When it rains, it pours...

…Literally

The title for this blog popped into my head long before the outline or structure of what I wanted to write. Some of you are aware that to describe the last few days of our journey as overwhelming would be an understatement. Some of you will find out why only just now. Recent events of this journey seem to have bottlenecked blocking the flow of information through this blog, and even FaceBook.

Before I detail what happened I will let you know that Joe is doing well. He wasn’t, but the important thing is that he is now.

Though it was only about a week ago that I had written celebrating the end of the chapter of radiation and chemo treatments (for a time anyways), it seems like much longer. An was MRI scheduled for the end of the month giving the radiation its time to finish killing what it could and Joe’s body time to process the dead tissue. With only a couple of doctor’s appointments scheduled between now and then, I was looking forward to a few weeks of mental rest. And why not? Everything and been going so well.

Until…

Sunday

Joe and I had a lovely breakfast at Jimmy’s in Santee, as is our Sunday morning tradition. He had a little headache, but took a Tylenol with his breakfast. We ran a couple of errands then I dropped him off at his dad’s house where the hung out and played with guitars.

I went off to school to work at preparing my classroom for kids to arrive on Tuesday. As usual, I was far from finished. It never seems to amaze me how it doesn’t seem to matter how early I begin preparing my classroom for students, I’m always working on it until the eleventh hour. I had so much to do. Physically my room was not organized the way I wanted it. I had a couple of tables that I had planned on purchasing on Monday from Ikea. I had tons of ideas of things that I knew I wanted to do with the kids, but didn’t have one minute of one day planned. It was a lot to do, but I do my most impressive work under pressure. It was early Sunday afternoon, and I had all day Monday… plenty of time…

Joe called me at school in the early evening after he had returned from his father’s house. He said that he had a “really bad headache.” With radiation, I knew that this was a possible side effect. He texted me a little bit later to tell me that it had gotten worse and was scared. So I packed up and headed home.

When I arrived at home, I could see that he was definitely in pain, but otherwise alert and himself. While trying to assess whether or not to bring him into the hospital, he vomited. So, there was nothing left to assess, I had decided that I would take him in. It took him a bit of time to gather himself enough to be ready to go. After coming out of the bathroom, however, his legs gave out. Luckily I was right there, and between putting his hand on my shoulder and the wall was able to help him to the couch. With that, I called 911 and requested that an ambulance take him to the ER.

After arriving at the ER another CT scan was ordered. It revealed that there was swelling in his brain. Dr. Spier had warned me that this was a possibility, so although it wasn’t great news, it wasn’t a surprise.

It seems that since we had tapered down the steroids (which were keeping swelling down) after his last radiation treatment, swelling in the brain increased to a level that caused complications.

Dr. Spier put him on an increased dose of steroids, and within a few hours he was doing much better.

I was very grateful that his dad, Andy, came to the hospital and was able to stay with him allowing me to leave for a couple of hours to get my classroom ready during the day. I still had the first day of school to worry about. If at all possible it was something that I really didn’t want to miss. The first day sets the tone for the year. Andy’s support made it possible for me to prepare.

Monday it was raining and that is where the title of this blog came from. As I stared out of the hospital window at the strange sight of rain falling in San Diego on an early September day I  took inventory of all that was going on with Joe and all that I wanted to do in my classroom. The phrase “When it rains, it pours” popped into my head like a pop-up window on a website. “Ain’t that the truth,” I replied back. Yes… I talk to myself… only myself, not other personalities in my head incase you were worried. …not that there are personalities in my head… I digress. Apparently lack of sleep is contributing… at least that’s my excuse.

Anyways… After that little internal conversation, I was able to see that not just the stressful, scary stuffy was pouring in my life, but like every chapter on this voyage, the blessings were pouring too. How fitting that it was a rainy day.

That night I made it back to my classroom with two tables to put together, finishing touches to take care of, and my day to formally plan. As I climbed into my car to head home, the clock on my dashboard read 11:09. It was literally the eleventh hour.

With help of many and including great care by the hospital staff, I was able to be present for my first day of class, not simply at school going through the motions while worrying about Joe, but truly present. I knew that Andy was there, and Joe was getting excellent care.

My first day of school started with rain, very strange. I like to think that God was reminding me that at the moment it seems that troubles are raining down, but blessings are as well. So many wonderful people helped me pull through the last couple of days. Every seemingly little thing meant so much!

As further proof of my theory, I received a call from his neurologist mid morning letting me know that the neurosurgeon thinks that he can now do surgery! He had an MRI today, and we’ll know more tomorrow. If the surgery can be done it won’t be for a couple of weeks.

Right now I’m sitting with him as he sleeps like a baby in his hospital bed. He looks so much more peaceful. Although he is sleeping off the medication that he was given to help him through the MRI, and not really aware that I’m here, it feels so very, very good to be here with him.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

<3 Gilly