Prayers for Sam

Last Monday Mom met with Houston Hospice to seek their care on a weekly basis for Sam. Mom learned from her neighbor, who is a Hospice nurse, that Hospice will help administer medications, keep the patient comfortable and help the family before the patients time has come.

Mom and Sam had already decided he could not handle anymore chemo and he was on so much medication that they needed more assistance in managing it. So, last week, Mom met with a Hospice nurse, case worker and doctor and began the process. Hospice is so helpful, they delivered his medications immediately, gave Mom a 24/7 number to call and visited multiple times.

On Friday, Sam was having trouble breathing, which was caused by the morphine. Mom called Hospice and they thought it was best to bring Sam into their facility in the Medical Center. Sam improved on Friday evening and night, but on Saturday he seemed to get worse. His breathing was better, but his restlessness, agitation and pain were worse. The doctor said if he didn't begin improving in 24 hours, he probably would not.

Yesterday, Monday (a week from when the Hospice care began), Sam's doctor said his kidney's were failing. He is unable to eat or drink much and his body is beginning to shut down. We are shocked; it is happening too fast! This is so hard, but we are accepting it is almost time for him to go. We don't want him to go, but we also do not want him to be in pain and suffering. Mom and I spent a lot of time with him yesterday (Grandma Ruth joined us in the evening), and I am spending the day with him today. Yesterday, he knew we were here and he talked a little. We couldn't understand everything he was saying, but were able to understand a lot. He understood what we were saying and even expressed some humor.

Today, Sam is resting well and is not as restless as he was yesterday. Matt and Scott came to see him this morning. His best friend Jack is coming to see him today and Maggie and Katie, two of his daughters, are flying in tomorrow. Heather, his oldest daughter, will not be able to come as she is pregnant and due around the first of October.

I am thankful he is at Hospice. They are wonderful and are all about the patient and the family. We are welcome here 24/7, can bring the babies, can bring the pets (if we had any) and they are willing to do anything for us. What a generous organization. We thank you.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Sam, my Mom, his daughters, his family, his friends and his caregivers all need them. Sam has overcome so much during the last year and a half, and I wouldn't be surprised if he overcame this too. He is such a fighter and doesn't give up easily. We have known the time would come that he would leave this world and join his Savior Jesus Christ. I don't want him to go and this is not easy (I can't stop crying), but I pray that Sam goes in peace when it is time.

We love you so much Sam. As Mom would say, "You're doing good."