Ira Lichterman

      It all started with 6 little words...well, sir, you have lung cancer.  We heard those words after a bought of pneumonia only to find out in the hospital  he has Atrial Fibrillation, AFib for short.  After we left the hospital he made an appt with Dr Gubin, a cardiologist. We found out then that Ira's had AFib for a while but it's common enough and shouldn't give him much trouble as long as he took a blood thinner.  
       After going to Pulmonary Dr Deaton for a check up from the pneumonia, he noticed that his white blood count was still very high. From there we ended up at the West Clinic. After some tests Dr Tauer then diagnosised him with Chronic Lymphotic Leukamia, commonally known as CLL.  This took us back a bit until we learned that lots of people live long lives with it. You just have to be careful with infections, pneumonia being one of the most common.  After another follow up X-ray with Dr Deaton he still was uncomfortable with his lungs and sent him back to Dr Tauer for a biopsy. That's when we heard, "Well, sir, you have lung cancer."  
        Enter Dr Weskler, thoracic surgeon with West Clinic. On May 30 Ira had the top lobe of his left lung removed and we were told that they got it all! No cancer and it had not spread! We were ecstatic! He did pretty good for an old guy of 73 almost 74 with AFib and CLL. However, the next day when they were working with his breathing he went into respiratory failure and his blood pressure when sky high.  Remember he has AFib.  That starts our time in the cardiovascular ICU here at Methodist University Hospital.  After a week of sedation he got pneumonia and a type of staph infection, not good for someone with CLL.  He wasn't breathing well on the ventilator so last Monday, June 12 Dr Weskler put in a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. Long story short, it's been a roller coaster since then. He's in and out of conscienceness. They've done a CTScan, an MRI and a EEG. His brain function is good. All the drugs should be out of his system so they don't think it's that.  So here we are, still in ICU, greatly needing your prayers for him. Tuesday, June 27 makes it 1 month. These nurses, respiratory nurses  and nurses aids have been wonderful. Very caring and compassionate. Can't wait for him to wake up so they can meet the real Ira! The tiger fan yelling "come on, you guys", the high-maintanance  gourmet at every restaurant, the wine connoisseurs, the extremely generous man who would do anything for you! 
     As for me, I'm hanging in there but it's getting tougher and tougher so pray for me and our girls too.  We need strength! We know we serve a good God. He's working in ways we can't see. But I guess that's where faith comes in, doesn't it.  He has promised to be with us, walk us through this, show us His glory as only He can do. Thank you for reading this, praying and supporting us in all the ways you can.  May the God of all comfort, who comforts us in this time of trouble, continue in His compassion and healing for Ira.