25th August 13

[sharpster8]

Tomorrow will for most be just another day, work, school or stay home, just another Tuesday. For us things are different, tomorrow our family will once again put our future in the hands the faith we have in God, and the expertise of the doctors. We pray that our heavenly father will guide us and the doctors to understand what needs to be done and help us to get the answers we need. Thanks to all of our friends and family for the love and support you have expressed, Thanks also to the beautiful souls that we have met on our journey that are no longer with us, and we that remain. I love you my Cathy now and forever. God bless you all.

[sharpster8]

People should be grateful that they have a life partner in the first place, I know so many who have lost their loved ones not through vicious words or piss poor judgment and jealousy, but to have had their lives stolen away. Wake up selfish people!!! One day you will be alone.

[sharpster8]

To my darling wife on your birthday. Thankyou for making me the richest man in the world. Together we have been through so much, we have shed many tears, shared the joy that our children have given us and seen many people come and go. I feel so much love for you. You have shown so much courage and strength throughout the trials you have faced. You are my inspiration, my love, my heart and my reason for living. Happy birthday, forever by your side.

[sharpster8]

For our friends that are unaware, Cathy is going for surgery at 6.30 in the morning to have her stomach removed. We expect she will be in hospital for about two weeks. We are worried, but confident that all will go well. She will be in ICU for about three days, then transferred to the high dependency ward. After about five days the doctor will get her to do a swallow test with the help of ultrasound to ensure there is no internal leaks or bleeding. In the first five days Cathy's condition will be critical. Only after the swallow test will we know she is getting better. Thankyou to all who have given us support in whatever way, we love you all. But now is crunch time. I will be counting the minutes until you are back with me again. My heart has been softened and my love for you is deeper than ever. You will always be beautiful in my eyes. These things I say with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.

[sharpster8]

Dear friends, here is an up date on Cathy's condition. It has been sixty hours since she began surgery. She has got a DVT in her neck and also in her right arm caused by either the central line or the portacath. Today she had a blood transfusion due to the amount of blood lost during surgery. She also had two ultrasounds to confirm the DVT'S and to check for internal bleeding, treatment for the blood clots will begin tomorrow and there is no evidence of bleeding. All is as good as could be expected. Tomorrow the physiotherapist is going to get her to sit up with a view to having her stand up by the end of the week. I have had some messages on my phone and FB that I have not got back to, but to all concerned this is all I can tell you. Cheers, J.

[sharpster8]

Further to my previous post on Wednesday night. Cathy has shown remarkable improvement. She has been for a few short walks in the last 24 hrs plus eaten some food. Cathy has now been transferred to ward 2. Although still very sore, tried and dealing with some pain. She can not take phone calls yet as she can't get to the phone, Short visits are okay.

[sharpster8]

I am grateful that i have my wife home with me, She is the most inspirational person I have know. She has had to deal with so much pain, yet she is still here and will be for a long time yet. She is still in significant pain, both physically and emotionally. She can't keep food or liquid down. I have been trying to find foods that she can eat. She has lost nearly six kg's in ten days. She is on self administered injections twice a day and has started blood thinning drugs to help with the blood clots and Hydralite for hydration. All indications are that she is going to be okay and it will just take time. If anyone wants to bring some food that she can try, please do, as I am near out of ideas. The dietitian has said that she can eat any foods in small quantities and hope that she can keep it down.

[sharpster8]

Update, Cathy is back in hospital feeling very down the doctors have said that she cannot leave until she can eat and drink properly, she is also being treated for a new infection — feeling sick.

[sharpster8]

This sucks, all we have is pain and suffering. Life is miserable. I can't do anything. My advise to all that are healthy is to enjoy it while you can. one day it will catch up to you. I pray that Cathy will feel better soon and we can move on. I just don't know how anything can ever be the same after this hell. I know we are not alone in what has been happening.

[sharpster8]

This is sounding like a broken record and I am only putting this up because Cathy has too many friends to ring. But she is back in hospital after two days at home.

[sharpster8]

Numb, Cathy's condition has worsened and there is nothing I can do. She is lost in a sea of misery and pain. Although others are around her, she is alone in agony. I am helpless, battling my own thoughts, running on auto pilot to keep our family and our home going. I feel we have nowhere left to turn. Must stay on top.

[sharpster8]

Cathy is currently in surgery, it is expected that she will be in ICU on a ventilator in an induced coma for three days then start the recovery process again. Please do not try to visit as you will not be aloud in. I have had exhausting discussions with the doctors and they have said this is the only option. It is the worst I have seen her. Thanks to all of our friends that have offered their love and help and to those who have sat with her. But I can't think of a single thing that I want other than Cathy to feel better and to be able to live life with me and the kids.. Now I wait and pray.

[sharpster8]

Once again, thankyou for all of the well wishes. The kids and I are doing okay I appreciate all of the offers to take the kids for a day or an overnight stay, But in all honesty they are my strength, I already have Cathy away from home and can not think of anything worse than having William, Sophia or Hayley away too. The kids know this and are more than happy to be home with Dad. Please stop asking as it is not going to happen. No one needs to give me "A Break" from my Children, or provide advise to them without asking me first. as with all decisions we have made in our family. On a more serious note, Cathy has become a little more stable in the last 24hrs, but is still not able to respond. The doctors would like to remove the ventilator on Saturday. Tomorrow they plan on drastically reducing the medication that has kept her in an induced coma for the past three days. Thus she will be waking up. She will be confused and will still have the breathing tube down her throat that is one reason why I insist no one sees her until she is well enough to tell me that she is ready for visitors...

[sharpster8]

I have an update, last night Cathy nearly lost her battle. she had a severe internal bleed that resulted in her loosing about six litres of blood in a very short time. The surgical team performed another operation to repair a ruptured artery and removed a clot the size of two mangos, as the surgeon described. Cathy was able to tell me today that she is grateful for the prays that have been said for her, and that is why she is still here today. When you are well enough to read this darling, know that you are my heart and I am doing my best to look after our kids.