Welcome to Jacob's Page! Jacob completed four years of treatment for ALL on September 12, 2007. With that chapter of his life closed, he will open a new one...the one that will allow him to enjoy a new, cancer-free life. Jacob, we are so proud of you! You are a Child of God, made in His image. One that has demonstrated strength, determination and bravery! Enjoy your life. Laugh, love and LIVE the way that God has called you to do
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Journal
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:19 PM CDT
Wow...I can't believe that it's been more than a month since my last update. Life has full of activities for the Zumbusch family. With the start of school now LESS THAN one week away, I have been spending a lot of time at work. Last week I attended three days of training for a new student information portal called PowerSchool. It will be great when we have it up and running. Luckily, since it's web-based I can do some work on it from home, too. (Actually, that's what I should be doing right now, but I thought perhaps I could sneak in a little update.)
Jacob is doing very well. He is excited to start Kindergarten and can't wait to get back into his routine. A couple of weeks ago we purchased a bunch of uniforms for him. He wanted to wear a uniform for the rest of the day. Hmmm...I wonder if it was the same for me in my little plaid jumpers. (I know the older you get the LESS you want to wear them...) Tonight we had Kindergarten Orientation and I was lucky enough to wear two hats....one as parent and the other as principal. It was a very enjoyable evening. Tomorrow night is Open House for both preschool and grades 1 - 8. Yes, it is definitely busy!
Jim is taking Jacob to the dentist tomorrow morning. Jacob will need a couple of caps - compliments on the combination of chemo and the fact that he is a constant sipper...of ice tea. It was definitely a no-brainer to switch him to water! Jacob's next Hem/Onc appointment is Friday morning. He will see Dr. Bostrom at Children's. It may even be his last "monthly" appointment. Next we may move to every other month or every three months, I'm not sure. It makes me a little crazy thinking about the length of time between appointments getting longer, but at the same time, I am looking forward to it!
Tonight I come again asking for prayers. In the past I have asked for prayers for a list of children that we have gotten to know from our adventures at Spa 8. Tonight is different. Rather than ask for healing, I am asking for prayers of comfort and new life. My dad has been battling prostate cancer for the past seven years. He had surgery to remove it back then, but it returned about a year ago with a vengance! It spread to his bones, which brings a great deal of pain. He was admitted into the hospital on Saturday, after a quick decline in his strength. He is very, very weak. Test results today showed that the cancer has spread to all of his bones and is now attacking the bone marrow. Our options are two: 1. Increase his pain meds so that he is comfortable...which in turn will make him sleep most of the time; and 2. Leave his pain meds the way they are. This will leave him able to remain awake to visit with people, etc., but will most likely leave him in pain. We (my mom, sister and I) will meet tomorrow and make the decision. I told my mom that I thought he would NOT want to be in pain...so my vote would be option 1. My mom told me that she knows that would be dad's second choice...with living a longer life as his first. (Believe me, that would be my choice also!) My dad has always been there for us. We could always count on his guidance and help. He was there to help me paint, change bulbs and batteries, etc. Most snowy nights over the past nine years, Jim and I would arrive home to a shoveled driveway, etc. He also babysat Jacob whenever we were in a jam. Despite our huge stash of batteries, Jacob would take his toys to Papa whenever one would quit working. Papa could always fix it! I've now come to the conclusion that the one thing I can do for him is to pray...pray for it to end soon...pray for the suffering to cease...pray for his full healing and new life. It is very difficult seeing this man who was larger than life to me for the past 41 years shrinking before my eyes. I would give anything to see one last smile...something he hasn't done for weeks. I aak for prayers as he leaves this world behind and moves to the next and I ask for prayers for those of us left behind that will miss his presence forever.
I also ask for prayers for Jim's grandma who is also on the last leg of her journey here on Earth. She had a stroke last week and is declinging in health as well. Shas been given a very short time and her medications have all been stopped. Later this week they will be turning off her pacemaker and allowing her body to die naturally.
Sadly, I looked at one of the forms Jim filled out tonight at Kindergarten Orientation. It asked if Jacob had anything going on that could affect his emotions or sensitivity. Jim's response was that two people in his close family were terminal and could be dying very soon. Yes, I guess that is real. I just never liked to think about it.
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