Look Not Behind Thee

One Step Forward

Norm's treatment here in Arizona has ended. With the doctors' blessings, accounts closed and the guesthouse almost cleaned out, we are taking one more step forward....back home.

As I write this, Sam is escorting his parents back to New York. Elan, who was here in Arizona for a time to step-in for a weary Lynda, met her own Japan-based family in Idaho, and then they all flew to her parents' home, where she could make preparations for Norm and Lynda's return. Elan has enrolled her children in the local schools, taking a blizzard head-in, is figuring out authorizations, referrals, hospice, transportation, plus the daily life of a home-making mom.

Yesterday, Elan and I conversed about her immersion in strange, but ever-so-familiar new world. The ethereal-of-it-all considering what is about to take place. Mixed in the day-to-day conversations and comings and going of her children, the overwhelming deluge of phone calls and arrangements are all dancing amongst the shadowy glimmers of Norm, in his Gone Fishing hat, work pants on, boots laced ready for a dump run or in his Coast Guard sweats ready to start his morning routine of calisthenics, Fox News and scripture reading.

I told Elan that she is so immensely needed and that all of her gifts have prepared her for moments like this. I admire her sacrifice and her devotion to her parents.

Before saying good-bye, I shared this thought with her, in light of the crazy moments swirling around her, the decisions, the needs, the interruptions, the routines, the lists, the triumphs, the annoyances, the time to just be.

INTERRUPTIONS

"When you are exasperated by interruptions, try to remember that their very frequency may indicate the value of your life. Only people who are full of help and strength are burdened by other persons' needs. The interruptions which we chafe at are the credentials of our indispensability. The greatest condemnation that anybody could incur - and it is a danger to guard against - is to be so independent, so unhelpful, that nobody ever interrupts us, and we are left comfortably alone."

-Anonymous
from The Anglican Digest

A Brief Moment Together

A few days before Christmas, we bridged miles of distance, thanks to the miracles of Skype and online video conference, to connect together as a family. Norm and Lynda were together with all four of their children for the briefest of moments. Elan and Sam plus Scott (Sarai's husband) and myself (Sam's wife) were all huddled around Norm as we focused in on the computer screen and the faces of Zack and Sarai in Alaska.

Thanks to an ending semester, Scott had ten days to volunteer as an assistant to Norm and Lynda, as Norm pursued some alternative treatment here in Scottsdale to combat his aggressive and once-in-remission Stage IV Glioma. Over the holiday, Scott and Sam were the main caretakers for Norm (when he wasn't in the hospital), since he has slowly lost all physical functioning. But his spirits are always bright, you can see the sparkle in his eye and a grin of gratitude and immense love shines through him everyday.

So back to our little family moment....Seated around our dining room table, with children sqwauking online and off, we overcame delays and challenges from being Skype-novices. But after punching every button, we finally saw and heard each other clearly. Some of us were in Arizona and some in Alaska. After Sarai and Zack (and Izzy and Marin) had a chance to talk with everyone, we talked with Jessica in Colorado for a glimmer.

I think the only one not in on the Skype-fest was Aaron. But my memory is a bit cloudy, because I was trying to block out the two-year olds:

16 May 2010

Thank you again for all of your support, prayers, phone calls, visits, etc for my father, Norm. Things are getting better day by day and his strength is improving. He is so grateful for all of the wonderful friends and family that surround and support him. We are hopeful that he will continue to see improvement with each chemo treatment and that as one of Dad's great friend stated, "That the Lord's plan for Norm, jives with our own."

Thank you,

Sarai

Below is a message from Norm to everyone:

Hi,

First of all, I'm doing good. My energy is up and for the last 3 days, I have had a good 3 hours of occupational and physical therapy each day and have slept through the night. I'm very optimistic on the recovery, but it will just take time. I will have another infusion of chemo on Monday at the hospital to keep the tumor tamed down. Our intent is to after leaving this facility, is to go to Duke University which has a brain tumor research center to get their advice on treatment for this tumor. The doctor's are anticipating my release from the hospital on or around the 25th. Until then, I will remain in acute physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapy everyday. After my release from the hospital, I will continue to have occupational and physical therapy multiple times a week and chemo every two weeks. My family and I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers that have been directed our way and are sincerely grateful for the love and concern of our friends. We truly are encouraged by the progress by the progress that I am making and the availability of treatments to take care of the tumor.

Love,

Norm

6 May 2010

Hello Everyone,

First off, I want thank everyone so much for all of your wonderful e-mails and calls. We appreciate what wonderful friends my father has. Sad news from our shoreline, the tumor has returned, but there will be no more radiation or surgery, too much damage can occur. They're treating him with anti inflammatory meds, anti seizure meds and chemo every two weeks to shrink the tumor. The doctors have confirmed that the tumor will continue to come back. The doctor has told us that Dad will have to be on chemo for the rest of his life because of the type of tumor and how fast growing it is. He's doing well in PT, OT and speech therapy, remains positive and dedicated to getting better. We are considering alternatives in a couple months if there is not appreciable improvement, maybe even if. The 2-4 hr drive to NYC is grueling and Elan and I rotate with Mom every other day coming in. We wanted everyone to know that Dad just lights up whenever anyone comes and visits him. Dad would welcome any visitors, anytime. Sunday might be a wonderful day for visitors that live around NY, to come and visit him. Thank you for the continuing prayers in Norm's behalf. We need a miracle.

Much love,

Sarai Timothy

April 29th - Your Prayers are Needed for Norm

My family and I are reaching out to all of you because we need your prayers in Norm’s behalf. I am sorry to tell you that my father, Norm Edwards is back in the hospital in New York City with another brain tumor. On Thursday, April 29, 2009, he was working on his boat (not out fishing, thank goodness) and he lost mobility of his left side and started to have seizures. He immediately called my mom at pottery class, who immediately left to meet him. He hung up the phone and called out for help to his two fisherman friends Mitch and Tony, and they called the marine patrol and called 911 when they couldn’t get him out of the boat. By the time Lynda got there, the ambulance was already there and he was on oxygen. They took him to South Hampton hospital, where a CAT scan discovered swelling on the brain. The MRI distinctively showed a tumor in the spot where the original tumor from 18 months ago, showed up. They immediately transferred him back to NYC to Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University. At this point, surgery is not going to happen because there is too much of a risk of hemorrhaging. They are working with the head of Neurology and Dr. Micheal Sisti, his neurosurgeon, to decide the best route, which is looking like chemo and a new drug (don’t know the name) to help shrink the size of the tumor. He’s disoriented and he’s in a dream-like state and does not have much coordination and he’s speech is slightly slurred. On a bit of good news, the Physical Therapist is helping Dad get out of bed and stand, so that he can start working on his coordination.

We are asking you to please pray for our father and his doctors to help guide them to make the best medical decisions for Norm. He is a strong, faithful man who knows that he has more work to do on this Earth.

Miraculous Year of Recovery

Since April 14th when I stopped the radiation and chemo treatments, I have progressed rapidly in my rehabilitation, and for the next seven months, I regained my strength, energy, balance and coordination to the point of where I could once again fish my 40 foot stern trawler, Petrel, single handed. The last MRI and full body PT scan in November showed that I was free from any lingering cancer cells.

A great deal has occurred in those months, and I would like to summarize the treatments, procedures and assistance that was instrumental in both my healing and my rapid recovery, for the year has gone by rapidly.

First, I would like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for the strength, healing and guidance during the physical and chemo therapy, for He has made me stronger spiritually as well as physically. I was guided to the doctors who could treat my condition and the physical therapists who provided the therapy and exercises that helped me restore the strength and coordination on my left side. This past week, I have gone on four 2.5 to 3.5 kilometer runs and have felt good after each. It was the first time running since January 7th of this year. I keep up with my exercise program every day and have been blessed with good health.

Second, I want to thank my wife Lynda who was my logistic support, soul mate and even ship mate as I went to over eighty appointments for medical consults and treatment as well as physical therapy during those months. She made several trips with me to and from Greenport, NY where the new gallus frame, net reel , trawl door racks, railings and winches were installed. Like a true companion, she stuck by me throughout this whole period and gave me encouragement as well as kept me in line so that my fishing operations and travels were conducted safely and productively. I was so happy to give her the news on November 17th, that I was free of cancer, for it brought great relief and joy to us both! Of course, I will have to continue the monitoring of my condition for the next thirteen months with bimonthly MRIs starting in January.

Third, I want to thank my family for their prayers and support over this entire period of rehabilitation. I feel that all of our prayers have been answered and our faith in the Lord has increased as they observed consistent improvement over these months and particularly while we all gathered together for a family reunion the third weekend of August. I particularly appreciate having a family counsel with Lynda, my children, and there spouses for it gave me a true perspective of their concerns about my fishing after Zack had to return to Utah with his family. I didn't want them to worry about me out on the water by myself and for the remainder of the season, I had a shipmate with me. I especially want to thank my son Zack who helped me rebuild the Petrel's after deck and prepare its hull for launching on June 2nd. This was two months behind schedule, but we were doing it even while I was still undergoing monthly chemo treatments. Zack and I started fishing on June 24th and for the next eight weeks we fished every good weather day except Sunday. The daily catch of fluke was good so that piqued my interest to keep fishing at least until November. Zack and family returned to Utah on August 18th and he returned to fish with me for five more weeks in September and October.

Fourth, I want to thank my friends who prayed for my recovery during this whole year and the several friends who filled in as shipmates on fishing days while Zack was away . Because of their help, I was able to fish up to Thanksgiving even though the catch dropped off significantly and Fall storms went through routinely limiting the number of productive days. Rob, Brayden and Nicholas were good shipmates whenever we could get a day of fishing in. My shipmates over the course of the fishing season all helped me advance to the point where I could once again safely fish the Petrel single handed and the last days of fishing on butterfish were very productive!

This year has truly been one filled with blessings as My Incredible Journey has continued and became a Miraculous Year of Recovery. As Lynda and I celebrate the Christmas Holiday in Tokyo, Japan, we wish that all of you felt the joy that our Savior brings into our lives as our Faith in Him grows ever stronger. May He bring you peace and happiness this season and throughout the New Year. I testify to you that He lives,that He loves each one of us, and that He answers the prayers of the faithful! I share this testimony in His Holy name, Jesus Christ. Amen.