3/31 8pm

Rich is at the apartment with Peg. He is now a hospice patient.
The address there is:
1912 Madras St. SE
Salem, OR. 97306

(you can still send stuff to my house (Rachael) and I'll make sure he get it)

Update from Rich and Peg

Maybe Rachael or Jake could put this in the right place........I (peg) just had to share this with all of you. Rich is very depressed and nearly giving up....he asked me to read the 88th Psalm. Here it what is says......and please pray.

Psalm 88 (New International Version)Psalm 88A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. 1[a] [b] O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. 2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. [c] 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength. 5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah 8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; 9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction [d] ? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. 14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? 15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair. 16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. 17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. 18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.Footnotes:Psalm 88:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term Psalm 88:1 Title: Possibly a tune, "The Suffering of Affliction" Psalm 88:3 Hebrew Sheol Psalm 88:11 Hebrew Abaddon

Update

This is Jacob, wanting to fill you all in. My dad is NOT having the surgery after all this morning. I guess there was some mix up. Please pray for my mom because she did get the virus that was rampant at the nursing home. She is VERY sick and probably needs to see a doctor herself. We are looking further into the hospice options this morning. We just want my dad to be comfortable and at home. No more hospitals, no more nursing homes. So, we are looking into how we can afford hospice and home health care for him. Right now that means probably bringing him back to Salem, where they had been living (about an hour south of Portland, where my sister Rachael lives with her family) and there may be a future conversation about bringing him back to Michigan. His comfort and happiness are the most important things for us right now, more than preparing him for any future surgery, which has just made him miserable.

Thanks for the love and prayers. We feel them!

3/26 1:40pm

Seriously, can't Rich and Peg catch a break? Rich was discharged from the hospital a little bit ago and awaiting medical transport back to WestHills Rehab center and was then told that the nursing home won't take him back because they are having a norovirus outbreak and he needs to find a new care facility!?!

Any millionare friends and family out there that want to help pay for home care for Rich? This is just another huge bump in the road and I'm not sure how many more bumps we can take.

3/25 9:33pm

Just got back from seeing Rich at the hospital. His potassium is back within normal limits. He had some progress with his bowels. Still in the ER observation unit. If the night goes well, may be discharged tomorrow.

3/25 8:02am

Rich has an obstructed bowel. It is quite serious. Rich is still in the E.R. and is going to be admitted to the E.R. observation unit. The doctors are trying to get his bowels working and he is on an IV and a large amount of anti-nausea medication. He is absolutely miserable and this is almost more than he or Peg can bear right now. Yesterday physical therapists had him sitting on the side of the bed and then this happens...he just cannot catch a break. Neurosurgery has also been down to the ER to check on him. I'll keep the blog updated as I learn more.

**UPDATE @ 9:19am: Peg just called me and said that Rich's bloodwork came back with very high levels of potassium. I believe this is called hyperkalemia and is really serious. The doctors are very concerned and are running more tests.

3/24 8:11pm

Rich is really sick right now. I don't know all the details, but he is very sick to his stomach and in quite a bit of pain. Please pray for him.
Peace
Rachael

UPDATE: 10:40pm
Rich and Peg are on their way to the E.R. He is having some serious bowel issues.

3/21 9:14pm

In order to appreciate the anticipated miracles, we need you to understand the reality of Rich's physical and emotional challenges.

First, The pallidotomy surgery itself was successful in reducing the dyskinesias (movements) and relaxing Rich's very painful cramping. It also improved the effectiveness of his Parkinsons drugs.
Unfortunately Rich has had some negative (hopefully temporary) side effects from the surgery as well. A second MRI done post surgery revealed some significant swelling of his midbrain which has caused him to be quadriplegic (he does have sensation but no movement). Surgeons said it will take 2-3 weeks to possibly regain use. He is currently at West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Portland recovering and regaining strength for the upcoming spine surgery. The surgery is planned but not scheduled. The spine surgeon wants Rich to be stronger before he can undergo another massive surgery.

The following is from Rich spoken to me, Rachael, at his bedside. I have transcribed it exactly as he said it.

"Note how verbose this writing is as evidence it is my own words. The following is for people who can bear with understanding the hard facts of my situation without losing their good spirit. I'm gonna be blunt...naked honest. First, I am by medical definition a quadriplegic who is within the process of regaining the usage of my limbs. To support this bad, but good news I am highly encouraged that I was today able to flex and retract my hand, which as I stated, had lost function. This is supporting the good expectation of the doctor, who did my surgery, that the loss of my left limb was a side effect of the pallidotomy, specifically from midbrain swelling.

Now I am encouraged because I know who and where the healer is, and I have so many of you roof thatch removers holding me up, to lower me down, to put me in touch with the healing power of God. Please read Mark 2: 1-12.

I have hours of anecdotal medical horror stories to share, e.g. having a hole drilled into your head under local anesthetic. But in all seriousness there is only one true source of healing and I know it lives within me. I can only communicate a jot of the love and support that gave me the strength to endure this and that source is my beloved friend and wife Peggy. Please pray for her. Now, I rest and thank you all for your continued holding me on the ropes. I'm almost there. I will see you back at home and I'll know you by your rope burns. So don't let go of hope for this is real.
Love, Rich

R Landis artwork

Dad wanted me to share some of his artwork. These particular pieces are hanging in my house. (Forgive my photography skills, they do not do these masterpieces justice) The first picture is of my daughter Stella.

**Medical update to come later in the day after we hear from the neurosurgeon**

3/15 1:27pm

Not too much new to report. Rich is more alert today and they are managing his pain better. We are waiting for the neurosurgeon to go over the results of the MRI with the spine surgeon. He does have some bleeding in the brain around where the probe was inserted, this was not an expected side effect, but the neurosurgeon isn't terribly concerned. They will be giving Rich some medication to help prevent blood clots, due to inactivity.
He (and Peg) got to see the Stella and Luke today. That was some of the best medicine he's gotten yet. Stella even brought a band aid from home for her Papa and adjusted his electric bed for his comfort. Stella walked in the room and said "How are you doing today Papa, and what can I do to make you feel better?" Luke was his usual charming self and smiled and flirted with the hospital staff.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS ACTUALLY FROM RICH AND PEG.
Dear friends and family,Please know that your messages are read and taken to heart even though Rich and I don't get much time to sit down to write to let you know. We know we are being held by the prayers of many and continue to believe that we will not crash onto the rocks. We are blessed, truly, by the "long distance" support of all of you who visit this blog, call,and send cards or letters; and by our dear children, Jacob, Rachael and Scot, who dare to be up close in all this. It breaks a mother's heart to see her children have to bear so much pain. There are rumors that tomorrow we may be visited by our Stella and Luke. Oh the joy and hope those two beautiful grandchildren bring to us!Continue to remember us as we do you......With deep love,Rich and Peg

written 3/14 9:40pm

3/13 10:04am

Rich is back at OHSU (where he had the brain surgery) in Portland. He has been admitted as a patient. Rich and Peg were in the ER at the Salem hospital yesterday from 3pm until 4am at which time he was transported to OHSU in an ambulance.
Rich is in a lot of pain, fluid on his lungs and atelectasis which is a partial collapse of the lung, which his neurosurgeon is very concerned about. It's not pneumonia, but could develop into that if not taken care of. Rich needs to stay in the hospital for a bit to get stronger. The neurosurgeon also said that if Rich had neck surgery now, he would die. Rich has no strength reserves to use at this point, so he needs to rest and get the fluid on his lungs taken care of. He is still in quite a bit of pain. He will be working with physical, occupational and speech therapists.
Thanks for the love and support
Rachael

I'll keep updating as we get more information
Also, please keep praying for Peg too, she has not left Rich's bedside. She is physically and emotionally exhausted.

3/12 5:11pm

Rich is at the E.R. right now. We had some concerns regarding the level of pain he was having, especially in his neck. He was also been extremely sleepy and had a bit of a fever. He is going to have a CT scan in a little bit. They are also checking for any possible sources of infection.
Please keep the prayers coming. Rich and Peg have been through so much and are exhausted.
Peace,
Rachael

3/11 4:49pm

Out of the hospital but still recovering at the nursing facility.

This is from the mouth of Rich, transcribed by me, Rachael, over the phone. Dad was in a rhyming mood, not sure if it was from the pain medication or from pain itself.
"First surgery done, it wasn't fun, not sure how long till the next one. Thank you all for seeing me through. Now it's time for number two. "

3/11 12:47pm

Rich is still in ICU, but they are talking about discharging him today. We feel that it is too soon to be discharged, but the hospital thinks otherwise. He's having great difficulty using his hands and arms and is quite upset by this.

3/10 11:10am

Rich has been sleeping a lot and they are having trouble waking him. He hasn't eaten today and has yet to move his arms and legs. The doctors are concerned and have ordered a CT Scan. Please continue to pray, we need it.

Peace, Love & Healing,
Rachael

Last night Peg read Rich the comment from his mom (from this blog) that said "Rich has always been and always will be a champ," and he laughed out loud :)

**UPDATE: 12:30pm--Rich's CT Scan looked ok, nothing remarkable. He may be moved out of ICU to a medical floor later in the day

3/9 4:24pm

Rich is now in ICU and sleeping. He looked great and had a big appetite. He is in a fair amount of pain, as is to be expected, but was talking and smiling. The doctor said at this point we'll "wait and see" how successful the surgery was.
Peace,
Rachael

Out of surgery

"He was a champ." said the neurosurgeon.
Rich is out of surgery and is heading to his room. He will be in the Intensive Care Unit. We haven't seen him yet, but the surgeon said that everything went well and that he tolerated it well and "he was a champ." I'll update after we see him.

Peace & Love,
Rachael

3/9/2008 12:45pm

Rich is in surgery. They took him back at approximately 12:30. Please pray and think healing, loving, peaceful thoughts.
I will update as soon as we get one
Rachael

Pre-surgery

We're here at OHSU, still in presurgery. Rich is getting the frame put on his head right now. He has NOT been taken back into surgery yet. I'll update more as soon as we get more information. Thanks for the comments, love and support, I know that dad (Rich) greatly appreciates it. Please pray for his comfort, he is really quite uncomfortable and quite nervous about the surgery. He will be kept awake throughout the surgery.

Rich's surgery

Rich will have the pallidotomy surgery tomorrow (March 9). Not sure of the exact time for the surgery but he needs to be at OHSU at 6am. Please continue to pray and think healing positive thoughts for Rich and Peg.
Peace, love and healing,
Rachael

**I will update the blog throughout the day as we get more information**