Okay...

These last few days have been trying. Rick was told he has something called Charcot Foot. http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0601/p2705.html Click here if you would like to know more. In basic terms, it's a horrible infection. Because of this infection, and trying to treat it, his kidney's were getting worse.

They will be amputating his right leg from below the knee. At first, the plan was to do dialysis enough to get him stable enough to fly home. Then they would have the surgery done here. The reason they were going to do this, is because they thought they weren't going to accept his insurance.

Yesterday, they found out for sure that they do take his insurance. It would be better for him to have the surgery there. I will not be there. I work full time, so if Rick was here, I feel like I couldn't give him all the care he is going to need. His mom would come and live with us, but it's only like having 1 1/2 people helping. In Missouri, he has his mom, step mom and sister. The hospital seems to have a great rehab program.

Right now, we are just waiting to find out when the surgery will be. He had a small delay with dialysis because the port in his chest came loose.

To me, this is the second hardest thing I've been through. The first being the death of my sister in 1993. A friend wrote that I was one of the strongest women of God she's ever met. I do not feel strong right now. I feel broken. But I know God is controls. He never gives us more than we can handle.

When we first learned of Rick's prognosis, we were told 5-10 years, and hoping for the best. Now, with the foot the way it is, it has gotten so much worse. The 5-10 years, has been less than 1 year.

We are hoping for the best with the dialysis and everything that is to come. I just pray that he is safe through it all.