(Scroll down for Wednesday update, below.)
The past few days have been another roller coaster ride for us.
Last week was a good one with many more good days than bad. The new pain regime seemed to be working. Our children were with us for Father’s Day. We thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company as we reminisced, as we laughed and cried!
We were even able to attend church together for Father’s Day on Sunday.
We made dozens of pictures. . . What a good looking family!
Things started downhill Sunday afternoon and evening. The pain has intensified; the nausea began. By late Sunday night, both the pain and nausea were out of control. Nothing helped. The on-call doctor at Hospice directed our efforts through the night and sent a nurse out about 7 am. But still there was little relief. If felt I was at death’s door, so plans were made to check me into hospice’s inpatient facility.
We have been treated royally and the pain regime has been totally revamped. I’m finally feeling better and my vitals are stable. Whereas I was on several kinds of pain medication, Hospice has put me primarily Methadone. Adjusting this is a carefully timed process and that’s why were’ still here in the inpatient facility.
I hope to be home in another day or two, getting ready to celebrate General Assembly. Yes, I haven’t given up my plans to be in Washington next week for CBF’s annual gathering. I am scheduled to speak commissioning our new missionaries, and I genuinely look forward to that. In addition, if I’m able to attend, it will give me time to reach some closure with some folks whose lives have touched mine in significant ways. So please pray I’ll be up for the trip.
I’m attaching another version of Along the Journey, growing out of Father’s Day. Click here to read it.
- Jack
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WEDNESDAY:
I just talked to Anita to see if Jack's made it home yet. They want to regulate the amounts of the methadone first, for 72 hours, before they'll cut him loose. They're thinking if it's regulated correctly, he may be released tomorrow.
Anita told me he's been eating some, and so anything he thinks he craves, they've been making for him. He's been hankering for things he had growing up - like hominy! Who craves hominy!? But she's been cooking for him anything he thinks he would like to have. She even had to go buy an ice tray so she could freeze Kool-Aid. (Not to editorialize, but I'm thinking that's not from his childhood, but from his kids'!) The kids are with him tonight and Anita too - I guess they can all enjoy hominy and frozen Kool-Aid together! Maybe our prayers should include not getting a tummy ache!
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement - the family was reading the comments on the website when I called.
On another note, I think Blogspot was having some issues yesterday and today, some of you couldn't access the site. And in fact, I couldn't access it from one of my computers either. Hopefully it's getting worked out - but please feel free to email me if you're getting the update notices but can't access the site itself. We may have to make a switch if this continues.
But, for now, I'll update this as soon as I know they've gotten the meds worked out. And we'll keep an eye on the working/not working of this site. Thanks for your input and always, for your prayers and words of encouragement. - Cindy
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26 comments:
Nothing would make all of us happier than to see and hear you commission more missionaries at the CBF meeting. Wow! Just the thought that might happen thrills my soul. I wll pray to that end.
Much love from James and Carolyn Hale Cubbedge
6/19/07
It has been my prayer all along that I would see and be with you again at the CBF Assembly. I continue to pray to that end.
Peace!
Joe McDade
Jack, This blog has been an enormous blessing to me and I want to thank you for writing it. I have read every word and gained new insights into the human soul. The comments others have made are a testament to the way people feel about you and Anita, Stephanie, Henry and Charley. I have never seen anything quite like it. With love, david yeaman,
Love and hugs from your HAB family!
Sheryl
Jack,
Your writings are a blessing. Little Ches thinks I am a superhero.(He also thinks he can fly) We continue to pray for you. Stay strong.
Ches
Jack, Jack, Jack! I love you! Julie Mason
You never cease to amaze me! Your faith, commitment, courage, and perseverance leave me speechless and in awe. I am so glad that you and your family have had quality time together to reminisce and to reaffirm your love and appreciation for one another. What a gift! I will continue to pray for all of you. Love always, Judy Baggett
You're one of my top three heros also. Stephanie has good tastes!
love, Miss Dixie
Listen!
Can you hear the chorus all over the world singing The Doxology?
We are so grateful for the good days and sad when they are not so good. Your ministry and your life have blssed untold numbers of people around the world and we thank God daily for your sensitive writing of your experiences.
How blessed we are at HAB to have watched your example of what a Christian life should be! We have so many good memories of times, places and events. Thanks to all of the Snell family -- you, Anita, Stephanie and Charley for what you mean to all of us -- and to Baptist life in general. You are special!
Our love and prayers,
Don & Betty
Jack,
Get better soon...see you next week when we sing and dance our way through the Assembly.
It's not midnight, but you're still in my thoughts and prayers!
Midnight Rider
Dr. Snell,
Happy Father's Day! Stephanie and Charley are very blessed to have you as their father. I will pray for all of you to have continued strength during this difficult but very precious time.
I love you,
Julie (Seale) Brown
Dear Jack:
What a wonderful surprise and a blessing to see you in church Sunday with Stephanie and Henry and that precious Anita, with Charley in the choir looking on!!! I'm so sorry the ending of your Sunday was so terrible, but I'm very thankful for hospice and the care they can give you.
I join you in praying that God will grant your desire to go to DC for Assembly and be able to commission those missionaries that mean so much to you and Anita. You've selfless poured so many years of your lives into their ministries and it's only appropriate for you to send them off!!
Praying for healing and no pain,
Judy Burge
Jack,
Here's hoping the best for your getting to Washington & CBF, to send off other young folks, so they can carry the mantle you and Anita have borne so well. My prayers go with you.
Joel Hitt
My most sincere thanks for all you've meant to me and my family, and my prayers and best wishes for you continue, now and always....You are a dear man and are frankly something of a hero to me, sort of like Hercules! I've known very few people i thought more highly of....I wish i knew some better way to tell you goodbye, but i don't - i am, however, thankful i have the opportunity....all my love, Phil Brown
Dr. Jack,
I have read and re-read your recent blogs and your writings for Father's Day and on marriage. They reach the depths of my heart as you express your love for Anita and your family.
As you face this challenge, I must express my gratitude for the loving way you welcomed Erik and me to HAB when we needed love and acceptance the most. I will cherish those times forever.
I am also grateful for the email you sent me when you and Anita were serving as missionaries. Stephanie is not only a gift to Greenwood, she is truly a gift to all children. We are so thankful for the blessing she is to us.
May God grant you the strength to attend the General Assembly and the ability to remain as comfortable as possible.
With much love and gratitude,
Beverly DeVriendt Connell
Dear Jack and Family,
Thank you for your inspirational words. We all pray that you will be able to make the trip to D.C.
Florence Camp Allen and Family
Jack--There is not a day that goes by that the two of us do not think of you two. Our deepest love and prayers are with you always.....Jay and Deanie
Dr. Snell, Mrs. Snell, Stephanie and Charley,
I have been blessed to be one of the fortunate ones to grow up with the Snells. It has been almost 8 years ago since my other father figure gave us his blessing at our wedding. Now the time has come to introduce our son to church. Many times the comment of "Nothing compares to Dr. Snell's sermons" have been made. Not only are you a hero to many, you are a legend in many stories that will be told. You are one of the many talented story tellers that have lived. Many thoughts, prayers and much love to you and your family from me and my entire family.
Love, Susan Chun
Jack,
I sent a lenghtly comment 6/20, but could not get the blog to accept it. If this goes through, I will try again.
Berrylin
Great to hear the news today that you are planning to go to Washington! Praying for a safe journey for you and the family.
Update from Stephanie:
We're home! It's Thursday afternoon,and Dad convinced the doctors and nurses at Hospice Atlanta not only to let him go home, but a day early. When he told them of his goal to go to Washington for the General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, they all agreed that having such a goal was the most important thing for him right now, and gave him to go ahead! Of course, we have to make it through the weekend to see if that's possible, but it is keeping us all going right now. I also would like to comment on the unbelievable care and compassion given by Hopspice Atlanta. They made us feel comforted and secure and, if we need to return,we are convinced that there is no better place to be! They have even put us in touch with Hospice in Washington. Lastly, due the circumstances, neither Mom nor Dad have been able to answer every phone call or check and return messages. Please know that we are grateful for your concern, and please do not be offended by lack of response.
Thanks,
Stephanie
Jack, Connie and I continue to remmeber you and your family in our prayers. . .thank you for sharing your life and thank you for "counting it all JOY!" Lee and Connie
Jack,
You are teaching how to live in the "now" and how to view eternity. Thank you for this "journey" and for inviting us to be a part of CBF Global Missions.
Gratefully,
Doug & Becky Shenton
Jack and Anita, we had hominy at our house every time you ate with us, remember??!!
Love you like a rock!
Julie and Bill Mason
Jack,
You and Anita know how Dianne and I feel about you both. You are both so special to not only us but everyone you have ever met. I do not believe there is a couple or family anywhere who has the love and respect of evryone who knows them as you do.
We remember fondly all of the times that we have been able to see each other. Most of all, the laughter. Your spirit of and zest for life will be a part of all of us and we will do our best to carry that as you would even though we know we will fall short.
We love you and appreciate the blog so much so that we can be a part of all of this. May God continue to bless you and your family. We love you brother!
Doug Aiken
Dear Jack,
We are praying that you will be able to go to the CBF meeting. What a special time that will be. So many people love you and have been inspired by your ministry.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us. You continue to be such an example of God's love and power in our lives.
AS I read your messages I can "hear" your voice, and I am reminded of many words of wisdom, kindness, concern, HUMOR, that I've heard from you over the years. You are definitely one of the most special people I've known. As I read I am inspired, weepy, many emotions, but the most prevailing of them all is gratitude for the privilege of having the entire Snell family in our lives. Good ole' TBA!, as Anita says.
I pray that the CBF will be a time of joy and celebration, and that you will be physically comfortable and spiritually and emotionally wrapped in love.
We love you and pray to the ONE who holds you in the palm of HIs hand.
LOVE,
Brenda
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