For me, mulligan means (thanks to google) not only stew but also a "do over", "a second chance". I am taking the word out of the realm of golf and putting it into a positive for BOB'S JOURNEY.
The last two months of 2016 were difficult for Bob and me. He really was not feeling well and his health, both physical and mental was struggling. We carried on the best we knew how with the meds, doc visits and praying. I truly was beginning to think that my Bob may be going home to Jesus sooner than we thought. The oncologist following all the blood work said things were doing well as he looked at the results. This past visit we had a list of what was happening with Bob and made it clear that we now wanted quality of life not quantity. HOWEVER. no matter what we think is happening, our God is always in control. Our Dr. wasn't surprised but by looking at the science of the blood, what was happening to Bob should not be happening. We got a God given mulligan.
We now have a new team working with us and alongside the oncologist. Our main contacts are a pharmacist, he is totally amazing----really!!!. and a nurse practitioner, she is soooo smart---really!!! We spent two long and one shorter day at Tom Baker this week. This team found us and met with us wherever we were. They report to two palliative care doctors. I don't know what happened to that other group we met at the pain clinic. Bob may have stumped them. PTL that we have who we have.
They have determined that Bob has been over medicated for pain. He takes several different drugs for different pain such as neuropathy, bone pain, etc. They have tweaked these meds as some of the chemo also covers pain, they are using all these drugs and trying to get them to work together not just all dumped on Bob. They also determined Bob has a more than average sensitivity to opiates. We have a plan--printed out---to follow for the weekend. once we see how that goes it may or may not be changed. The pharmacist will call on Mon. When we were at the hospital on Fri our new buddies could already see a change in Bob. Bob's treatment will be fluid as the plan is for him to have some radiation on a spot that is"hot" and is where there is pain. Of course with radiation will come another whole set of side affects. HOWEVER the radiation should also help with the pain. Bob will then need less drugs.
To me, the care is now in two parallel, co- joined boxes: one for chemo and cancer and one for pain management. I am pleased.
The Lord knows the length of our days. God knows all that goes on with us. Bob and I believe that His Hands are on us and Bob is not going to his eternal home today.
This prayer says it all for us, as we have trusted Jesus with our eternal soul:
Lord, when physical limitations begin to press in, I don't want to be defined by any loss of health I'm experiencing, whether it's a temporary impairment or something more permanent. I realize this body wont last forever--that it indeed is wearing out. And while I hope to be as whole as possible for as long as possible, you gave me this body, and so I will be grateful for every day of life you give me in it. When there is pain, give me the grace to endure it. When there is frustration, carry me in your patience. When there is sorrow, comfort me with reminders of my future with you. And with every physical loss, let there be a spiritual gain that outweighs it and makes it seem small in comparison.
taken from the book A Woman's Prayers from the Heart