Happily Ever After

So this is it, my last blog entry. Our life was nothing more than absolutely beautiful. From our first date at Olive Garden to our final kiss goodbye at Hospice of Charleston. It was truly a love story created by God and the most beautiful thing I have ever been a part of. The wound is fresh but I find comfort in the great memories we shared in such a short time together. Time will heal the hurt and all that will be left is love. I have so many friends and family to be thankful for and I am glad you were with me on this journey. Make each day count and hug the ones you love a little tighter. You never know where the road of life may take you and there just isn't enough time for anger or cross words. I really feel so lucky and blessed to have been part of the journey with Earl. Death really can be as beautiful as birth, if you can accept that we are all leaving here at some point. He is with our God now and free. We really did live Happily Ever after and I will always keep Earl Riffle, Jr. in my heart. Love you all! Donna

The End!

Sun is still shining

The Sun is out today, as beautiful as ever! Earl is at MUSC Hospital for what seems like the 100th time. He is stable and comfortable and not in any pain. The cancer has progressed more that we really thought and now we are just holding on to each day. He has elected to be transferred to Hospice of Charleston rather than go home. He is still afraid and wants to have more constant care that being at home. We are waiting for the Doctors to get everything in order and get the transfer. Our goal is that maybe he will be there a few days and then come home for the Holidays. That is our goal and we just have to wait and see what God's plan is and accept what tomorrow brings. I will let you know when he gets there. You are welcome to come visit as I know he would love to see anyone. He is weak and tired but his spirit is strong and he still orders the nurses around here. He is in the MUSC ART tower. What a beautiful place to be in times like these. Life is precious y'all. Drink it up. Thank you all to everyone who has kept us in their prayers. I will never forget you! Peace be with you! Donna

Everyday is a gift

Every morning I wake up and before I let the worries of the day get me down, I thank God for the gift of each new day. I am thankful for my beautiful family and for another day with my wonderful husband. We had lots of company over the past week and it has truly been a blessing to both of us. Earl had a good visit at the DR yesterday and felt pretty good. He slept most of the afternoon and that is good for him. He is mostly off the oxygen now and only uses it a few times a day. He is not taking much pain medicine either. We will not be doing anymore chemo for a while, if ever. He is improving each day and that is our goal, to have some good quality of life for now, without any treatment. He is happy about that. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and having Drew home from School. I am ready to be off from work and do some cooking. We will spend some time enjoying the things that matter most, our love for each other and our family. We sit for hours watching some mindless TV and hold hands. When we go to sleep at night we spend most of the night with our hands clutched tightly together. I love him so much. And YES this cancer sucks but there is a plan in it all and I know in the end we will both have Victory in life. We are blessed in the good times and the bad. Donna

Smile!

Yesterday we met with Dr. Shirai and had a very nice visit until the fire alarm went off and the entire Holling's Cancer Centers had to be evacuated. Funny! It was sad to see all those chemo patients sitting on the sidewalk with their IVs. Anyway, Earl is feeling much better. All his labs came back good and he has decided to take a break from chemo for a while, maybe permanently. He is gaining some strength back and isn't quite ready to feel bad so soon with more chemo. We will let God work his plan and hope for the best. We had a nice day together and stopped for lunch on the way home. I think just knowing he doesn't have chemo in his near future made him feel so much better. His is greatly improving and recovering from that nasty pneumonia. I am thankful for the little improvements. We spent the evening watching the first game of the World Series, until I fell asleep~

Smile, though your heart is aching. Smile, even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by if you smile, through your fear and sorrow, Smile and maybe tomorrow, You'll see the sun come shining through...for you!

A little song I was listening to by Nat King Cole~

Donna

What if?

The past few weeks I have spent a lot of time in prayer. I have spent a lot of time remember all the good times we have had and it has been hard to see Earl so sick. He has slept a lot and I just sit and watch him. Sometimes I feel so hopeless, not knowing the fate of all this. And now I tell myself that I can't give up hope. God loves us so much and I know He wants the best for us. Hope is a beautiful thing, I can't let go of it. Not now, not ever. So, this led me to thinking, What if? What if Earl does improve? What if Earl does get that miracle that everyone is praying for? It could happen. We could look back on all this and tell everyone how he was near death and God saved him. It could happen, but it can't happen if we don't believe it can happen. So I cannot stop believing. Faith is believing without seeing.

Like David said..."Surly goodness and mercy will following me all the days of my life"

Keeping the Faith, Donna

Home Sweet Home

Earl is home from the hospital and doing better. He had a bout of pneumonia and is recovering. Doctors sent him home with oxygen and that is helping a lot. I was so afraid this time, he was so ill. We kept our faith and kept praying and God answered us. Earl has cancer, but that is not who he is. He is my wonderful Husband and Gift from God. I am so blessed to have experienced such a complete love. He makes me laugh and loves me like no one ever has. We are both stronger and better than we have ever been. Even though his body is weak and cancer is there, he is strong and full of life. I don't know what the future holds for us, but no one does. So for now, we will enjoy the beauty of today and be thankful for everything we have. People tell me all that time "Earl is so lucky to have you" but the truth is I am the Lucky one. Donna

Thrive in Peace

Hello All,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil 4:6

Earl is resting at home. We have had a turbulent week. Friday he had his colonoscopy and even though we did not get home from the hospital until 11pm, (long story) the results came back good. We had our CT scan Monday and did discover that he has fluid in this lung and the cancer is now showing up in the liver. However, the liver is still functioning fine. Not quite what we were hoping but we are not broken. He is having the fluid removed tomorrow, a simple procedure-we were told. And then we will have to change to a different chemo to see if that will slow down this cancer. Still not sure when we will start the new treatment. The "spots" of cancer that show up in the chest and liver are VERY small and that's how we hope the keep them. Our Doctors words were" you are young and healthy and you still have many more options to fight this." We hope at some point to take a break from chemo as it wears on Earl and really makes him so tired. I have to believe that the day will come. So besides this little cancer thing, we are in love, happy and enjoy each and everyday to the fullest. Hope you are too! Donna