Ben's September

It has been quite a month for my grandson, Ben.

He started a coop preschool twice a week, has a new speech therapist, and he turned three years old!

The other big event this month is that the week after his birthday party his daddy, Ron, ended up in the emergency room twice and was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital on Thursday. Ron discovered the Monday before at a doctor's appointment, that he gained 60 pounds in just 19 days. (That's not a typo - yes, it was 60 pounds). The doctor put him on a diuretic the same day and for the next two days, he couldn't keep anything down. He was admitted to a Tacoma ER on Wednesday, given fluids, blood tests and sent home. Thursday after another appointment in Puyallup, he began vomiting that was so concerning, Courtney took him to the ER at Good Samaritan where they admitted him.

According to Courtney, Ron is a mystery man when it comes to his medical issues. In the last few months, he has had just about every part of his body examined via MRI's, echocardiograms, blood tests, pokes and prods. Some major diseases were ruled out, but the weight gain still has doctors scratching their collective heads. That's a picture!

Late Saturday afternoon, Courtney was called back to the hospital. Ron was not doing very well and by this time, a number of people were praying for him. He had been sleeping almost constantly since being admitted and wasn't very responsive, even when his best buddy, Ben, came to see him. Later Saturday night, Ron seemed to wake up. Although still somewhat delirious, he was shaken when told it was Saturday; he'd lost two days of his life. He shared with Courtney that before he woke up, he thought he was dying and that he was arguing with God about why he couldn't die. And when he first awoke, he wasn't sure whether he was in Heaven or not! (I've seen his sterile hospital room. There shouldn't have been any question regarding his whereabouts... but then again, he was just waking up).


Ron is still in the hospital, perhaps for another day or two and they are still working on a diagnosis, but he's back to being himself and giving all the hospital staff and Courtney a hard time. Ben has gotten used to the fact he's visiting his daddy in the hospital and that it's okay for him not to come home with them. Very confused and sad about it the first day, Ben has been remarkably contented to visit with cousin Micah and Gracie and to stay with Nana Bonnie. Perhaps God not only answered everyone's prayers for Ron to stay with us, but he may also have reassured little Ben. Please keep the family in your prayers.