Happy June

Dear Family & Friends,
I find it hard to beleive it is already JUNE! I will try to write an acurate, but brief report on our favorite guy. MARTY has STILL not passed the kidney stone. He had one other Emergency Room visit on Friday evening--the start of the Memorial Day weekend ---and was sent home with pain meds and the news that the stone (stones) were too big to pass. He got thru the weekend without any additional trips to the Emergency Room, for which we were very grateful. We had a picnic on Saturday here at our house. Yes, it was an indoor picnic because of the weather! He wasn't up to going to church on Sunday, but we went visiting a bit that evening. I worked Memorial Day and as soon as I got done, we left for Logan to stay the night. Fasting, Marty reported to Dr. Michael Callister's office at 9am Tuesday morning the 27th and he was seen, had some further X-rays and then was admitted for an outpatient surgery-- a LEFT ESWL (lithotripsy treatment) to break up the 9mm stone that was lodged in the ureter. Dr. Callister did not go after the other THREE stones that are still in the kidney because of the anti inflammatory meds he is on-- too much risk of the kidney bleeding. The procedure only took one hour and when he came back, though groggy, he felt like he had been kicked by a mule. Dr. Callister assured us that was appropriate for the procedure he had just had done. Although he was able to knock off some edges and make it smaller, he could not break the stone up as he had anticipated. So, there is a large (but smaller than it was) stone and many fragments that now need to come out.
As soon as he had some more IV fluids and was awake enough to get dressed, he was discharged to go home with major pain meds and another strainer! Any of you who have had kidney stones can appreciate how unfun this whole thing is. Yet, at the end of the long day, when we were going to bed, he asked me if I had had fun today. I said, "No, I really wouldn't call this fun". His reply was that he thought it had been pretty nice. I was shocked by this statement and then I decided that maybe compared to the LAST two surgical parties he has had, this WOULD seem nice. No ICU, no tracheostomy, no drainage tubes....... Anyway, it made us laugh the next day when we talked about it. He will see Dr. Callister in another week for a follow up, but so far, no pay dirt has been strained and saved for show and tell. I am afraid he will need further surgery or something. Now, things have got stirred up and bleeding and that is a worry.
Although neither of us felt great, we pulled the trailer over to the Apple Garden Campground in Garden City. It was probably foolish, but we did it anyway.
Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We never have to look very far to see others who are having overwhelming trials and struggles. We continue to be grateful that with each check back with the oncologists (both Dr. Sharma and Dr. Hitchcock), no new cancer has been found. It is always a relief to hear that. His main trial at this time is THE kidney stone issue and the pain and lack of use of his left arm and shoulder. He has an appointment with a nuerologist about that and hopes something can be done to help. His job now is to adjust to his new self/body and not get discouraged. It is so hard to believe that next month it will be one YEAR since the day Marty was last able to work.
It is so true that we take our marvelous bodies for granted until they start to betray us and malfunction in all the ways bodies can. We need each and every part present and working to truly be comfortable and fine. I know that so many of you know that all too well. And for you that don't, be grateful for your health.
Love to all--those that check the blog once in a while and those that we see or hear from more often. We love and appreciate you all.
We hope you are having a wonderful June.
Love,
LaRee and, of course, Marty