A word from Anita and a new Along the Journey from Jack

Jack has posted a new Along the Journey for us and Anita has these words of update:

As usual, Jack’s week has been a roller-coaster with good and bad days.

The more difficult times seem to be gaining ground as he continues to lose weight, grow weaker and experience a constant queasiness. A low-grade fever has indicated some infection and although it has been treated with antibiotics, it still lingers.

Through it all, Jack’s spirit has not diminished and he is still wanting to care for me and the world. He continues to walk in the morning, but now is using the selection of canes that he or friends have collected from over the world. He also has found many resting spots along his short journey to collect the morning paper. He is now unable to walk in the evening and is resting more frequently throughout the day and the long nights.

He and I both send our love and gratitude for your love and faithful prayer.

Anita and

Words from Jack

There continue to be signs that I am slipping in my battle with cancer. It is beginning to rob me of more and more of the normalcies and joys of life. But I refuse to let it take away the gifts that God has graciously bestowed on me. So, I look for joy in each new day, and I count it joy when I receive correspondence from you, reminding me of the value of friendship.


Our daughter and son-in-law have unexpectedly arrived for the weekend, and already I am filled with encouragement! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. They’re the only thing sustaining me at the stage.


Here’s my latest installment of Along the Journey. It deals with God’s faithfulness, which will be a theme at my memorial service. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” will be sung at the service. But, as we await that, let me share a few words about God’s faithfulness.

-Jack

Talked to Jack

Jack gave me a call a little while ago, so I thought you'd like to hear the good word that I got to hear. (Hey, I should record him and do podcasts or audio downloads so you could hear how good he sounds! . . . hmmm. . . .!)

At any rate, he sounded very chipper! He's been being visited by a hospice nurse who is always amazed and encouraged by his continued resilience. He would like to come into the office a bit more than he's been able to, but it's rather an effort especially in this heat. He's still very much working from their home office, so sending him a note or a comment here is sure to be seen.

Jack said Anita's been delightfully diverted lately; Charley has been moving into a new place, so it gives her the artistic space to plan and decorate and paint. That, and everything that work with CBF entails (long calls to associates in China, meetings and planning sessions in the building, etc.) are very much a part of their lives right now. Anita's happily joining back in with the choir this week when they start back up.

So, as summer blazes on, so do the Snells! Below are Jack's own words in relation to his health and status - and he will work on another Along the Journey later this week or next. I'll post it as soon as it's done!

The hospice nurse visited yesterday and said my vitals are good. She said I am doing much better than any of her other patients. There are signs that I am slipping—loss of appetite, incipient queasiness which is on the verge of nausea, eroding strength and stamina, continued loss of weight, etc, etc. But I’m taking each day as it comes, grateful for the gift of life and excited about whatever future God has prepared for me. All this continues to weight heavily on Anita and our children. But they are responding in a marvelous way. Please keep them in your prayers. - Jack -

New update - and "Along the Journey" on prayer

This past week has been found me slipping some. I’ve had more “out-of-it” days than “with-it” days. The pain continues, for the most part, under control. But I have been “on the verge” of nausea. Please pray that this doesn’t return!

I’m continuing to do my work from home, but it is becoming more difficult to stay focused. However, the Ritalin is helping.


I’m continuing to have guests who are dropping by our house. While it is always a joy to see these dear friends, I’m becoming less and less able to be engaged.

Thanks for your love and concern. I’m energized by your prayers and your blessings.



Read Jack's most updated Along the Journey on prayer.

Update and a new "Along the Journey"

Update in Jack's own words:

I’m continuing to lose ground slowly in my battle. I’ve had to cut back on most of my activities — no driving, the distance of my morning and nightly walks has been cut in half, and my strength continues to erode, slowly but surely. But the pain is still under control, for the most part.

I’ve told you of the struggle to stay awake on the heavy doses of pain medications. A couple of days ago the Hospice doctor and nurse put me on Ridlin as an experiment to see if it would make more alert. I think I have noticed a change, but it just may be in my head! But I am hopeful that it will give me more clarity in my thinking and allow me to participate more completely in life.


I wish I could adequately express my appreciation to all of you for your responses on the blog, your email, cards, and prayers. These are what keep me going. It is humanly impossibly to write to each one of you, but I want to know that I read each one—several times—and they bolster my spirit.

I have worked with Anita and the children on my memorial services. One will be at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church for those in the NE Florida area; and one in Atlanta for those in the Atlanta area (Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church Newnan, and the CBF Resource Center). Stay tuned for further details!

Thanks again for your love and prayers. Both are appreciated.


Click here to go to the newest entry on Along the Journey: Dealing with Anger.

Jack has popped into the office here and there throughout the week. Of course, we here in Atlanta are lucky we get to see his face and have a hug. Here's a virtual hug, in the form of an update, from the man himself:

These past weeks have had their measure of challenges and victories.

Since Hospice withdrew the various pain medications I was on, and placed me on Methadone only, the pain has been basically under control. I’m on a massive dosage and my ability to stay awake has been hampered, but most of the time I’m able to function rather well. In meetings, if someone will sit by me and keep me awake, I am able to give pretty sound input into the discussion! Of course, I’m pretty well bruised from Anita and Grace poking me!

I’m not sleeping as soundly as I would like at night, and for the first time in several weeks, I have to take an occasional medication for break-through pain. At times I wonder if I’m slipping to another level in my battle with cancer, but the Hospice nurse tells me that my vitals are strong and she thinks I am not in the final stage yet.


One major adjustment that I’ve had to make is not driving. I can now understand why old folk have such a hard time when their driving privileges are taken from them. It is a mark of the loss of independence. But with the large dosages of pain killers I’m taking, I would be a danger on the road—to self and others.


I’m enjoying visiting with family and friends, although it is taxing. My brother and sister and their spouses were here for the weekend. Anita’s family has also dropped by for a visit. Today, I have friends from Singapore, Thailand, and New York who are stopping by for brief visits. I’ve been reminded again how much family and friends mean to me!

- Jack

Read Jack's latest Along the Journey, posted today. Click here or go to http://alongthejourneywithjack.blogspot.com/.

Update from Jack

Monday, July 16, 2007

It’s been awhile since I gave you my personal update. Thanks to Cindy for keeping you updated during this time.


God has been good to me over the past few weeks. It was four weeks ago that I was admitted to the Hospice in-patient facility, terribly ill with pain and nausea. The Hospice doctor told Anita that in her opinion I had a week -a-half to two weeks of life left. She said that Anita should call the children. She did and Stephanie immediately caught a flight to Atlanta.

But I surprised them all. I had set as a goal attending the General Assembly in Washington and then getting away for a family vacation. Hospice was very supportive in helping me realize these goals, although I don’t think they thought they were realistic!


You know the rest of the story. With the help of numerous people, the use of a “scooter” to get from building to building, I participated in the commissioning service and several other meetings, and was able to greet hundreds of dear friends. Stephanie served as chief guard and nurse and I was able to participate rather fully in the Assembly.

And then, thanks to the generosity of a dear friend from Hendricks Avenue Baptist, we were flown in a private jet to Hilton Head Island where we enjoyed a family vacation in this family’s beach house. Stephanie and Charley were able to be with us during several days of our time there. What a joy!

Throughout this time, I was able to keep the pain under control and to find joy in each day. I am taking a massive dose of Methadone to control the pain. The result is that though the pain is being managed, my alertness level is severely limited. I’m able to stay awake only a few minutes, and then I fall asleep! But those who know me know that it’s not personal!

Each passing day is a reminder that my time is limited. I have always given thanks for each new day, but now that word of thanksgiving is wrought with greater significance. I invite you to join me in thanking God for each new day of existence.

Just a quick update - the family did make it to the beach, and are continuing to enjoy it.

Jack sounded good when I talked to him. He had been up a couple mornings to see the sunrise, is sleeping well, and is looking forward to the kids coming back in the next couple of days to join him and Anita at the beach.

Jack Is Back!

Jack and family made is safely back last weekend from Washington and the General Assembly he described as "everything I had hoped for."

He was able to go to meetings that were, as he said, beneficial for him as well as ones he hoped his presence would add value to for others. Those of you who were there saw him on the big screens, on the big stage, offering beautiful words and prayer for the newest batch of missions personnel during the commissioning ceremony. I'm sure you were as moved as I was, as he and Grace Powell Freeman led us all in a litany of prayer to send them on their mission.

No casualties resulted from his scooter-driving. It was greatly appreciated, as it allowed him to save his strength for things that were more important. His daughter Stephanie was by his side as an "excellent nurse and caretaker" to make sure he did not overdo it and that he had all he needed.

He got to see people he had hoped and longed to see, and was delighted by touching base with others he had not counted on seeing. That communion of saints was no doubt encouraging and hopeful for him, as he says, he had a "great experience" and is grateful for all the people who helped make it possible for him to make it there.

One of the precious memories that the Snells have is the family “beach week” vacation taken every year while the children were growing up. Thanks to the generosity of a dear family at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville (the same family, by the way, that enabled Stephanie and Charley to spend Christmas in Singapore each year while their parents were stationed there), they are planning on spending a few days at Hilton Head Island. They will be staying in the beach house of this gracious family. Join me in praying that Jack’s strength continues so that he’s able to enjoy this family tradition.

Please feel free to share your own prayers below, and words to Anita and Jack. As soon as I have any pictures of his from General Assembly, I'll either post them or provide a link to them on the CBF site.

- Cindy

General Assembly

Yay! Jack's made it safely and well, here to our nation's capitol.

He and Anita checked in a little while ago, and felt well enough to walk to dinner. He's bound to have to make up for all that effort tomorrow, with hopes of being in good condition to see all of you on Wednesday.

He's been given a scooter, so that he can conserve energy between the hotels and the confvention center. So if you see someone speeding along, my advice is to get out of the way. Anita has told him to think of it as his motorcycle, with just one extra wheel, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad one. His practice session with Ged in the hall this evening almost wiped out a couple of librarians here for the librarian convention.

I asked him who he's especially looking forward to seeing, and once the list hit about 300 names, I steered him to another topic. He really does consider himself blessed to be a part of this family reunion and gathering of Baptists. He spent a good bit of time telling me all about the very first commissioning of field personnel, something that always means so much to him. I am so thrilled, as I know you are, that he gets to be here for this one.

He looks so forward every day to the emails you send him, to the comments posted in the blog, to the cards and letters he's received, getting back in touch with some of you after so long and hearing updates from so many of you whose lives have crossed his over the years. And is excited about getting to see you in person now.

Thank you for the prayers and the grace that's gotten us here thus far . . .

- Cindy

Jack is home

Just a quick update - Jack did make it home yesterday!
- Cindy

Father's Day Update

(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
__________________
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

Home at last!!

We have just arrived home from a successful stay at St. Joseph’s Hospital. I’m feeling relatively well and the new pain regimen seems to be holding things in check thus far. We had a long meeting with the doctors this morning. The procedure that they used yesterday (once again to attempt to kill the nerves) seems to be working much better.

The Radiology and Anesthesiology (Pain Management) departments worked together creatively on my case. The doctor who was scheduled to do the procedure had heard of another procedure that is seldom used but offers much more accuracy and he wanted to try it. In fact, he doesn’t even do this procedure himself but got another doctor who had more experience to play the lead role. It looks like the first effort at killing the nerves many weeks ago was thwarted by some scar tissue and the alcohol never got to the proper place. By using the CT scan he was able to adjust the needles and got a good spread to the proper places so that it alleviates much of the pain in that area.


I am now officially entered into care with Hospice Atlanta and everything is in order. My care will be covered by Medicare Part A in which everyone over 65 is automatically enrolled. The home health nurse will come by this afternoon to assess any needs and will take over all pain management. It will be good to have only one team and it gives me great comfort because now, anytime day or night, I will have someone I can call if I get in trouble with pain or with other issues.


We were blessed throughout our stay by the excellent care at St. Joseph’s. I was even able to get some work done with their great wireless internet cafe.

It is good to be Home!



Thanks for your support and concern.

Good outcome!

Stephanie reports:

Hello from Stephanie -
I'm in the hospital with Dad right now, and am happy to report that his surgery today went very well. The doctors were able to use a better procedure than the last one used (the prior nerve block), and it looks as though this might provide some much needed relief.
They used a CT scan that gave them a much more accurate view and the doctors said that it was a great success. Also, we got some good news about Hospice and getting the services and people we will need, so we are happy about that. Charley, Mom, and I are all here with Dad and enjoying being together.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

When Grace left the hospital a little while ago, Charley, Stephanie and Anita were all there having supper with Jack - who actually had an appetite! Charley described him as "chipper." And says that, though he'll have some pain from the procedure that was just done, he was already feeling the good effects from the nerve block with relief from pain.

Good signs

Word from Anita - and from Jack too - today is that he'll spend another day at St. Joseph's. Tomorrow (Wed) they'll do another nerve block on him, I think on another nerve bundle this time, with hopes that that will free him up from the pain enough to be discharged.

I heard that he was participating on a conference call today and is thinking he'll have Internet access this afternoon - all of which are good signs. Let's hope for even more! - Cindy

Prayer - Pain Relief

Not alot of news, but I did want to pass along that Jack is in St. Joseph's today. He went in late Sunday night. They're treating him for the pain and for some swelling. As soon as I know more, I'll update this blog.

I'm sure he and Anita both want prayers for strength and guidance - as well as relief from the pain.

- Cindy

Words from a husband on his anniversary

Jack's having a better day today (Saturday) than he's had in the last few. It may be in part because the medicines are beginning to get stabilized. Or that his children are in town for the weekend. Or that he's just in the mood to celebrate - it is his and Anita's 44th anniversary!

He's let us all in to glimpse that celebration of marriage, with his own words: Click here to read them or go to http://alongthejourneywithjack.blogspot.com.

Happy Anniversary, Anita and Jack!

Update -- in Jack's own words

Dear Friends:

I have struggled this week with changing pain medications. Last week the pain management folk decided to switch me from Oxycontin to an analgesic patch. But for a while they want to use both the Oxycontin and the patch in order to wean me away from the Oxycontin. That’s been harder than I imagined. In fact, I think I have been over-medicated during this process. The result has been shortness of breath, feelings of faintness and weakness, and difficulty sleeping. Apparently my body has experienced some degree of addiction and that’s what we’re currently addressing. The challenge is to wean me off a portion of the medication without experiencing a great increase in pain.

The surgical procedure from last week (insertion of stent to clear the blockage of the common duct) seems to be working well. The doctor indicated, after the fact, that had this not worked, we would have been in real trouble. Thanks for your prayers during this critical time.



We met with the oncologist on Wednesday to inform him that we were not going to try other treatments. He could not have been kinder. He and I have bonded from day one and he is greatly distressed that his treatment (chemotherapy) has not been effective. He mentioned a couple of other options, none of which offer any real hope, but then quickly agreed that our decision to withhold further treatment was probably a wise decision. He assured me that if any radical new and promising treatment comes across his desk, he will get in touch with me.

We talked with Hospice about assuming responsibility for our care from here on out. I have been involved with the Hospice movement for two decades, having served on the Board in Jacksonville. I am a strong proponent of their ministry. The fly in the ointment, once again, involves insurance. They have denied my request to use Hospice Atlanta and instead want me to use a for-profit provider that they recommend. That’s not what we want to do, so we have appealed.



Our daughter, Stephanie, and son-in-law, Henry, are driving up from Jacksonville today and will be with us for the weekend. I can’t tell you how excited I am!
And our son, Charley, has completed his Emory University Singers concert tour in Italy and he is now in Kenya, working for ten days in an orphanage. He’s having a great experience teaching music there, and we look forward to having him home in a week!

Memorial Day Update

(From Jack)

I’m happy to report that we are back home from the hospital. What we thought would be a day or two of hospitalization turned into a five-day stay. In fact, when we went to the doctor’s office, we had no idea I would be sent to the hospital. For those of you who like the full picture, here it is! For others, the bottom line is that I’m home, feeling much better, and filled with happiness for the gift of another day of life! Now, you can delete the rest!

Since our return from M.D. Anderson, my pain and nausea levels have risen, pretty dramatically. Last Wednesday night I was up all night, fighting both. A new kind of pain was present. Anita and I decided that the pain was primarily from the growth of the tumor (pressing on other organs) and perhaps some blockage. We had been warned that one of the things we needed to be alert to was the occlusion of the major bile duct.

After a brief visit with the doctor, he sent me to the emergency room at Saint Joseph’s hospital. I remained in emergency from mid-afternoon, Thursday, until nearly 11 p.m. before I was moved to a room. However, they were able to ease the pain and the nausea.

After a series of tests on Friday, the doctor concluded that the common bile duct was blocked causing the gall bladder to be greatly distended. The bilirubin count was extremely elevated almost to the point of sepsis. The doctor said the preferred treatment was to open the blockage through the placement of a stint in this duct, but because of the size and location of the tumor, this might not be a possibility. This would mean that a drain with an external bag would be installed. He said that I would then have to deal with the bag until the end, thus the preferred route would be the stint. So, we went into surgery, uncertain about the outcome.

The procedure was done under sedation, but I was not “put to sleep.” They used a long needle/catheter and went in through the liver, through the common hepatic bile duct, all the way to the small intestine. The doctor was able to insert a stint and open up the entire common bile duct, all the way from the liver, the gall bladder, the pancreas, to the small intestine.

The pain management folk have altered the regimen for pain control, including using a “patch” as well as other goodies including a medicated lollipop. All of my doctors have told me that their main goal is to keep me as pain-free (and nausea-free) as possible, and I join them in this quest!

I don’t think I realized, until the last few hours, the severity of my condition over the past few days. With the blockage of the bile duct, the greatest danger was that sepsis would set-in and I would be hard-pressed to fight it off.

Once again, your prayers have made a huge difference in my struggle. I rejoice in your friendship, celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of God, and look forward to the wonderful future that is unfolding!

Sunday Update

I talked with Jack on the phone and he says the stint is working well. He's staying in the hospital for another day or two while they get the pain and nausea under control and guard against infection.
- Karyn Hurry