Why am I writing this blog?

Euclid (Cleveland), Ohio, United States
Here I share the amazing spiritual journey I began on July 19, 2007. I received the diagnosis of a golf-ball-sized tumor on top of the left parietal lobe (motor functions) of my brain. I had severe symptoms all up and down the right side of my body and had received an MRI scan of my brain. In August 2007, I learned that my diagnosis was a Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). This is a common form of fast-growing brain cancer with a challenging prognosis. That's the external story about that moment in time. In the spiritual world I found (actually more like it found me) what I came to call the Fact-Based Spirit-Guided Path, and I began an amazing journey. After October of 2008, I lost the use of my right arm, and in early 2009, my cognitive abilities were struggling, and treatment options ended. My wife, Susanne, then began doing most of the blog postings, with my review and input whenever possible. I continued to apply the Fact-Based Spirit-Guided Path as the adventure continued. My soul then flew to the Kingdom of God on July 1, 2009. Thanks for your interest in my journey. Craig

Susanne's Perspective

During this entire journey, my wife, Susanne, had an entirely different kind of experience. Initially she added comments to some of my posts describing her experience of the moments I discussed and offerred perspectives on our relationship. In the latter stage of this journey, she is writing the blog, as I am no longer able to do so. I am truly delighted that she is doing so. Susanne and I work together as marriage educators/relationship coaches and she has written many books on preparing for and strengthening marriages so you can count on her comments to be insightful and poignant.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Pain Starts and Friends Help – June 27, 2009

Nik Tressler and I spent the night with Craig. He was peaceful, but kept twisting and turning in the bed until he looked like a pretzel. But, we kept putting pillows around him, and as long as he seemed comfortable, we left him be. The hospice nursing assistant straightened him out while bathing him, but he seems to still want to curl back up. During the day today, it has been clear that he was beginning to experience pain in his head. We are dependent upon body language, but grabbing his head and rubbing his forehead seem like clear signals! The hospice nurse visited and confirmed that we should begin morphine for him. We started with a low dose spread out at a four-hour interval, but we are now on a higher dose and at every two hours. He’s running a fever of a bit over 100 F. The congestion is very entrenched in his chest. We have seen Craig’s eyes briefly a couple of times, and he does seem to understand us when we talk to him.

A couple from our support groups – Cheryl and Les – stopped by this afternoon. Holly Timberlake joined us later on this afternoon. She and Nik did spiritual visualizations for Craig. She has also recorded one for me that you can listen to on her website, www.todaystapping.com. See the menu on the right side for Susanne’s Journey below the link for Craig’s Birthing Meditation. Holly and Nik sent me upstairs to rest and listen to it while they helped Craig. Very helpful! Nik has just now gone on home, and Holly and I will do the night shift. We’ll have to set the timer for every two hours for the medication, and we are planning to do alternating three-hour shifts of sleeping and waking to keep him monitored.

Love,

Susanne

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1 comment:

dolly said...

Hello Susanne,

We pray for Craig's comfort and for your comfort[good job with the morphine schedule]...we humbly offer thanks to the Blessed Beauty for your & Craig's compassionate helpers.
Love
Dolly & Daryush

June 27, 2009 at 8:40 PM

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