Originally Posted By FW_wife:
Tonight's update... Who knew being married could be so hard. If you haven't yet, you might just want to have "the talk" with your spouse and loved ones. Hopefully your end is far in the future, but you just never know.

Jeff has advance directives in place, signed six weeks ago. Maybe if the hospital had known about his wishes, he wouldn't have been intubated and on the ventilator, I don't know. But we are here now and decisions need to be made. If you take all feeling out of the situation, decisions are pretty cut and dry. If you love Jeff like I love Jeff, you just can't take emotions out of this. When you sign your own papers and indicate how you would like to be cared for if faced with a terminal or irreversible condition, you may make that decision like it's a no-brainer. 'Of course I don't want to be kept alive artificially if there is no cure...' 'Of course I don't want to be a vegetable...' But with the passage of time and other things that happen, would your wishes change? With Jeff on the ventilator, he can't tell us what he wants. He can't ask questions. They can lighten sedation and he can nod or shake his head to yes/no questions - but he's groggy. Do you really take his answers to be well thought-out? What's going on in that fuzzy-haired head of his?

http://beautifuldayinparadise.com/wp-content/uploads/2013-11-06_21-34-061-300x168.pngSo I've decided to hold off on radiation and anything else until he can be weaned off the ventilator. He is still on blood pressure medicine, antibiotics, saline, sedation, pain killer, etc., etc. You see all the IV lines going on. I'm told he is not on the ventilator because he has or had a breathing problem, but because he was bleeding. With the bleeding stopped, at least for now, it seems reasonable to attempt to get him off the ventilator. I'd hate to not give him a chance to talk to us again.

There is the possibility that things could go south after he is off the ventilator. In that event, he would not be resuscitated and his wishes for no life-sustaining measures would be honored. He's been through hell and back. He has a strong spirit, but his body is damn tired. He has suffered so much already with the effects of chemo, the pain and sickness. My only hope is for compassionate and merciful care. No more gallon bags of chemo. No more barf bags in my purse. No more pain pills that offer little relief. He deserves better.

PS - We've received Jeff's trigger from Geissele and all the wonderful swag too. THANK YOU! We have a box of ARFCOM swag too. Thank you! (We will never be hatless. I just may have to bedazzle my car with all the stickers too.) Thank you also to Christian for the box FULL of German snacks and candies, non-alcoholic beer, toy pirate ship, money, etc. Travis adores the pirate ship! Thank you to xcrmonger for the bad-ass penguin. I plan to post it here soon. It should be shared Dan and Heather - you are a beautiful couple! Thank you and Bill and Daniel for the generous checks. Thank you to Joe for the washawaycancer soap. Thank you to everyone for the cards and letters heavy with love and sweet words of encouragement.

Originally Posted By SgtKiwi:


Thought it may be a good point to add another... Hang in there buddy.  We're praying for you.  
If it should happen

If God calls my name

Remember my friends

Not to throw blame

For in my life

The love I have known

To each of my friends

In some way has shown

Through me you have learned

The small things most miss

Time with your wife

Or your child's gentle kiss

Your son by your side

With a hook in the water

Or a short hunting trip

With your young daughter

You see, it's not about

Your years on the Earth

It's more how you spend them

That in the end shows your worth

So carry on in life

With new hope instilled

For I now have peace

My mission fulfilled

I taught so many

Over so few of days

What life is about

In so many ways

So, again if God calls

And no longer can wait

A hug for you all

Still waits past the gate

Originally Posted By PilotMacGruber:
daily check in for updates and to let you know were still praying for you bud.

Originally Posted By TominOregon:



Thanks for the update Reta.


Although it's not quite what a bunch of us wanted to read, it is, what it is.


Being a somewhat older person, I have come to know this;


God, does not give us more than we can handle.





If at any time, you feel that this is more than you can handle, I believe there are a bunch of great folks here who would be at you side very quickly.


Many of them, complete strangers by name and face. But we have come to know you and your family, if even just a little bit.





Your husbands words, I believe, changed some peoples lives. People have given blood, registered with bethematch, started praying.


Jeff has done really great things with a simple post, on a web site with a bunch of total strangers.





Stay strong.


Keep the faith.

Originally Posted By I-M-A-WMD:
http://bethematch.org/Support-the-Cause/Donate-bone-marrow/Join-the-marrow-registry/Join-now/

http://www.gofundme.com/4zxjjk

More prayers sent. Reta, believe that God will hold Jeff close and bring him home in which ever way he see's best.

As others have said, Jeff's simple post has changed lives. Has made a lot of us open our eyes to what we're missing. May God bless you and your family.

Originally Posted By SgtKiwi:
Thought it may be a good point to add another... Hang in there buddy.  We're praying for you.  




If it should happen
If God calls my name
Remember my friends
Not to throw blame
For in my life
The love I have known
To each of my friends
In some way has shown
Through me you have learned
The small things most miss
Time with your wife
Or your child's gentle kiss
Your son by your side
With a hook in the water
Or a short hunting trip
With your young daughter
You see, it's not about
Your years on the Earth
It's more how you spend them
That in the end shows your worth
So carry on in life
With new hope instilled
For I now have peace
My mission fulfilled
I taught so many
Over so few of days
What life is about
In so many ways
So, again if God calls
And no longer can wait
A hug for you all
Still waits past the gate

Originally Posted By TheGunCollector:
Man, it's dusty in here.

You guys are  in my thoughts and prayers.

Originally Posted By AnvilUSMC:
More prayers sent. I've been checking this thread first thing when I wake up, throughout the day, and its the last thing I do before I set my alarm when I go to bed. We are all pulling for you and your family Jeff.

Originally Posted By edb66:
Praying  for Jeff, Reta and their family!