Warning this is long!!!
Most of you may know the story but I wanted to document it for us. It all started on Wednesday the 26th of August. Looking back there were other sings but we didn't think anything of them, like Jack saying he was having some headaches he was doing a lot of reading so thought that was it. On Wednesday there were times that he said the wrong words for what he was trying to say, it only happened a few times so again didn't think too much about it. On Thursday he was saying the wrong words more often and became very quiet. I thought he wasn't feeling good. That night when we started to have our prayers Jack started to pray and couldn't so asked me to pray. I was thinking he just couldn't remember the names he wanted to pray for. By Friday I knew we were in trouble, Jack was hardly talking and he didn't want to go to the clinic in Harlowton. He kept saying that it would be okay and that we would finish our mission. He wanted that so bad. When we were having our companionship study Jack was not tracking right, he would skip lines and half a line. He refused to go to the clinic. By 2:00 he also knew he was in trouble and said he would go. We thought it was a stroke.
When we got to the clinic and saw the nurse they also thought he was having a stroke, she talked to the Doctor (I know, we didn't see the doctor) she came back and said that they didn't have anyone that could read their CT scan so we needed to go to Billings (2 hours away). That is what we did, I call President Swickard to tell him what was going on and asked if he could take us to Billings. (which was dumb because when we got there I didn't have transportation) President Swickard gave Jack a blessing before we left for Billings. When we got to the ER they took him right in (Jack was still walking at this point). Things started moving fast. (This was about 4 or 5pm) They took him to get a CT scan. When the CT came back Dr. Goodmen came in to say that it was not a stroke but a mass ( cancerous tumor) on his left frontal lob and that they were going to do a MRI on him and put the markers on for surgery. I am thinking what surgery? Surgery was planned for 9 the next morning. while we were in the ER Jack was going downhill fast, his speech was slow and he was loosing strength in his right side. That night I stayed at the Hospital with Jack.
In the meantime I had called Mission Office to let them know what was going on. Elder and Sister Henshaw came right over. President Mecham call three times while we were in the ER and said that anything we needed he would get. He also had Dr. Goodmen call the mission Doctor to let him know what was going on. Called Mitch (he was the first one I could get ahold of) to let him know and asked him to call all the others. He called the kids and went up to Mom's to tell her. I called Merrilyn. About 9 or 10 Mitch called to tell me that all the boys were on their way up. What a blessing, when he said that a weight was lifted off my shoulders. The boys got there just before Jack went into surgery and were able to ask many questions I didn't even think about. They were also able to give him a blessing before he went in for surgery. Merrilyn (Jack's sister) called to say she was coming and would be there Sunday afternoon. How can you go through something like this without family? Many phone calls and texting was going on.
Sunday many people Fasted for Jack, the mission, the Branch, our Ward, friends the world over, and many, many family members. That is why the surgery and recovery have gone so well. Also our names were put in many temples across the world. We were truly blessed.
Jack after his MRI with his marker.
In the ICU right after surgery he was able to fellowing all commands, lifting his legs and arms, knew us, and could talk. All blessings.
In ICU his eye was swollen after, he kept asking what happened, if he had been in an accident, or did someone beat him up? We had many visitors from the Branch, Stake and Mission. Merrilyn said she had never seen so many Presidents in one place.
In his room after 2 days in ICU. I thought his scar didn't look bad. (but I won't make the picture bigger)
Eating 3 days after surgery, doing very well without help.
President and Sister Mecham, they came to visit often and were always so caring and loving to Jack and I. Anything we wanted he said he would make it happen. If we needed some Elder to go get the Jeep (I am sure they would have loved that) he would send them, anything.
First walk down the hall, the way he was walking you would think he was in a race.
Waiting to be released, he was more than ready to leave. This was one week after we were in the ER, Friday September, 7.
On the way out of town President Mecham asked if we would stop by to say good-by, he gave us our departing interview and talked to us awhile. He said that he knew how Jack felt and to always remember that he fulfilled a honorable mission and that things were in the Lords hands. He said that we would be blessed because when this all happened we were serving the Savior and to remember that.
Sister Mecham, President Mecham, Elder and Sister Brooks
The day after we got home our Ward gave us a "Heart Attack" they have been so supportive and have shown so much love to us. We have had all kinds of treats, and dinners.
We couldn't have done it without our kids being right there with us the whole time helping with each step.
