ADL’s are Activities of Daily Living – those things we do everyday but don’t really think about. Things like getting dressed, brushing teeth, using the bathroom, etc. Right now Mark is putting a lot of thought into each of them because they take so much air and effort. Though not currently experiencing any nausea from chemotherapy… he really needs to want to eat something to make it worth the effort.

As I left his room last night he told me that the Noosa yogurt I had brought him really hit the spot. I said that I had one more at home and he hoped that I would bring it to him, but he urged me to not go to the store because it was getting late and he wanted me home and getting rested.

So, of course, I went to the store for Noosa yogurt. I also remembered that he had wanted some orange juice. I rarely buy orange juice and when I do it is from Costco – so I had to wander for quite awhile until I finally found it. I went through that store twice. Then while at self-check I couldn’t get my act together and the machine wasn’t helping. It gave me an error on one of the yogurts and then charged it twice. Then it double rang the orange juice (or did I do that??). The clerk was helpful but I felt bad taking her time because they were so busy (I didn’t know so many people went shopping late at night).

Just as I was finishing the transaction I felt a man at my shoulder and turned to see my bishop (the leader of our congregation). There was his beautiful wife and family waiting in line behind me and he came to check and see how things were going. This totally brightened my evening. As I drove away I had the impression that this was not a coincidence, but rather that all of my trouble finding juice and with the checkout process had helped the timing to work out just right. He received a personal update on Mark and I received a personal interaction with people who care… win-win!

Today is Sunday, and just as our services drew to a close the bishop stood up to give a special announcement. Before he spoke I knew what he was going to say! He testified of the power that is available as we unite in prayer and fasting. He asked that next Sunday be set aside as a day of prayer and fasting in behalf of Mark. It was a beautiful announcement and I felt the power of his faith. Just before he spoke a friend of mine had slipped out of the meeting and when she came back she came and sat with me – it was just in time to hold on to me for a quick moment of tears.

I don’t think that I have mentioned this before, but Mark’s “ministry” during all of this has been to be the leader for the adult men in our congregation. Of course he has struggled to have the energy, but he loves the men and their families and does what he is able. During our meeting today I had looked at one of his assistants and wondered if he could possible organize the men to pray for Mark – but the Lord had something better in mind. Let’s organize the entire congregation to unite our faith.

And well you know me – I want to invite everyone to join us next Sunday to fast and pray for my dear husband. I will try to write a few updates throughout this week so that we will know specifically his needs. Right now breathing is so painful – he gets morphine every two hours for pain which helps him to relax and breathe more easily. We believe there is more fluid buildup though xRays continue to give the usual “scant” amount. If there is enough fluid after the weekend (when med teams return) they may be able to place an external drain… but oh, wait, this is a 3 day weekend for the hospital so we would have to wait until Tuesday. We keep asking for an ultrasound but apparently the weekend is just not the time to get services like this.

There is a possibility of a stent in the pulmonary artery that is being occluded by the tumor but they aren’t convinced that this is the right thing either. They are all calling Mark a “very interesting case” and a lot of very smart people are putting their heads together to figure it out – so let’s pray for those smart people – even though they won’t be back to work until Tuesday!

I need to get out the door and back to SLC but I wanted to share this story and this appeal. I know that our prayers and our pleadings will be heard and, as always, we end our pleas with Thy Will Be Done.

And a very happy Father’s Day to all of you wonderful men out there!