HOME!!

Everyone is home and we are so glad to have them back. The travels were easy. Look for Rick's eyeballs around the hospital and clinic. They are bright.

Love, Polly

THE BOYS ARE IN BED

The boys are in tucked in bed for the night. In twenty four hours, Rick and Dave will be in Chicago. Our houses are tidy, food in the fridge, fresh sheets....you know how you feel that excitement when your loved one is coming home. Everything needs to be perfect...we can hardly wait. Madeline has made the most beautiful picture for her daddy.

What more could anyone ask for?

Love, Polly

DISCHARGE!!!!!

Rick will be home on Saturday. He is officially out of the hospital. He will spend three nights at the pension and then on his way home with Dave. Thanks to Dave for bringing our boy home first from MD Anderson and now Germany.

Rick is feeling good. He is off narcotic pain medications and he is excited to be back in the presence of all of you. The trip has been a long one but productive.

Thank you again for your hammock of comfort.

Love, Polly

GOODBYE HOLDING PATTERN

The last few days have had little change. It's been as though we are in the holding pattern. That's a good thing but also boring for the patient. Rick's lung has expanded completely and the fluid is gone from the lung. His pulmonary function tests indicate that if he wished to go ahead today with the other lung, it would be a go. Rick had to do some discharge exercises yesterday to prove that he is street fit. He passed those with flying colors. Today, he is awaiting the official discharge and the pathology report. Thanks to Brock and Fernette, we have detailed information on how to get that information in our hands. Sometimes, the language barrier is a challenge on these specific tasks but the staff has been ultra willing to help and try to figure out what we need exactly.

Rick has had some very special visitors during the last half of his stay. Stick with me here while I explain who they are. Rick and Julie's neighbor, Mary, who also goes to my church, has a pen pal in Dresden. We got to talking one day about Rick's travels and lo and behold, Mary's friend, Heidi and her family, met up with all of us and have since been visiting with Rick. Heidi brought her entire family including her parents to Rick's hospital room. Today, they are going to Dresden for that beautiful tour. What a blessing for Rick. God does provide over and over.

These are the extra details we know for those of you who love health/new innovative techniques.

1. UCLA is in process of doing pathology analysis on Rick's blocks which were sent there in a pre-arranged consultation.

2. TMD and Clarient are two tumor profiling companies that are looking at Rick's tumors as well. They are going to help us determine what Rick's tumor responds/reacts to for further treatment as necessary.

3. We have three additional consultations going with other alternative methods of methods of removing a specific tumor which we have targeted.

4. The snap freeze tissue is done. We are looking at how to get it to the United States quickly.

Thank you all once again for your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Polly

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION!!

Rick was asked today if he is ready to go home!! Let the planning begin.

By faith we are healed.

Love, Polly

LITTLE UPDATE

Rick is continuing rehab at a great pace. He's feeling well and is anxious to come home. We should learn by Monday, when his surgeon returns, when that will be. In the meantime, he's on the move and trying to keep active. Germany has a holiday tomorrow, Friday, May Day, which they celebrate much like our Memorial day. It will be a quiet day tomorrow for Rick with no classes, but he's certain to take a few trips into town to keep up with the exercise.

God continues to bless us daily.

Love, Polly

DETAILS FROM RICK AND JULIE

Walked to Kaufland(similar to Walmart) and back today, then to Husan's by the pension and back again. He's done all of his exercises and then some and overall says he feels good.

Dr. Rolle was going to inject dextrose into the lung prior to pulling the chest tube, but decided against it and as we know pulled the chest tube. Not sure why the decision against this was made because of the language barrier, but we just have to trust in Dr. Rolle's decisions. Rick had a question about this which no one could understand or answer, again because of the language barrier, and next thing he knew, they came in with the cart and pulled the chest tube.

He's glad to have that out and says the pain is much better now and he's sleeping much better as well.

Ivan emailed and said he experienced this same thing with his first surgery as his chest tube wasn't draining well. He said just delays things a bit, but does resolve and all should be fine. It's always good to hear from someone who's travelled this road before.