Monday, Sept 8th....6:50pm

I want to thank you all for the many, many prayers and all the support and well wishes. This has been an unbelievable journey. My head had such a hard time with the transition from "normal evening at home" to ICU with a serious illness in a matter of a few hours. And now a few short days later we are having conversations I never wanted to have as a wife. When I googled pancreatitis 72 hours ago, I read about the exact symptoms Robert was experiencing and said, that is what he has alright. I didn't read any further to realize there are different types of pancreatitis and there are different levels. On a scale of mild to severe, Robert is on the extreme severe side of the spectrum. That is where all alchololics with severe pancreatitis end up being. Robert totally fits the classic symptoms and characteristics of an alchololic with pancreatitis. Every doctor and nurse has asked me, sometimes more than once, "is he a drinker?" After always answering NO, the doctor still does not believe me when I say "he is not a drinker"...I guess he has seen too many closet drinkers or too many families that live in denial and "cover" for the alcoholic. So all of you out there who have knocked back a few beers with Robert, this is the time to come forward and 'fess up! Meanwhile, they have called this a drug-induced pancreatitis, meaning he is on two medications that in very rare cases, cause pancreatitis. (I don't think he's thought about the possibility that all the alcholics he has treated were also on those same two medications - who knows!) Seriously, after 18 years of treating pancreatitis, he learned for the first time that there is a drug-induced type. He did not know that. After telling me that Robert is following the classic alcoholic pancreatitis path, he also let me know that it comes with a very high mortality rate. He assured me Robert will get worse...he just can't tell me how far down the path we will go. After putting him on the ventilator Saturday night, they were upbeat yesterday because he did not start his decline . He did not improve, but he remained stable. That was good. I enjoyed my day after the 3 previous days of being so unstable. Today has not been upbeat. I'm hearing the beginnings of "we're starting to see this...so now we have to watch that." If only everything was not so connected in there, then one problem would not create this domino reaction. I am being sustained and supported by the truth Robert and I have lived by for many years - we believe the Good, Great Physician creates us, offers us life through the Great Redeemer and has His appointed time planned for each one of us for life on this earth to end. Robert has trusted the life offered by our Great Redeemer and walks by faith in Him every day. Our God has used the "inner connectedness" of our physical body to describe the very relationship those "in Christ" share. So, in light of that, this domino reaction inside of Robert's body is exactly what helps me understand the wonderful connectedness of people who are in God's Kingdom. When I read your comments and hear of your prayers I am so greatful for the marvelous body that God has given us. Please continue to pray for the miracle we know our good God could give us, but also pray for His will, not ours, because both Robert and I believe, His will is best.

~Jeanette