Today at CBF's community gathering, Jack gave us an update on the pain management specialist he saw yesterday.
In typical Jack fashion, he shared the optimistic and good parts. The doctor has suggested an operation that will deaden the nerves around Jack's pancreas, and that will help lessen the pain. In the last few days, the pain's been pretty unbearable, even causing him to not be able to get sleep.
Last night, he said, the doctor had tripled his pain medication, and that allowed him the first full night's rest in a while. "If you've ever not been able to sleep, and then are given the blessing of rest, you know what a real gift that is," Jack reported.
(I will leave out the part where he said that doubling the pain medication hadn't helped, and tripling it helped a bit, though he may be in a cloud or fog and forgive him for walking around "high as a kite." I will leave that part out because it's unseemly for such a dignified upright individual to be promoting an altered state of consciousness!)
And though he said he might be in a fog, he did not appear to be at all. Still making us laugh, he did share that today special people were coming to take him to lunch. Friends from other faith groups that he was close with in Florida were flying up today to spend time with him, eat some, tell stories, and laugh alot. He expressed how touched he felt that they would take the time and effort to fly up just for this.
Expect another update from Jack himself in the next few days... or read his latest (below) from last week. Or add your own comments, observations, or wishes here.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
An update from Jack
From 20 February – an update from Jack himself! He felt a little queasy afterwards, but we’re glad he felt well enough to give us insight into what’s going on with him:
I began a regimen of chemotherapy this past Wednesday. It consists of two parts: Gemcitabine and Tarceva. The Gemcitabine is injected weekly through a port that has been inserted. The Tarceva is taken daily in oral form.
Neither is curative, but it is hoped that both will have a palliative effect in shrinking the tumor so that I can have some relief from the increasing pain, as well as giving me a few months of healthy life.
A dear friend from Singapore, Dr. Lilian Lim, president of the Asian Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, came over to spend a week with us and to bring us the love and encouragement from our Asia friends.
Next week, a Rabbi and a Catholic Priest from Florida are coming up for the day. These were dear friends and colleagues during our years in Jacksonville.
The second week in March, our church in Singapore is sending their pastor and his family to Atlanta to pay a pastoral call. Andrew was student of mine at the seminary in Singapore prior to becoming our pastor.
As you can imagine, I am overwhelmed with the expressions of love from these and others around the world. I’m attaching a picture of our family at Stephanie’s and Henry’s wedding. It was a glorious event.
I began a regimen of chemotherapy this past Wednesday. It consists of two parts: Gemcitabine and Tarceva. The Gemcitabine is injected weekly through a port that has been inserted. The Tarceva is taken daily in oral form.
Neither is curative, but it is hoped that both will have a palliative effect in shrinking the tumor so that I can have some relief from the increasing pain, as well as giving me a few months of healthy life.
A dear friend from Singapore, Dr. Lilian Lim, president of the Asian Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, came over to spend a week with us and to bring us the love and encouragement from our Asia friends.
Next week, a Rabbi and a Catholic Priest from Florida are coming up for the day. These were dear friends and colleagues during our years in Jacksonville.
The second week in March, our church in Singapore is sending their pastor and his family to Atlanta to pay a pastoral call. Andrew was student of mine at the seminary in Singapore prior to becoming our pastor.
As you can imagine, I am overwhelmed with the expressions of love from these and others around the world. I’m attaching a picture of our family at Stephanie’s and Henry’s wedding. It was a glorious event.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sign up for automatic email alerts
You can receive automatic emails that let you know whenever new content is posted on Jack Snell's 411 site.
You sign up for this "alert" service at:http://www.blogarithm.com/
Under "URL to watch" put: http://jacksnell411.blogspot.com/
then enter your email address and follow the instructions you're given next.
(You'll be asked to enter the numbers you see, to make sure you're for real. And you'll have an email sent to that account, asking you to "activate" it - again, a security measure.)
Questions? You can write the person helping Jack manage this blog - Cindy - at cindyabell@gmail.com.
You sign up for this "alert" service at:http://www.blogarithm.com/
Under "URL to watch" put: http://jacksnell411.blogspot.com/
then enter your email address and follow the instructions you're given next.
(You'll be asked to enter the numbers you see, to make sure you're for real. And you'll have an email sent to that account, asking you to "activate" it - again, a security measure.)
Questions? You can write the person helping Jack manage this blog - Cindy - at cindyabell@gmail.com.
February Getaway
Jack and Anita were blessed with some time away together in February, just the two of them. Anita said they got lots of rest, were soothed by the blue ocean out their window, took a carriage ride around Nassau, and generally enjoyed getting away and just being together.
Wedding of the Century
"Wedding of the Century!"
That's what Jack affectionately called it, when he shared this attached photo from daughter Stephanie's wedding. She was able to move the ceremony up from June, so her dad could be there in full form. You can see from the picture, he was!
(Pictured left to right: Anita, Henry, Stephanie, Jack, and son Charley.)
Their church in Jacksonville scrambled to put together a beautiful ceremony and perfect reception - in just nine days! What a gift to Jack, Anita, Stephanie and Henry!
Do you have some recollections from the wedding YOU'D like to share? Post them to "comments" below this entry. Or email me at cindyabell@gmail.com - with comments or photos or anything you'd like to add. I'm sure Jack - and the rest of us - would enjoy them.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Wednesday's Community Gathering
We were glad to get an update from Jack himself in Community Gathering in the CBF resource center this morning.
He looked happy reporting the wonderful wedding of his daughter last week in Jacksonville, praising the beloved community there who rallied to put on a fantastic celebration in just nine days.
A friend there got him into the Mayo Clinic for four days of consultations. "That's how medicine should work," said Jack, explaining how the doctors work together and share information. Tests confirmed what had been thought.
The next course will be to do some chemotherapy in a week or so. The chemo is, as Jack called it, "pallative chemo" which may reduce the size of the tumors and potentially reduce the pain.
I think he said he'll start it in two weeks.
He also shared some incredible joys awaiting him and Anita. One is the visit from Singapore of a couple of former students of his, coming to share the love from all the people there whose lives he's touched. The pastors there pooled their resources to send these representatives - I think Jack's greatly looking forward to seeing them. Also due soon for a visit is Lillian Lim, a coworker who heads the seminaries in Asia.
Better, a generous friend is whisking Jack and Anita away this weekend for a long romantic getaway... in Atlantis, Bahamas! Just what they need, some sun and a stroll on a sandy beach, a sunset and a smooch. Jack had pointed out earlier that all of us here, the CBF community, are "family" to him... thus, we're thinking he should take his "family" with him to Atlantis!!
However gracious Jack is, he just gave the famous smile but didn't offer room on the airplane. :)
He looked happy reporting the wonderful wedding of his daughter last week in Jacksonville, praising the beloved community there who rallied to put on a fantastic celebration in just nine days.
A friend there got him into the Mayo Clinic for four days of consultations. "That's how medicine should work," said Jack, explaining how the doctors work together and share information. Tests confirmed what had been thought.
The next course will be to do some chemotherapy in a week or so. The chemo is, as Jack called it, "pallative chemo" which may reduce the size of the tumors and potentially reduce the pain.
I think he said he'll start it in two weeks.
He also shared some incredible joys awaiting him and Anita. One is the visit from Singapore of a couple of former students of his, coming to share the love from all the people there whose lives he's touched. The pastors there pooled their resources to send these representatives - I think Jack's greatly looking forward to seeing them. Also due soon for a visit is Lillian Lim, a coworker who heads the seminaries in Asia.
Better, a generous friend is whisking Jack and Anita away this weekend for a long romantic getaway... in Atlantis, Bahamas! Just what they need, some sun and a stroll on a sandy beach, a sunset and a smooch. Jack had pointed out earlier that all of us here, the CBF community, are "family" to him... thus, we're thinking he should take his "family" with him to Atlantis!!
However gracious Jack is, he just gave the famous smile but didn't offer room on the airplane. :)
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