Hey Everybody

I decided that this would be a great forum to keep people posted on Dad Vergeer's condition. Yea, I know its obvious but not to me. Sometimes I can be dense.

So, here is the scoop: He was admitted back to the hospital on Thursday night (3/22) and he spent the night there. He is there again tonight and he may be going back home tomorrow. As some of you may know, the reason for his admittance was because he was showing signs of retaining water. His urine output had been going down over the last week and he had been putting on a few pounds. After they admitted him they put what is called an NG Tube down his nose. This is to relieve any gas pressure or to remove any fluid from his stomach. They removed quite a bit of material that had been sitting there for some time. That was part of the pain he had been experiencing over the last week or so. If this goes well he will head home tomorrow.

So, what does this mean? Chemotherapy, which had been scheduled to begin this coming week will be postponed if not completely put off. His stomach is no longer functioning apparently and they have no reason to think that it will restart. Christy and I went to see them in the hospital tonight and he is uncomfortable around his abdomen and also in his throat because the tube irritates him so much. Also, they are starting to look at what it will take to just make him comfortable rather than setting him up for a fight that he cannot win.

Its all very hard on everyone. If you are not praying yet, please pray for them, specifically Mom & Dad and the time they have left. Mom is having a really hard time and Dad is being brave but I can't imagine that this is at all easy for him. Christy and I are praying for a solid finish, a good death... Pray as you see fit.

I'll keep posting information as it becomes available here. Its easier than remembering who to email. I will commit to updating this every other day even if there is no new news.

I hope you are all well. Thanks for your prayers -- John