Long stay in D-town

Tom went in for what we thought was his routine monthly visit in Detroit. His lab work came back and showed that his Potassium levels were dangerously low. They started him on oral Potassium and an IV. They gave him the IV Potassium at too great of a concentration, causing Tom to be very sick & in extreme amount of pain. He ended up staying over night in Detroit as they wanted him back @ 8:00 am for more blood work. Finally was able to come home around noon on Wednesday. Doctors put him on a higher dose of liquid Potassium, which Tom is struggling to take. He plans to contact the Henry Ford on Monday as he is experiencing more problems with circulation, paralysis of his extremities, & vertigo.

This was the first month that Tom resumed his volunteer work at Wayland EMS. I know that this is his passion, but I think that he is coming to the realization that he can no longer continue to work on the ambulance.

It has been hard to watch Tom struggle with the daily tasks. I see him getting tired easily, though he will not always admit it. There are days that he has an appetite and enjoys a meal, but most days he seems to prefer a little bowl of cereal. I was happy to hear that this month he maintained his weight and if he mentions something that sounds good, that is what we have for dinner!

It is always harder to share the rough days. I always try to keep things on a positive note, but some days the severity of this disease just seems to slap us in the face. I was saddened to read this past month that 2 other patients with MTC passed away. It helps me to remember how precious each day is. I have a book I've mention before "Stream in the Desert" that a dear friend gave to me over 4 years ago. Though I do not read it everyday I still finds it quiets my soul. As I love poems and my heart tends towards them, I would like to share this one with you.

He was better to me than all my hopes;

He was better than all my fears;

He made a bridge of my broken works,

And a rainbow of my tears.

The stormy waves that marked my ocean path,

Did carry my Lord on their crest;

When I dwell on the days of my wilderness march

I can lean on His love the for rest.

He emptied my hands of my treasured store,

And His covenant love revealed,

There was not a wound in my aching heart,

The balm of His breath has not healed.

Oh, tender and true was His discipline sore,

In wisdom, that taught and tried,

Till the soul that He sought was trusting in Him,

And nothing on earth beside.

He guided my paths that I could not see,

By ways that I have not known;

The crooked was straight, and the rough was plain

As I followed the Lord alone.

I praise Him still for the pleasant palms,

And the desert streams by the way,

For the flowing pillar of flame by night,

And the sheltering cloud by day.

Never a time on the dreariest day,

But some promise of love endears;

I read from the past, that my future will be

Far better than all my fears.

Like the golden jar, of the wilderness bread,

Stored up with the blossoming rod,

All safe in the ark, with the law of the Lord,

Is the covenant care of my God.