Tumor is rapidly getting worse.  Breathing is now also much worse and controllable to some extent with morphine.  Didn't get out of bed today because of lack of energy.  First visitor was Mike Shasby with a freshly baked cherry pie (thanks Sandy).  Because I didn't sleep last night the nurses blocked the room from about 5.30 - 9 am and I slept quite well then.  Larry H broke the blockade but instantly assessed the situation and was kind enough to leave although still with the offer of coffee.

Then visits from Joseph Z, Jeff W and our famous concert piano playing pulmonary fellow.  I think I'll requisition a piano for the hospital room so that he can come and give a concert here.  I'm sure the Epic system would allow that.

I had very quality time with our daughter Rebecca - just one-on-one - for a little over an hour today and we made a couple of videos about that.  Had quality time - one-on-one - with our son Sam and also made a short video with him.  Yet to see our son-in-law Cameron one-on-one.  Chris and I hope to make a short video this evening.

Alan and Mary Beth Ross came visiting this afternoon and their visit was very welcome as was the visit from David Stoltz this evening.  Keith Brautigam and his son Nolan also came to visit.

Because of airline delays, Ray Hohl's visit has now been changed from 5 pm to 10 pm and he should be getting here in the next few minutes.  I think that that meeting will be attended by Rebecca, Chris and myself. If we need Sam (who has gone to bed to catch up with sleep) he can be over here in a few minutes and Ben can get here quickly also.

We talked to my mum on the phone today.  We talked with nephew Shane McLennan and his family via skype and also with niece Rachel and Rob.  So those people in Adelaide are aware of the current very serious nature of the tumor issues.  While the skyping was going on, Chris talked to my brother Bob who indicated he would also skype a bit later but obviously experienced difficulties in doing so.

Needed a Foley catheter today for urinary retention induced by the morphine.

The day nursing staff here are just fantastic.  We just spent some time with the night nursing staff who did an extremely good job last night and we're all expecting the same tonight.

Today, with our whole family together - with the exception of Sam's fiance Kate who is still in London - we celebrated Ben's 38th birthday with a little party in my hospital room.  We had cake and ice cream and the Shasby cherry pie and ice cream and took lots of photos of each other.  Happy Birthday Ben.

In my hospital room is a big bunch of eucalyptus which allows me to enjoy the fragrance of home.

Ray Hohl visited and was here for a couple of hours.  We discussed various alternatives and feel that we have to increase pain control and control of the shortness of breath so that I am more comfortable.  The end process here has been fairly rapid, more rapid than perhaps we had expected.

We will communicate our plans directly with my mum shortly and let her know the circumstances.  Hopefully she can get some intellectual and spiritual comfort from the family and friends she has in Adelaide as well as from her church.

The dying process obviously continues.  Nobody is happy about it but there are no alternatives.  We will keep people posted on the blog through the next 2-3 days and let them know what's happening.

Special thanks to Joseph Stoltz for the art work depicting my presentation and that of his father at the University of Iowa Mini Medical School.  Great work Joseph.  Special messages received too from Amanda, Andrew, Michael, Caitlin, and Becka.  Thanks for thinking of me.