Update 5/4/10

Well....if Lou were older and if he weren't "healthy except for the cancer" (what a line!) - he would probably already be gone. However, because his heart and lungs were so strong and he was a strong guy - he's still hanging for now. But, he has less conscious or even waking moments with each passing hour, his bowels have shut down, his kidneys are failing, his liver is so swollen, and his abdomen is distended and so swollen with fluids - everything is failing. Most of his communication now is pretty out of his head stuff as the poisons build in his body. He is now receiving morphine and pain meds regularly to try to keep him comfortable and the latest "prediction" is that he will not make it past Thursday or Friday. With the shallow breathing and the way he looks and the way I know he would feel - I pray that the end will come VERY VERY soon for him! He said so many times that he wanted to go quickly and it has always been my prayer for him not to suffer any longer than possible! He / we have been so blessed that as this all started happening within the last couple of weeks - even though he wasn't feeling particularly well - he wasn't in pain! I know this is answer to prayer! Now, he's ready and I hope the Lord is ready to take him - would truly be a blessing for Lou! Me - I'd of course love to be able to keep him around - but.....that's not fair to Lou and somehow, the Lord will see me through this valley!

For all of you have sent literally hundreds of e-mails to us in the last couple of days - THANK YOU, thank you, thank you! How blessed I / we have felt to have such good and faithful friends lifting us up in prayer and support us throughout this ordeal. All of the e-mails / names of people have been given to Lou - he smiled and cried as they were read to him!

Will update as things change!

Blessings and Love,
Deb