A murder mystery rounded out our evening. Shows take a particularly long time with all of the interruptions and it was quite dark by the time the murders were solved and I left the hospital. As I was packing my things I joked with Mark, “Oh great… after that show I have to go be in a parking garage by myself!”

The Huntsman parking garages are being power washed this weekend so we had to park in valet parking which is a bit of a hike and is not all indoors. So wouldn’t you know it? When I finally got there I was turned back by police officers – not a surprise since there were SIX police/security vehicles with lights flashing. I knew it!!

This gave me the opportunity to visit with two very kind elderly women who had flown in from different parts of California to visit a friend at the Huntsman. They happily shared with me a couple miracle-cure cancer stories of their friends’ until they began to get cold sitting on the cold cement. I checked with the officers who gave us the all-clear. I told them how I had just been joking with my husband about coming to the scary parking garage by myself – they were all laughing and assured me it was now “The safest place around.”

And so I have survived to pass along our latest updates.

By some miracle of my own I have been able to continue to stay at the Hope Lodge by myself. They do not book time for a caregiver on their own, so when we realized we were not going home I began to consider my plans. Someone here suggested I just ask if I could stay there – they said they would let me if there was room. I know it had been booked solid while we were there earlier and I have overheard them saying that it is booked solid for the next few weeks. But somehow my room has remained available each time I have asked. Now I know that tonight is my last change to be there and so the time has truly come to rescue Mark and take him home! The lady last night who booked me just kept saying how lucky I was – then she looked at our room history and was shocked that I had been “so fortunate” over and over. This is all without charge and such a mercy! They take donations of all kinds – cleaning supplies, paper towels, laundry detergent, etc. I have got to remember to bring them a load of something soon.

Right now our life revolves around this chest tube. Last night’s CT scan gave us some answers. The tube went through his diaphragm and then back up through it again. It ended up in the right place but no one is very pleased about those two holes in the diaphragm with concern about herniation (I guess one hole would be alright). So… poor Mark has had nothing to eat or drink as he is now on the ol’-hurry-up-and-wait while we hope to find space for you in the operating room. They will perform an exploratory laparoscopy to see about the damage and maybe put in a couple stitches. He asked me to order him food while he is in PACU – but we have both remembered that he will be eating applesauce and jello again. Oh well.

What I really want to update is just how well we are doing. My sorrow and worry have turned to peace and hope and I might even add strength. Mark remains determined and hopeful. Please don’t picture him as sickly and invalid. He is just as he was a week ago – and without that fluid on the lungs and the tumor in the leg he is feeling even better than before. At present he is vibrant and strong… and hungry. This should not be a surprise to all who are praying for us. Prayers are being answered. There can absolutely be happiness in hard times.

And the photo at the top was my lunch today – I am still ordering the roast beef and pepperjack panini because it is delicious, yet I have never again received two pickle spears… but it is better to have one pickle and no tears! Tastes better that way.

It is now 2:55 and no sign of surgery. I had predicted 3:00 and thought I was being pessimistic…