August 21st, 2006, From Nathan

Dear friends,

Thank you for your tremendous outpouring of love and support in these difficult days.  Lynette's situation has stabilized slightly since I last wrote.  We realized on Friday evening that her dramatic decline was exacerbated by rising levels of pain medication in her blood.  Her failing liver was not removing the medication from the bloodstream effectively and we were continuing to give her normal doses.  We dramatically reduced her medication and she was much more alert on Saturday morning and able to make significant progress on some of the letters which she wished to write for the children.  About noon she began to have a terrible itchiness across most of her body which made it impossible for her to sleep or sit comfortably.  We initially thought that this was another common symptom of liver failure which is very difficult to treat.  Late Saturday evening a hospice doctor from the United States who has helped us a great deal on this journey called to see how Lynette was doing.  He suggested that the itchiness might be a withdrawal symptom from her pain medication.  Thank God the itching went away very quickly after we restarted the pain medication.  We are now working to find the balance, giving her as little medication as possible so that we do not make her excessively sleepy and further compromise the liver but enough to prevent withdrawal symptoms and pain. 

Though the itching is gone Lynette is still finding it difficult to get comfortable.  This is primarily because of fluid buildup in her body which has filled her abdomen causing her to look and feel seven months pregnant.  She also has difficulty lying on her back because of the cancer in her spine.  We are very blessed by friends in the states who had a contact in Albania that owned a recliner (these are normally not available here).  This chair was delivered to our home this evening; hopefully it will help Lynette find a comfortable way to sit.

It now looks like Lynette will probably survive long enough to greet her family and friends who are coming this week.  She is making slow but steady progress on her letters and picture books for the children.  Pray that she will have clarity of thought for this process.  She is working with one of our fellow missionaries who is writing for her.  This is a real struggle because she wants to pour all her creativity and love into these projects but clear sustained thought is now very difficult.

We have been very blessed by the community of love around us in Albania .  Each day many people stop by to express their love and help in any way they can.  They have provided food, taking care of the children, answering the door, answering the phone and anything else I have asked.  This leaves me free to sit by Lynette's bed and focus on her.  These days and hours together are a great joy to us as we savor the love which has grown between us over the years.  It is truly a blessing that God has left her with us a little while longer.  Through your prayers and notes you are also part of this community of love.  Lynette has so enjoyed each of your messages that I have read to her.  Please forgive me for not responding individually to your expressions of love.