Encouraging Improvement

So, over the last week, Dad has gone from having cancer, to dying in "a week or two", to now feeling a little better and breathing a little easier. It's been good to hear that his health isn't declining, but I know that eventually, he will succumb to cancer or the effects of a weakened immune system.

Tomorrow (Monday) is going to tell us alot about his condition. He has a PET Scan (full body scan to see where the cancer is/how much it's grown) and another heart test to see what his heart function is. All the other tests he's had have had no results return as of yet, so we only have the "a week or two" to go on.

I've been amazed at the outpouring of love for my father. He really has been a pretty dang cool guy, even though sometimes he's a stubborn old cuss. With so much love for me and my small family, and Dad and all his loved ones, the McBride family has come up with a plan to get Ryan, the girls and me to California for one last visit. I didn't think it was going to be possible for several reasons: money, time of travel with toddlers, lodging, etc. But, by pulling all strings possible, it looks like we'll be flying from Vegas to Stockton, CA, then renting a minivan and driving to Angels Camp and staying in a time share (courtesy of my aunt & uncle). It will still be quite an expense and effort to travel, but the whole family has agreed that it is so important to spend these precious last moments together.

It's always hard to accept help and money from people. I learned you have to accept help when the girls were born. I need help now more than ever. Thank you to all who have offered your help. I just might take you up on it soon!

I had resigned myself to just travel by myself when Dad went in the hospital (the doctors signal that time was quite short). I accepted it with a strange thought. During this Easter time of year with all its eggs and candy and bunnies, is also the Resurrection. I know I'm not outwardly such a religious person, but I do believe that Christ died and He lived again. That one thought has kept me quite sane this last week. We will all live again because of the sacrifice He made. Eternal life is real: life doesn't really end when you die. Dad will die. We all will. But - we will live again. That thought keeps rushing through my head and I felt like I needed to share that. So, "Happy Resurrection" because *that* is what Easter means to me this year.

Take it for what it's worth to you...

Much Love,
Rachie