Brian Again:-
Things happened rather rapidly after the last Blog.
Lorraine's condition deteriorated rapidly since Wednesday. She passed away peacefully to be with Jesus at about 5.45 pm on Thursday 9th February
Lorraine's funeral will be held at St Johns Lutheran Church, Portland on Friday 17th February commencing at 1:30pm.
This will be the last entry in the Blog.
If you need to make future contact please text or ring on 0428 060 379
My home address is :- 23 Shirva Crescent
Portland Vic. 3305
Thursday, 9 February 2017
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
08 February 2016
08 February 2017 11:00 pm
Brian again:- Family and friends are keeping up a 24 hour vigil on Lorraine as she slowly fades from this life on Earth and into the next with Jesus in Heaven.
As I write this Lorraine lies motionless in bed with an occasional arm movement and a short vocal noise. She appears not to be suffering from any pain and does not offer any resistance when moved by the nurses.
All close siblings and children have now visited and said their goodbyes.
This may be the second last blog - the last will advise of funeral date and time.
Thank you for continuing to read and share this with friends, it has been a great tool for communicating to such a wide group of people.
God bless you all
Brian and Lorraine Pfeiffer
Brian again:- Family and friends are keeping up a 24 hour vigil on Lorraine as she slowly fades from this life on Earth and into the next with Jesus in Heaven.
As I write this Lorraine lies motionless in bed with an occasional arm movement and a short vocal noise. She appears not to be suffering from any pain and does not offer any resistance when moved by the nurses.
All close siblings and children have now visited and said their goodbyes.
This may be the second last blog - the last will advise of funeral date and time.
Thank you for continuing to read and share this with friends, it has been a great tool for communicating to such a wide group of people.
God bless you all
Brian and Lorraine Pfeiffer
Sunday, 5 February 2017
06 February 2017
Brian here again
Lorraine has deteriorated considerably since she dictated these notes.
02/02/2017
Hello from Lorraine, but dictated to Brian,
I know some of you deserve a personal response but I will
apologise now due to a lack of energy. Life is going on day by day. Weakness
gripping more of me, and lack of appetite becoming more of an issue – not
forgetting general drowsiness. I am on daily oxygen (that helps a bit)
Meanwhile much love and support comes from you and for this we are truly
grateful.”
“We are enjoying reading the travel exploits of Simon and
Caitlin with Adrian as they follow ‘Lord of the Rings’ sites around New
Zealand.”
06 February 2017
Brian says:- I am sitting in hospital beside Lorraine as I write this note. I was with her last night - she was very restless and couldn't sleep. The pain drugs she on did not appear to be working. This morning she was injected with some other drug, which had almost immediate results - she appears to be pain-free as she is very calm and appears to be sleeping.
I will try and keep updating this Blog to keep you informed. I have turned off her mobile phone, so if you need to make contact I will be available on Phone 0428 060 379
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
23rd - 25 January 2017
Brian again.
23/1/2017
Treatment in Geelong ceased on Friday and drain-tubes removed on Sunday ready for transport by ambulance back to Portland Hospital on Monday, arriving here at about 4.30pm.
25/1/2017
Back in Portland Lorraine's condition is :- Very short of breath - running on oxygen, no cancer treatment drugs being administered - we were told in Geelong that the healing required after removing the drains would not occur if Lorraine was on the cancer drugs. We have to wait till next Thursday when Lorraine will see her Oncologist to see what the next step - if any, will be. The only treatment she is getting is the oxygen and pain relief. On Tuesday we meet with the Palliative Care nurse to plan Lorraine's return to home and what home help is available.
But currently Lorraine is housed in North Ward at the hospital with the best view over Portland harbour possible.
Today Adrian left for Melbourne to start a holiday with Simon and Caitlin in New Zealand - visiting the "Lord of the Rings" sites. They are all avid fans, so should be a great trip.
Brian
23/1/2017
Treatment in Geelong ceased on Friday and drain-tubes removed on Sunday ready for transport by ambulance back to Portland Hospital on Monday, arriving here at about 4.30pm.
25/1/2017
Back in Portland Lorraine's condition is :- Very short of breath - running on oxygen, no cancer treatment drugs being administered - we were told in Geelong that the healing required after removing the drains would not occur if Lorraine was on the cancer drugs. We have to wait till next Thursday when Lorraine will see her Oncologist to see what the next step - if any, will be. The only treatment she is getting is the oxygen and pain relief. On Tuesday we meet with the Palliative Care nurse to plan Lorraine's return to home and what home help is available.
But currently Lorraine is housed in North Ward at the hospital with the best view over Portland harbour possible.
Today Adrian left for Melbourne to start a holiday with Simon and Caitlin in New Zealand - visiting the "Lord of the Rings" sites. They are all avid fans, so should be a great trip.
Brian
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
16th and 17th January 2016
Brian again:
16th January 2017
Lorraine wrote : I am very thankful for the professional care given to me while in Geelong Hospital.This includes Oncology specialists (Cancer), Thoracic Team (to sort out the lungs as I am still quite short of breath while talking or doing anything physical) and the Heart Specialist Team (as I have shown signs of Atrial Fibrillation (unsteady heartbeat). At times there have been up to 9 specialists in the room all at once.
Life has been quite busy as not only do all the specialists come but also a dietition, social worker, Infection Team, not to mention frequent visits from the ward nurses checking monitors, showering, administering drugs - intravenous and pills etc., and of course the very welcome visits from friends and rellies including Marlene, Caitlin, Jen Merrett, Nicky and Andrew Schultz and not to forget Brian.
17th January 2017
Early afternoon Lorraine had a further CT Scan and Ultrasound to positively identify where the fluid build-up was located after which two drain lines were inserted which Lorraine says are draining slowly. She has also been given a different cancer drug after being taken off the old one a couple of days ago.
Lorraine has a suspicion that she may not be kept in Geelong Hospital much longer as things appear to have settled down. Time will tell!
16th January 2017
Lorraine wrote : I am very thankful for the professional care given to me while in Geelong Hospital.This includes Oncology specialists (Cancer), Thoracic Team (to sort out the lungs as I am still quite short of breath while talking or doing anything physical) and the Heart Specialist Team (as I have shown signs of Atrial Fibrillation (unsteady heartbeat). At times there have been up to 9 specialists in the room all at once.
Life has been quite busy as not only do all the specialists come but also a dietition, social worker, Infection Team, not to mention frequent visits from the ward nurses checking monitors, showering, administering drugs - intravenous and pills etc., and of course the very welcome visits from friends and rellies including Marlene, Caitlin, Jen Merrett, Nicky and Andrew Schultz and not to forget Brian.
17th January 2017
Early afternoon Lorraine had a further CT Scan and Ultrasound to positively identify where the fluid build-up was located after which two drain lines were inserted which Lorraine says are draining slowly. She has also been given a different cancer drug after being taken off the old one a couple of days ago.
Lorraine has a suspicion that she may not be kept in Geelong Hospital much longer as things appear to have settled down. Time will tell!
Sunday, 15 January 2017
15 January 2017
Brian here:
There have been some changes since the last blog, firstly I am going to transpose some notes Lorraine wrote while in Portland Hospital on Saturday 14th January while waiting for a patient transfer vehicle to take her to Geelong Hospital.
Her notes:-"Oh the difference a day can make.
I've been disappointed over the 'slowness' of my recovery from the 'pleurodesis' over the past week or two - culminating in a few very uncomfortable and rather breathless nights.
However yesterday was the funeral for our dear friend Richard von Stanke. Richard's cancer battle lasted 16 years, including periods of remission - and there was no way Brian and I would have missed it!
So on Friday, after the funeral, off we went, following what became an unexpected teary outburst over the phone to the District Nurses - most unlike me!, to Portland Hospital A&E, where I was attached to Oxygen - ahh quite a relief, and had a further Xray and CT Scan.
It appears that the pleurodesis has not worked as well as it should have, so after a comfortable night at the hospital, I am scheduled to be transferred to Geelong Hospital today (Saturday) at 1pm.
Guess that's it for today.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Brian now - As all of you who know Lorraine personally would know she is very good at hiding her pain/feelings, but I was aware that she was not well and so was she - when she would not move out of the house - even to go to church something had to be very wrong. When asked she would always say she was feeling a bit sore, but thinks that generally since the 'pleurodesis' that things are improving.
Back to Saturday - the patient transfer vehicle did finally arrive and left for Geelong at 5:15pm. for a 4 hour trip there.
Sunday morning (today) I received a phonecall from our good friend Jen Merrett, who just happened to be in Geelong and knowing Lorraine was in hospital there visited and was able to tell me the details - including what she could overhear the team of doctors discussing Lorraine.
Apparently her heart rhythm was very fast and she had very low blood pressure, she has been stabilized by medication through the day.
I was still in Portland at this stage, but left immediately for Geelong. By the time I arrived Simon and Caitlin were there and although pale and quite weak Lorraine was much better.
Tomorrow a team of doctors will be deciding the next move.
Please keep Lorraine and myself in your prayers - they are a great help!
Special thanks to Jen Merrett and the Portland prayer team for all they have done.
Brian
There have been some changes since the last blog, firstly I am going to transpose some notes Lorraine wrote while in Portland Hospital on Saturday 14th January while waiting for a patient transfer vehicle to take her to Geelong Hospital.
Her notes:-"Oh the difference a day can make.
I've been disappointed over the 'slowness' of my recovery from the 'pleurodesis' over the past week or two - culminating in a few very uncomfortable and rather breathless nights.
However yesterday was the funeral for our dear friend Richard von Stanke. Richard's cancer battle lasted 16 years, including periods of remission - and there was no way Brian and I would have missed it!
So on Friday, after the funeral, off we went, following what became an unexpected teary outburst over the phone to the District Nurses - most unlike me!, to Portland Hospital A&E, where I was attached to Oxygen - ahh quite a relief, and had a further Xray and CT Scan.
It appears that the pleurodesis has not worked as well as it should have, so after a comfortable night at the hospital, I am scheduled to be transferred to Geelong Hospital today (Saturday) at 1pm.
Guess that's it for today.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring?"
Brian now - As all of you who know Lorraine personally would know she is very good at hiding her pain/feelings, but I was aware that she was not well and so was she - when she would not move out of the house - even to go to church something had to be very wrong. When asked she would always say she was feeling a bit sore, but thinks that generally since the 'pleurodesis' that things are improving.
Back to Saturday - the patient transfer vehicle did finally arrive and left for Geelong at 5:15pm. for a 4 hour trip there.
Sunday morning (today) I received a phonecall from our good friend Jen Merrett, who just happened to be in Geelong and knowing Lorraine was in hospital there visited and was able to tell me the details - including what she could overhear the team of doctors discussing Lorraine.
Apparently her heart rhythm was very fast and she had very low blood pressure, she has been stabilized by medication through the day.
I was still in Portland at this stage, but left immediately for Geelong. By the time I arrived Simon and Caitlin were there and although pale and quite weak Lorraine was much better.
Tomorrow a team of doctors will be deciding the next move.
Please keep Lorraine and myself in your prayers - they are a great help!
Special thanks to Jen Merrett and the Portland prayer team for all they have done.
Brian
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
5 January 2017 A New Year Begins...
It's 2017 - and that means it's exactly 2 years since I have been made aware of this cancer journey. Perhaps there's a somewhat strange sense of irony that 2 years ago I was in Geelong hospital, going through a myriad of assessments - and here I was almost to the day, two years later, back in Geelong hospital, recovering from pleurodesis surgery.
I've been home just over a week now - and I have to say that I haven't bounced back with as much gusto as I might have hoped. It's taking time for the swelling to go down and the pain to lessen in the right lung area, but at least all the draining tubes are gone and stitches are out. I've also been a bit breathless, mainly at nights, which requires a bit of propping up with extra pillows to relieve symptoms. But while progress is slow, I feel I am definitely on the improve. I'd love to be doing a bit of pruning in the garden here and there - though Brian is doing a very good job of this, and his efforts, combined with a wet year, have resulted in the garden looking downright respectable and colourful.
Fortunately I don't mind the odd game of test cricket and even the Big Bash series (as long as I remember that I need to barrack for Melbourne Stars).
I've been home just over a week now - and I have to say that I haven't bounced back with as much gusto as I might have hoped. It's taking time for the swelling to go down and the pain to lessen in the right lung area, but at least all the draining tubes are gone and stitches are out. I've also been a bit breathless, mainly at nights, which requires a bit of propping up with extra pillows to relieve symptoms. But while progress is slow, I feel I am definitely on the improve. I'd love to be doing a bit of pruning in the garden here and there - though Brian is doing a very good job of this, and his efforts, combined with a wet year, have resulted in the garden looking downright respectable and colourful.
Fortunately I don't mind the odd game of test cricket and even the Big Bash series (as long as I remember that I need to barrack for Melbourne Stars).
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| Wow, accidentally managed to have all 5 grandchildren in the one photo (well done Caitlin) |
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