12.29.07
Posted in Pastor at 11:12 am by pefconli
Sorry it has been so long since I’ve updated the blog, I’ve been a little busy, or maybe sleepy.
I am glad to say that I am feeling much better these days. I was released from UCLA on Friday the 21st of December and have been staying at the Tiverton House, a hotel for UCLA patients. I have a ways to go to get my full strength back, but I do get out and walk and try to extend my activity each day. Our kids were able to join Amy and I here at the Tiverton for Christmas and that was really nice to be together. I look forward to going home to Porterville to our home and church family. I want to thank all of you for prayers and love for our family during these days. During the hardest of days I felt so strongly God’s presence and the prayers of so many. Truly it was the strength that brought me through. God has been teaching many great lessons, one of them has been how great the love of church is. God’s people have been so kind, giving, and serving. I love all of you and look forward to our reunion.
Praise Update: Rudy was released from the hospital and allowed to come home yesterday. Please allow him a little time to recover from the trip before calling him. The drive home really wiped him out.
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12.26.07
Posted in Pastor at 10:51 am by pefconli
Talked to Rudy this morning and he said that he is feeling much better. He stated that is eneregy is beginning to return and that the sores in his mouth are healing. He also stated that his appetite is increasing and the nausea is lessening. It was great to have the family there for Christmas and he is looking forward to spending the rest of the week with them. He stated that he would try to get a personal note later today.
Tim H
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12.18.07
Posted in Pastor at 10:23 am by pefconli
Sorry it has been so long since the last update. I have been having trouble getting information as Rudy and Amy’s cell phones work sporadically at the hospital. Rudy is very sick, he is still having trouble with nausea and vomiting from the chemotherapy. He is on medication that is keeping the nausea down, but also makes him very sleepy. Rudy is sleeping 16-20 hours a day due to the meds. They tried some other nausea prevention medicine that would not make him drowsy, but, he had minor allergic reaction and so they are unable to use it.
Rudy also has many sores in his mouth and throat from the medicine and it hurts to swallow anything. He has not really eaten in awhile. Amy said that he is unable to finish a Jello cup due to the sores in his throat.
His numbers are taking a little longer to recover than average, but this is normal for Rudy. His numbers usually holds on a little longer than normal and then comes up a little slower than normal.
Please e-mail Rudy, he probably will not be able to respond, but really likes to read e-mails and see what is going our lives. Rudy’s e-mail is pastorrudy@ocsnet.net , you can also send photos this way, just try to keep the size down on the pictures so that we don’t overload his account.
Please pray that Rudy’s numbers come up, that the sores will go away and that his appetite will return and that he can start eating again. Pray for Amy as she has been driving a lot back and forth between here and LA and trying to keep up with family here and stay with Rudy down there. Please pray that God continues to give her the strength she needs. Rudy is looking forward to getting out of the hospital very soon, hopefully in the next 4-5 days. Thank you for your prayers, cards, phone calls and all the encouragement to Rudy, Amy and the children.
Tim H
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12.13.07
Posted in Pastor at 1:33 pm by pefconli
Pastor Rudy is very sick from the chemo therapy, with all the side affects. His blood count is at its lowest point in this process. Though he is on schedule for what is expected at this point in the procedure of “Stem Cell Transplant,” it is a very tough process, as he is very much experiencing the sickness and the side affects.
He really needs your prayers. Please continue to pray for his strength, protection, healing, easing of the side affects and for these good cells to reproduce lots of good ones. Continue to pray for Amy and their children too.
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12.11.07
Posted in Pastor at 2:07 pm by pefconli
Today was transplant day!! Besides getting a birthday cake (they consider it a new birth here at
UCLA) and being sung the Happy Birthday song by the nurses twice it was a pretty normal day. Be glad your not visiting today because their is a strong odor that comes from the preservative that helped preserve my Stem Cells. Amy put it well a few minutes ago when she came into the room and said, “you really stink”. Hopefully in a few days the stink will leave and I can return to my old smelly self. I am glad to be out of the nausea that I had the last few days. It would be hard to both stink and have nausea.
Today I also had a visit from Mark Rathe which was really nice. Mark was the founding pastor of the Porterville Evangelical Free Church. I am so blessed to have so many people praying for God’s healing for me. They made a big deal about a new birthday, but you know nothing compares to being born into God’s Family. Today when I was doing my walk down the hall, the song that came to my head was the simple phrase “To God Be The Glory For The Great Things He Has Done”. God is Good all the time, and all the time God is Good.
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12.04.07
Posted in Pastor at 5:38 pm by pefconli
I am on 5th day of chemo and considering how much chemo they pumped into my system, I am doing o.k..
The last few day have been a little rough as I had some major nausea. They responded with heavier doses of nausea medication which put me to sleep. I have two more days of chemo, then a day of rest, the next day I get my stem cells back and start the process of getting stronger. They say it takes about ten days from my transplant until we’ll see those stem cells start to multiply.
Again I thank you for your prayers, thanks for all the people who are at home looking after our children. We love you all very much!!
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12.02.07
Posted in Pastor at 5:20 pm by pefconli
Today is day two of chemo and all is going well. I have no real side effects to complain of. My nurse said this morning that my numbers are beginning to drop so we will see what life will be like in a week. I am on the 10th floor here at UCLA which is designated for Oncology patients (Cancer).
As I walked the hall yesterday for exercise, it was tough to see so many who are really struggling with this disease. The family members who are visiting, they look so tired as I am sure the journey has been so tough. It is good to walk and pray for them as I walk by their rooms.
Today is the big USC/UCLA game. Is it wrong of me to cheer on USC while I am here at UCLA? If I do I will do it in secret. I pray you have a great day!!
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11.30.07
Posted in Pastor at 8:22 pm by pefconli
My first day at UCLA was just about writing orders and getting base lines on my vitals. UCLA is a funny place because it has some of the best doctors in the world. But to be honest the building is dated and the furnihing and some of the equipment needs to be put out on a garage sale. Maybe I can help organize a garage sale while I am here. Amy stayed with me last night as expected, but they could night find a bed like they said they had. So Amy tried to sleep in one of their hard stiff chairs. Finally in the middle of the night she couldn’t take it any more so I made room in my hospital bed so she could get some sleep. I am not sure if I should be sharing this on the blog but I think it is a funny picture of us crammed on a 3 foot wide hospital bed.
The plan is to start chemo this morning. Amy is probably going to go home tonight so she can help Josh and Ryan with the Christmas Ball and get some sleep. She’ll be gone for the weekend, but that means I can watch football without feeling guilty. Well that’s it for today, I pray God gives you a great day.
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Posted in Pastor at 8:12 pm by pefconli
It is the day before I go to UCLA for Transplant and all is going well. Amy, the kids, and I were able to go down south and to spend time with family for Thanksgiving. We had a great time – and of course the food was great. While we were down south we were able to cram in some Christmas shopping as time is so limited. We came home earlier than usual to spend the last Sunday here at EV Free and to be in the pulpit.
We still have a few things left to do tonight before we leave – like pack. We are also planning on going out to dinner tonight with the kids after church. Partly to spend time with the kids, but also to get in my last meal before they put me on an anti bacterial diet. We appreciate all your prayers as so many have continually done so over these past months. My best intentions are to update this blog regularly while I am in the hospital. What better things do I have to do while I’ll be imprisoned in my hospital room. I pray God’s blessing upon you and your families. We serve a great God who has Kingdom purposes for all that He walks us through. Talk with you soon!!
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11.13.07
Posted in Pastor at 6:10 pm by pefconli
Rudy has been pretty sick the past several days and been in the hospital since last Thursday. His blood count went down and his temperature went up. Along with a cough, he has had different side affects from last week’s chemo treatments, and overall feeling pretty lousy. He has been doing a little better early this week and may be released by mid week. Thursday he is scheduled to go to UCLA for a PET Scan and other procedures. Please continue to pray for: his blood count to go up and remain up; and any illness to be healed; for the travels and tests at UCLA; and wisdom regarding other procedures and treatments.
Pastor Steve
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