E and I are just back from Penn. After a long sit in the ER waiting room, we were finally seen by an ER physician, who ordered some tests and conferred with the folks in oncology. They took blood for labs and tested Dad's coordination. They hope to get Dad in for an MRI tomorrow, to look for signs of the myeloma further up his spine and in his brain. For the past couple of days Dad has been exhibiting symptoms suggesting that the myeloma is advancing--extreme fatigue, disorientation, slurred speech, and trembling hands, as well as lack of appetite, gagging and difficulty swallowing.

When we left Dad was about to be placed in a room, though not in the oncology ward as we had hoped. Please pray that he will be transferred there, where "his" doctors and nurses are, as soon as possible, and that he would get a room where Mom can stay with him comfortably. She is spending the night with him tonight...accommodations dubious. Pray for her as well, as she assumes the bulk of the burden of caring for Dad and sees to it that he gets the treatment he needs and that he doesn't get lost in the swamp of red tape that is the hospital system.

The kids are having breakfast together tomorrow, and may all go see him later in the day. Pray that we would have wisdom and sensitivity as we try to minister to both of our parents, and that we would find a way to bless and encourage them as we remember these past 25 years together.