Dr. Amy

Dr. Amy Whitman, a Scripps physician and personal friend of Valerie, has been a great resource and provider of critical services in Val's home. She and I had a frank, difficult, painful debate last night. Me, the dad and engineer who can fix anything. She the competent medical professional.

I was on shaky ground.

Point one: Should Valerie have an outpatient ultrasound and paracentisis to drain ascites fluid in her abdomen? After an examination, Amy indicated that the distension is not fluid but air inhaled and not exiting the body normally. Conclusion: she probably should not. The hospice nurse will also examine her today to provide a second opinion. Argument over.

Point 2: If Val is still with us next week, should we consider an ERCP and stent change? Amy's opinion is that she wouldn't survive the procedure. She would have to be intubated and we would be right back where we were last Wednesday when we took her out of Cedars Critical Care. My opinion, the cancer has been held in check and we should give Val a chance to stay with us.

I think Amy is right. We ended our debate with this caveat. If Val's level of mental awareness returns and she chooses to go through another ERCP, we will go forward with it.

Yesterday was a good day for Val. She was up and about. Her mental awareness is improved. Julie and her mom hung out with her. Her friends Carrie and Brenda slept next to her on the couch. The catheter was removed and Val is having good bowel movements.

I heard a true story from Watchman Lee about a poor Chinese rice farmer. He was a christian. His paddy was high on a mountain in southern China. He rose at 5 am every morning and spent two hours pumping water up to his paddy. By time he climbed to the field, his neighbor below had opened the dam and drained the water into his own field. The next morning, the farmer rose at 3 am. He pumped his neighbor's paddy full and then his own. The neighbor saw Christ's servant spirit in this man and was converted to christianity.

I am so grateful for all of you who have displayed this servant spirit in ministering to Valerie's needs. You are following the example left by our Lord.

Paul described it best in his letter to the ancient church at Phillipi: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but humbled Himself and became obedient unto death."

Prayer requests:

1. That Val's mental awareness continue to improve so she is able to participate any decision regarding future ERCP's.


2. That Val's stomach distension subside.


3. That stents in Val's liver begin to flow. Val's liver is failing.


4. That infections can be held at bay. We are running out of Cipro and must decide if it is appropriate to continue.

Godspeed Beloved