February 8, 2022

We are home now and still feeling a little tired from our Germany trip but not doing too bad. We went to the Temple this morning and did some banking, getting our gift money transferred to Trevor today. 

Last Tuesday I could not understand why I couldn’t make contact with Tom in the hospital and when I finally did he told me they had been doing CT scans on him and were concerned with what they were seeing, more cancer spots in pelvis area and not the reactions they had hoped from the lutetium treatments.We were broken hearted and I didn’t sleep that night. The doctors have not given up and nor will I. 

I arrived back to the hospital early the next morning to receive my covid test. They had me isolate in the third floor waiting room for two hours until they had my negative results. Tom received his covid test too and was released from his 48 hours of isolation in the afternoon and able to spend sometime with me which was wonderful. Things are just better when we can be together. We stayed in the waiting room and listened to some Come Follow Me broadcasts. I managed to receive a FaceTime call from Cindy while standing in the hall as they were driving to the airport to take Jack for his flight to Salt Lake. I was able to say goodbye to him which was great. He will spend a month there for MTC training before leaving for Africa.

 I packed up Thursday morning and paid my room bill at the hospital and then went upstairs to get Tom. He had his final scan and packed up himself before coming out to be with me. He did some hall walking and was doing great. We waited and waited for the Doctor to come in for our final meeting. He finally came with little time before our limo arrived. He is not giving up on the lutetium. He wants us to change hormone therapy, check Tom’s genetic profile, get another PSMA pet scan in two months to determine if an addition to the lutetium would be beneficial and have us return in about 2 1/2 months. He said his PSA number would probably go down. Our limo driver arrived and while Tom was finishing up with the Doctor, she and I managed to get Tom’s walker in the trunk without taking it apart. The men drivers and Tom had not accomplished that before. We had a lovely drive back to Frankfurt and the Marriott Hotel. I went to Lufthansa service counter and booked a wheelchair pickup for Tom tomorrow morning and got out seat assignments and boarding passes. We walked to dinner at the Italian Restaurant and then for groceries. Tom walked the whole way without a walker and with little pain. A miracle! Also, another miracle - the cancer spot in his shoulder has almost disappeared!

The wheelchair pickup arrived in the morning at the hotel and got us to our gate. Upon arrival in Vancouver, we were randomly selected to be covid tested at the airport. Paul picked us up and got us safely home. Dear Jean brought us dinner which was much appreciated. We got ourselves settled and did our laundry and then slept for 12 hours, waking when Trevor FaceTimed us Saturday morning. We were exhausted. Just relaxed for rest of Saturday and did our Church and family zoom meetings on Sunday. We were up early on Monday for Tom to receive blood tests and we picked up some groceries. As predicted Tom’s PSA was down but so were his white and red blood counts. 

Our life is a series of ups and downs these days but we have faith and hope and carry on just grateful to be together.

February 15, 2022

 Trevor spent the weekend with Zachary in Boise and then flew up to Bellingham to come and visit us but on our Sunday “family zoom” Cindy and Paul began to question whether we could get down to the Bellingham airport to pick him up and get back without having to have a covid test. We all looked into the current regulations and realized that we could not. We messaged Trevor who was flying thru California on route to us and phoned Tammie explaining the situation. He booked a car for Monday morning and Tammie booked the Bellingham airport hotel for him to stay at Sunday night. The car rentals shut down in the evenings so he would not be able to get one when he arrived. Upsetting but he and Tammie seemed to be alright making those adjustments and reservations. He finally arrived Monday morning after having to reroute to the Peace Arch crossing due to protests at the Pacific truck crossing regarding covid restrictions. So much commotion but we were grateful to have him finally here. We had just been working on our laundry and cleaning that day and because it was Valentines Day we ordered in Italian food for supper. Trevor went to Gold’s gym in the afternoon and we went for a walk. On Tuesday Trev went to the gym earlier and then we took him to Lulu Lemon at the mall to do some shopping for Olympic clothing for he and Tammie, to London Drugs to fill prescriptions and to the bank for an appointment. I made Chinese food and Cindy and Paul came over to visit in the evening. 

Last week before Trevor’s arrival was busy with an appointment for a zometa infusion at Doctor Vrabec’s, a phone appointment with Doctor Collingridge, eye appointment for Tom, grocery shopping, walks and correspondence with and phone calls with various individuals. On our Saturday Temple shift I had three Philippine sisters to assist in taking out their endowments. The one sister was sealed to her husband and two sons afterward.  It was a lovely experience for me and they were all so sweet. Tom finished his shift about an hour before me and rested in the car until I was done. We watched the Ward Chinese New Year zoom celebration that Jean and Cheyenne hosted Saturday night. It was very cute and well done. We continue with our zoom church meetings on Sunday and our family zoom meetings. 

Tom’s leg and back have been doing better since our time in Germany. He is not experiencing the tingling down his leg or as much pain and it seems to be centralizing more toward his back. We are hopeful about this and all of his concerns. His eye appointment showed that the eye drops have brought the pressure in his eyes down significantly, so that is good. We look for every positive we can. I love him so much and he is so good and so precious. He is the most Christlike individual I have ever known and has devoted his life to serving the Lord and loving his family and me. How blessed am I? 

February 1, 2022

 We are in the midst of our third Germany experience and once again feel we have been blessed all along the way. We finished our preparations during the first part of last week. Brother Jung told Tom to come pick up something he had for him. We dropped by while out doing errands and he had a whole bag of vitamin supplements for us in hopes of curing Tom’s ailments. People are so kind and we really do appreciate their concern and efforts on our behalf. We spend Thursday before our trips packing and prepping.

Jean had insisted on driving us to the airport as Cheyenne was off school on the Friday and they were headed out to do some kind of activity in Richmond or Vancouver. She felt that meant they could drop us off on their way. She is so good to us. The airport and our flight checkin seemed very busy with a lot of young people checking in. We later discovered that they were all German exchange students who were heading home after six months in Canada. They were nice kids and kind to us. All their families were waiting to greet them in Frankfurt when we finally arrived. Our flight was late leaving as BC Hyro power was out and they unable to fuel the plane. It seemed a little strange. When we arrived in Frankfurt the luggage was delayed in coming but our wheelchair helper managed to get us to the Marriott in time to meet our limo driver. I was even able to run to the grocery store and pick up food we would absolutely need. I picked up a sandwich for us too and then we were off - literally as our driver was moving at 190kms at times. He was very nice and we liked him but he was certainly making up time. We checked into the hospital and got the key for our guest room and our driver drove us down and helped us inside. We had arrived, tired but in one piece.

We had our sacrament meeting in the morning in our room and then we walked up to the hospital for Tom to checkin. We completed the checkin and went up to the Nuclear Medicine wing but no one seemed to be there when we rang the bell and we couldn’t understand the German message recorded so we sat in the hall where we could have WiFi connection and waited until a nurse finally arrived. She was expecting us and ushered Tom into his room. He came back after settling in and having a covid and blood test. We stayed together until he had to go in for dinner and I returned to my room. I cannot seem to connect with the WiFi in the lobby this time so that has proved to be a challenge. I have a connection only when I stand in the hall outside nuclear medicine.

I returned as soon as could on Monday morning and Tom wanted me to find Sabine in the other hospital wing. She was Tom’s first English speaking contact at the hospital and she has been away the other two times we were here. She wanted to meet us and we wanted to meet her. I found her immediately and she walked back with me to meet Tom. He was having tests but had not yet started his radioactive treatment so could come out of the sealed area and visit. She is a cute girl and younger than we had expected. She was surprised to even see me in the hospital as they are restricting people due to the virus but I seem to make it in each day and other than standing out in the hall trying get WiFi connection while nuclear medicine personnel walk by, I try to stay in a waiting room near Tom’s hallway and fly under the radar. The entrance to the hospital is not monitored in the afternoon so if I don’t make it in during the morning I could return in the afternoon. Tom received his treatment around noon and began his 48 hour isolation. I stay as long as I can and then walk back to the guest. I stop on the way and wave to Tom who stands in his third floor window and waves back at me as he monitors my short trek. I listen to audio books, eat and watch a downloaded movie and fall asleep while doing so. I repeat this same routine every night that I am alone during this process. I never quite get my sleeping adjusted.

I return in the morning as soon as I can and make contact with Tom and message the children. I buy some food at the cafeteria if needed and sit in the waiting room close to Tom’s hall and I miss him. It snowed and then melted on this Tuesday morning but walking to and fro was not a problem.

January 25, 2022

 As we have spent the last week in Germany and my WiFi connection options were very limited, I am late in writing this particular blog post and it will be abbreviated. We spent the week before leaving for Germany preparing for the journey doing banking, getting money to our daughters that we we want all the children to receive, getting meds for the trip, meeting with doctors, Tom having a bone scan and attending the Temple. Tom had been struggling with vertigo and we were praying that it would settle down for the trip as it makes him nauseous and takes a lot out of him. I hemmed Jack’s white pants for his mission and Tom’s new temple pants. We had to rethread the serger which is a challenging task and Tom managed to get that in order for me. We are trying hard to do a little outdoor walking each day to keep ourselves mobile. Heather called, Joanne called and others keep checking in on us and our well being. Toese brought us a meal. Jack continues to do his home MTC and seems to be enjoying it. We love to hear from our children and grandchildren and keep abreast of their doings. Covid restrictions and our own personal restrictions keep us from more immediate contact with them and it is hard on us. We pray for the completion of the world’s pandemic trial as we need to come together again without constant fear of virus transmission. We are grateful to Chris and Minna for bringing us more nasal spray and capsules for nasal rinses in an effort to keep us healthy on our trip into the current virus riddled world. The journey looked a little daunting at this point for numerous reasons and we were praying for sustaining heavenly help from both sides of the veil. 

January 18, 2022

 We are grateful for the people that fill our lives with most often good things but sometimes bring their concerns too. Still we are grateful and we love them. This week our nephew Mike Walker FaceTimed us along with his cute little family just to make contact. They are living in Raymond I believe and he is doing well as a realtor. Our precious granddaughter Jaydn has been having some difficulties and we have been trying to love and support her. Trevor, Tammie and Trey have been in Utah visiting the new baby and looking into having a house built for them in anticipation of their relocation there in the next few months. We have been enjoying their pictures of our new little Treyson. Trevor will be working for Intermountain Health and starting a consulting business of his own. Zach was playing hockey in Utah this weekend and able to join the family too. Cindy is back working this week after recovering from covid. Jack did his farewell talk on Sunday and we were able to FaceTime his setting apart at the Stake Center.  Oh, how we wanted to hug him. He is doing home MTC for two weeks and then will be going to the Provo MTC for a month before heading to Africa. Liza’s family are improving health wise after their covid epidemic. She still has Brendon’s sisters visiting and Ted now has covid. Larissa’s family all seem to be healthy and busy. We hear from friends and other family members regularly and we love and appreciate them too. Wonderful to have our lives full of good people.

We have had doctors’ visits this week and blood tests. We were concerned because Tom’s PSA jumped back up to 6.1 from 1.0 two weeks ago. The doctor in Germany warned that it might go up and not to worry so we are hoping that is the case. He also went to the eye doctor who told him he might have glaucoma so he was upset about that but I think it will be okay. We have gone on wee walks, did our Saturday Temple shift and done two Temple sessions. We watch our  five Come Follow Me programs each week and are doing the Self Reliance course together each Sunday. We try to stay busy and optimistic.

In preparation for our third trip to Germany next week we have decided to limit (not eliminate) our time in the Temple. The omicron variant is spreading quickly and, though it seems to be less sever, we are trying to keep Tom healthy as his immune system is compromised and we want to be able to go and to have him receive his next treatment. We are praying and we appreciate the prayers of others.

I am grateful for people who fill my life and especially grateful for Thomas Eldon Walker who fills my life with everything good.

January 11, 2021

 We had an exciting and life changing week this week because on Thursday, January 6th we became great grandparents when Justin and JayLynn had baby Treyson Tanner Walker. He is so precious and everyone is in love with him. He weighed 6lbs 7oz and has blonde hair. His mother did well and Trevor and Tammie are anxious to see him. We all are. He was induced about a week early due to a couple of concerns the doctor had for the baby and for JayLynn. Life is wonderful when a new baby comes into the family. 

Liza’s family continued with covid outbreaks until last count all of her own family except Bryson and Keaton have covid. Alissa’s family, except Patrick, and I think all of Courtney’s family were affected by the virus. Ted left to stay at his brother David’s and Brendon stayed in a hotel until he determined he had covid too and he returned home. What a time they have had. Cindy came down with covid last week too and she has kept herself isolated in her bedroom and so far is the only one in her family with it. This omicron variant seems to be running rampant and we know of people from the Temple that have been infected too. We do not want Tom to get it and we want to be healthy to make our trip back to Germany the end of January.

The Hardy family received word today that Jack’s visa for Africa had not come thru and that he would be doing MTC training for two weeks here and for four weeks at the Provo MTC rather than the MTC in Ghana, Aftrica. They are all a little disappointed but Cindy has been sick with covid and this will give her a little more time to feel prepared. He will go to his Hardy grandparents in Chilliwack for his two weeks of training here.

We have each had Doctor’s appointments. I met my new Doctor Song, who is replacing my retiring Doctor Brouwer, and we evaluated my medications and blood pressure. Tom saw Dr. Vrabec for his lupron injection. All his doctors are interested in his Germany treatments. They all wish the treatments were here. Tom also had his zometa infusion.

We received a lot of snow last week and our neighbors and the Sister Missionaries kindly kept our shovelling done. We had a difficult time getting to Abbotsford for Tom’s zometa infusion and ended up taking back roads to get out there and the freeway home. It is raining now and the roads are much better.

Jadyn had flown to Texas and driven to school at BYU Idaho with her friend Hyrum. They had two flat tires and after the last one a Good Samaritan picked them up and took them into town to get help. While they were gone their car was hit by a semi truck. We are so grateful that she was not there and that she is alright as she had wanted to wait in the car. There was snow but the roads were clear at the time.

I had a sore throat for several days last week and we made the decision to stay home from our Saturday shift at the Temple. Tom said his throat was sore too but we both seem to be doing better. I hate feeling worried about going places due to the virus concerns. The world is reeling under the strain resulting from two years of ongoing covid anxiety. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow. We are praying.

January 4, 2022

 A NEW YEAR! We are hoping and praying that it will be a happy and healthy new year. Liza ‘s family has had a rough start as they have a bit of a covid epidemic at their house. Brendon’s two sisters Alissa and Courtney are visiting for the holidays from Grand Cayman and Australia. Courtney’s husband was the first to come down with the virus, then Liza and several of the visiting children. Courtney’s family have been staying with Ted and Alissa’s family with Brendon and Liza but Liza has also had Courtney’s two girls part of the time and everyone has been socializing together. Brendon is now in a hotel trying to stay healthy for work and Ted has gone to stay at his brother David’s. What a situation they have! It appears to be the omicron variant which spreads very quickly and easily. Hopefully this variant will start to build immunity in people as it does not seem to be so deadly though highly transmissible.

We have had more snow this week and the sister missionaries and our neighbors have kindly kept us shovelled. Jean brought us some Chinese dumplings and Tom completed his Christmas Doors 1,000 piece puzzle in three days. We celebrated the New Year quietly on our own with A+W hamburgers, crab dip and other appetizers and treats. We are just not into staying up until midnight but the new year came anyway. We were only at the Temple once last week and that was for a Temple session as we had no serving times scheduled due to holidays and Brother Barrett came to do his Wednesday evening shift. He and Tom divide the Wednesday evening shifts within each month between them. Our Bellingham members are still not generally coming across the border as they have to pay to be covid tested each time. I had not planned on taking all the Christmas decorations down on New Years Day but I got started and couldn’t stop. This has been my tradition for years and in the past I would put a ham in to slowly cook while I removed remnants of Christmas but no ham for Tom and we were just on our own anyway. Trish came yesterday to cut my hair and I cut Tom’s a few days earlier. People phone us, message us and continue to do kindnesses for us every week and often everyday. Our weeks and our lives are full. We are now back to doctors’ appointments, tests and the Temple being open again. The holiday is over.

We are looking to another trip to Germany the end of this month and hoping to keep ourselves healthy for that and also while we are there. We are excitedly looking forward to our first great grandchild this week and chatted with Justin and JayLynn on Sunday. They are preparing for the baby’s induction on January 6, which is this coming Thursday. We have Jack leaving on his mission in a couple of weeks and Max getting settled in Australia and continuing to honeymoon. He needs to get a job and then they will buy a place. Lots going on in our immediate future and we feel very blessed.