9/27/10

We had a great time in Niagara Falls, We made reservations for the Hotel and a guided tour at a visitors center and it worked out great. The tour was scheduled to be 5 hours but ended up to be over 8 hours. We did both the Canadian side and the US side. Joel and Tracy watched the dog. Sunday after retutning home we both crahed. Today was a quite day I was enrolled in Hopice and tonight godly friends came over after we received food from another godly friend at Lunch time. Konrad and family is planning to come this weekend. God id all around. I received a really nice devotopnal book from an union collegue and read it all today it was great. Thanks again and again. JUrgen

9/23/10

Yeah no more chemo treatments. I have the weekend free. I think Kathy and I are going to Niagra Falls. It appears that the swelling on the side of my face is not fluid as expectwed but my old friend cancer. The MRI from yesterday showed that it is in my brain mebrane and pushing on my good eye. Yhats why my vision is fading. I was worried about losing that eye last fall with the first operation and Gad gracefully let me use it this much longer. Per the docs this also means my time frame is compressed to weeks and months from months to a year. It is hard to wrap my brain around this but friends are around and I was able to speak with Konrad und my Dad/Almut and I am even more gratefulll about the wonderful week we had. I know He is faithful and will see me through even through the tears and all. Again RThanks for the love. While I was in Germany I used a term "die lebendige Kirche" which means the living Church. I was talking to Almut my Dads wife not sure how it came up but the love that is being shown to Kathy and I is Him living through his living Church and I am thankful. JUrgen

9/18/10

I am back home after a wonderful time in Germany. Konrad came with me and we had a great time. My sister joined us over the wekend and we were able to sit down all together and explain to my mother who has Alzheimers my health sistuation, what a blessing it had been several years that we alll had been togother and my Mom seems to have understood. Konrad and I stayed at my Dads and boy was I treated well. His wife Almut prepared meals that I could eat and every meal and we were able to share our faith and God is alive and well. Yes there were moments of tears but we had also lots of laughter playing cards doing a little yard work and just being able to express our love for each other.. Other family called and expressed their love I got Birtday presents. Two nephews who each had lived with us here came one afternnon and we had a great visit. We were also able to accomplish all the tasks that I had hoped to allow Konrad to take over for me legally as my Mom's Guardain. She will be well taken care off. The travel went well. I had flown through New York and was able to visit with the rest of Konrad's family during the layover to Germany and with Eric on th4e way back. HE loves me and showed again and again through the time he is allowing me. I am blessed. THanks you JUrgen

9/4/10

Well 2 weeks done with Chemo light. Last weekend Kathy and my Sister-in-law Debbie went to visist Konrad's in New York. We had a great time touring Manahatten, Central Park, China Town drove past Ground Zero, Battery Park and a Fwerry Trip to Staten Island and back. Sunday Eric, Konrad and I went to Eric's orientation at Fordham Unversity. What a nice campus which I could do a do over. On Wednesday a Hospice worker came over to share info. God is great. The worker is a belirever and was with Kathy when she rweceived the phone call from me that I had cancer 15 years ago. We were able to pray and it turned out to be an ok meeting. Yesterday I woke up with some new swelling on the left side and was put on steroids after consulting with the docs. I am also allowed to slowley expand my menu to pureed foods and drink normal stuff. That should make my planned trip with Konrad to Germany on Friday easier. I willl attempt to explain to my mother who has Alzheimer's whats going on and would ask for prayers in regards to this. Thanks as always for the support. Jurgen

8/21/10

Its been a week since the last news. Its been busy which is good. Final arrengements have been identified and are being planned. Its weird planning your own funeral but the control freak in me can at least to that. Also the Living will and power of Attorney have been completed. Wednesday we met with Chemo Dr. and he convinced us to try Chemo to slow things down. I will start on a partial regiment next Thursday for 3 weeks prior to flying to Germany with my brother on my return week we will start the full regement which entails 1 day outpatient treat ment weekly and every 3-4 weeks 4 days inpatient treatment. WE will try this for 3 month to see if this works. If my qulity gets to compromised we will stop. Thinking about my bucket list besides the trip to Germany I am mostly wanting to hang out with family and friends to enjoy the time we have. Thanks again for alll the support via emails cards phone calls walks what ever. God promises not to give us more than we can handle sometimes His strenght comes in the last second but it is there. Jurgen

8/14/10

Well its been awhile. I had a Cat Scan yesterday to see if my infection was clearing. The result was not so good. Apparently my cancer has spread throughout my lungs and a cure is no longer a possibly based on the medical opinion. I was given 6-12 month. This was unexpected and quite a shock. Within minuted of calling some friends the Body of Christ was at teh Hospital to comfort. He is amazing. I made the last phone calls to people this am and decided not to return to work 9.1.10 as planned. On wednesday we are meeting with the chemo dr. to see about a regement to slow things down. Kathy and I will then decide what to do. There are some things I want to do and I so not want to be impaired by chemo during this homestretch. I would ask for your support and prayers especially for Kathy as this is hard on her. In addidition please remeber my friend Duane whose father passed away from Cancer 2 days ago. Its been difficult to share because I know many of you will be hurt and grieving. Thanks for everything. JUrgen

7/28/10

Boy how time flies. I had a little set back in that I have developed areas of infection inside my mouth. 2 weekend ago I starting running a fever and on Sunday we went to the emergency room. I was admitted to the hospital for 5 nights and came home Friday afternnoon. with about 6 weeks of infusion antibiotics that I gave to myself for the first time today. A Nurse was coming the other days to teach me. Kathy has to pack the wounds in my mouth 2x daily as I can not see in there, I am not allowed anything by mouth not even liquid, All this is leaving me somewhat exhausted. Praise God it was only an indection. This am I did a small bikeride before it got hot and it wiped me out. Saturday Kathy and I wnt ot th ewedding of the daughter of friends and it was great even though we did not make the reception, ran out of umph. It seems everytime I go to the hospital I have to rebuild my energy. I certainly have learned to sleep. Thanks for all the prayers, cards and phone calls. Jurgen