is doing Ok. The pain in Dad's legs makes it difficult for him to get around much, but he and Mom were able to get to Aunt Betty's for Christmas dinner! She was also a big help for them in Christmas shopping. Thanks, Aunt Betty.

Things to be Thankful For

We are thankful that Mom Ames' recent PET scan showed no signs of cancer! Also, she has been discharged from speech therapy. She does still have some ongoing health concerns and is having tests to try to determine the cause.

Dad Ames' ability to walk has deteriorated significantly. It is very difficult for him to even get around the apartment. Because walking is painful, he does as little as possible, which of course makes it worse--a "vicious cycle." His irritability takes an emotional toll on Mom at times also.

We are so thankful for family and friends who are close to Mom & Dad and able to help them. It is hard for Lois & I to both be so far away.

We really appreciate your continued prayer for God's grace and strength for Mom & Dad, and pray you have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Hanging in there

We are happy to report that Mom is noticing real improvement in her ability to communicate! She told me that she now feels confident enough to make business phone calls, something that has been difficult for her. It is hard when you just can't come up with the word(s) you need.

Also encouraging was the report from Mom's brain catheterization on Sept. 28, when her neurosurgeon looked at the area where she had her aneurysm a year ago, and reported that everything looks great!

Dad's health is stable at the moment too. His legs are staying clear of cellulitis, and his medication for Parkinson's is helping him be steadier in walking, using his hands etc.

It doesn't look like the house in Gorham is going to sell before winter. So we are planning to winterize it. We are so grateful for the good neighbors who have kept up the yard this summer!

Lois and Chris arrived safely back in Ecuador. However, the boxes they shipped are being held in Quito, pending their acquiring an "importer's license" - a new requirement they did not know about. Thanks for praying for them as they get settled, and that they can get their boxes soon.

Ameses here and there

Greetings! Sorry it's been awhile since we've updated. Several have mentioned they still check this regularly--thanks for your interest, your patience and your prayers!!

The cellulitis in Dad's legs seems to be under control at the moment. He is still experiencing a lot of weakness and shakiness, which limits his activity. It is hard to put model trains on the track when your hand is shaking.

Tests show no sign of stroke. His neurologist has diagnosed him with Parkinson's, and he has begun taking medication to help control those symptoms.

Mom is seeing improvement in her ability to comprehend what she reads. She is so pleased, especially to read her Bible again.

Their house in Gorham is still for sale. We are thankful for wonderful neighbors; Susan who is keeping the lawn mowed, and Lucille who is keeping an eye on the place. Mom & Dad's homeowner insurance dropped them because the property is no longer owner-occupied, which caused them a lot of anxiety, especially because the realtor contract requires insurance coverage. Thankfully, their agent found a policy that covers vacant property. The premiums are rather expensive though.

I helped Mom submit a claim for her lengthy hospitalization last fall to an insurance policy that pays cash benefits to the patient, and this week she was thrilled to receive a check in the mail! That was a big blessing.

Lois and Chris and family spent August in Maine, much to Mom & Dad's delight. They put up more shelves in Mom & Dad's apt. and helped them organize more stuff; and Mom got to play with her grandchildren. Dad enjoyed them too!

Now Lois and Chris are in Florida, visiting us for a week! They have tickets to return to Ecuador at the end of September.

Please pray for Aunt Jane and Aunt Betty, who have been a great help to Mom and Dad with transportation and laundry. They are experiencing health challenges of their own and cannot be as available for the next few weeks. We are grateful for my cousin Stephen who is also helping a lot with errands.

God is good and faithful! We rest in His care and provision for all of us. Thank you so much for praying for our family.