Here is the email updates page that follows Bruce from the beginning in Roni's words.
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON June 29 2005
Hi all, Well this update is from Maine. Bruce is doing better but is still very uncomfortable. It has been wonderful here. A little hot and humid but the scenery more than made up for it. It is really breathtakingly beautiful here. It really makes you fell close to God here. It has been great to just spend time with family and to not have to be anywhere. We really have to thank the Kupps for sharing there wonderful home with us. We have found out that Bruce will have his cat scan and his pet scan both on the 6th and then we meet with both drs on the 12th. We are really praying that he is able to have the surgery and that they can do it right away. Disability only lasts for 20 weeks which felt like a long time in the beginning but now seems like no time. thanks for all your prayers and encouraging words. Looking upward Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 2 2005
Hi all, We made it back safely from Maine. We did have car problems the last 3 hours though but we made it. Now we just have to figure our what is wrong with our van. Bruce is feeling about the same. The long drive and aggravation of worrying about getting home didn't help though. I had some beautiful pictures to share but some how brilliant me managed to loose our digital camera. Yikes! Well it was beautiful. Now we have to get ourselves use to being back home and back into dr. visits and such. Please pray that we find out what is wrong with our van and that it isn't real bad. Of all things we really need our vehicle. Also pray for bruces tests on Wednesday. Pray that the insurance company will ok him to repeat these tests. They are trying to say no. Anyway thank you for your prayers and keep them going upward Looking upward Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 8 2005
Hi all, Could you all just say a special prayer for Bruce today. He is really not feeling well and It is starting to get him down. It looks like we will have to wait until Tuesday to find out the results of the tests he did on Wednesday too. We know that the Lord is in control but it is very wearing to feel bad day after day. Any encouraging emails are welcome. I always print them out and let him read them. You all have been so great through all of this. Thanks a bunch Looking upward Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 10. 2005
Hi all, It is 3:30 in the morning and I just got back from the hospital. We went in at 1:15 this afternoon because Bruce was in more pain today. It went clear around his back and to his sides. They finally decided that it is swelling and inflammation from his radiation. They decided to keep him so they can manage his pain and get rid of his inflammation. When a bed opens up at the university of Penn we will try to transfer there. Well I really must go to bed. Thanks for your prayers
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 10, 2005
Hi all, Bruce is still in the hospital. Please pray for a bed to open up at Penn. We need to get him with the drs that know his case. The drs at mainland are just giving him medicine for the pain and are not trying to find out what is causing it. It is making Bruce really down because the drs all say something different. The dr today told him that it is probably just his cancer progressing. This dr. told him that he didn't look at the cat scan. So we need to get him to his drs. The pain meds are at least making him comfortable. they are making him sleepy too. The Lord has been sending people along to talk with us that has been very encouraging. Please pray for us to be strong and for a room to open up. Pray for me to be strong because it is very hard to leave him at the hospital and come home but it is also hard to leave the kids all day. Also pray for the week because my mother in law is going away and she has been my main baby sitter. Pray that everything just fits into place and isn't too stressful. If I could only be in two places at one time. Thank you for your prayers and for letting me share our burden with you. Looking upward Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 12, 2005
Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that Bruce was transferred to Penn tonight. If anyone would like to call him there just email me and I will send you the phone number or you can call 1-215-662-4000 and ask for his room. He will see his own drs tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 12, 2005 10:15 PM
I just got back from Penn. They are running test to see where Bruce's pain is coming from. they are checking his kidneys and his spine. We did get some bad news though. He has had a lump on his neck since right before we went to maine. the Dr said that he looked at it on the cat scan and that it is not good. He wants him to go back on Chemo right away. My baby sitting problems are working themselves out gradually. My mom is staying here with the kids most of the time . It is a very hard position that I am in. It is so hard to leave Bruce but I have to come back for the kids. Hopefully he won't be there long. Please just pray for me to have peace and strength. I know that the lord Is in control and He can do anything. But He never said the road would be easy and right now it is very hard. I also need physical strength because I am very tired. Bruce is kinda down but he also just doesn't feel well. POST HIM SOME MESSAGES...I am sure they will make him feel great!
Thanks so much for all your love and prayers Looking upward Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI THOMPSON July 13 2005
Hi all, Sorry for the everyday updates. I just got home from penn and it looks like bruce may come home on Friday. He has a temperature and they are treating him for it. They also found out that it looks like his cancer has spread to his vertebrae and that is what is causing his pain. This is not good news either. I keep telling myself that the Lord won't put more on us then we can handle so I KNOW we can handle this. So it looks like he may get more radiation too, because it is just outside of the radiation field from before. He is feeling a little better tonight. He was really constipated and the problem seems to be taken care of. He has a little bit of his appetite back. It has been really hard to get him to eat anything the last few days. He seems to be taking all the new stuff in stride. He knows that the Lord knows what He is doing even if we don't understand. Not that it still isn't hard because believe me this is the hardest thing that we have ever gone through. I really want to thank everyone for standing by us. It is everything in our situation. It is wonderful to know that even when we are hurting too much to say much everyone is praying for us. Thank you still looking upward Roni
UPDATE FROM RONI, JULY 14, 2005-940 PM (PLEASE PRAY FOR BRUCE, RONI and the KIDS)
Hi everyone, I am back from Penn with Bruce in tow. It is great to bring him home. We got a lot of news today. First he got discharged then we went directly to the chemo drs office. The dr told us that we are beyond surgery now. He said that at this point there is no cure. What we are doing is working on Keeping the cancer from spreading and trying to control it. Bruce started a new Chemo today. He gets meds in his arm once every three weeks and he takes pills for 14 days with each chemo. After two rounds we will have another MRI to see what is happening. This has all been very shocking for us. I have been reminding myself all day that Our God is bigger than this cancer. Please pray that we have the strength (I don't think it will be our strength but Gods) to make it through this. I know that he won't give us more than we can handle so we must be able to handle this. Thank you in advance for all your prayers and you faithfulness to us. It will help see us through this. I keep picturing our loving father just holding us in his arms. Looking upward Roni
UPDATE July 17, 2005
Hi all, Bruce is doing ok. He is a little down and very bloated and uncomfortable. On Wednesday our church is having a day of fasting and prayer for Bruce. It will start Wednesday morning and end after our prayer meeting where we will be praying for Bruce. Please consider participating. Let me know if you are participating so I can let Bruce know. it would be very encouraging to him.
Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE July 20, 2005
Bruce isn't feeling so great. His medications seem to make him very sleepy. Roni is juicing and he is doing pretty good with getting some food in him. Bruce needs a lot of encouragement and things to lift his spirits. Please continue to pray for him and the family. Feel free to send some funny (CLEAN) jokes in Bruce's prayer chain of hope link below and encouraging words! PRAISE GOD, he is GREAT!
UPDATE July 21, 2005
Hi Everyone. I am asking if you could please send extra prayers for Bruce and Roni. Bruce isn't feeling well. He has no strength to get out of bed. He is bloated and just really down. He is going to see his doc tomorrow. Please pray the doctors will be able to make Bruce feel better. Please Pray for Roni. She's going through some emotions herself. Its hard having to take care of your husband when he is sick, plus the kids and try to find time to breath in between. Pray they are safe during their travels tomorrow also. THANKS
Lisa ;o)
UPDATE JULY 23, 2005
Hi all, Well we
made it back from Philly. of course it took an extra 45
minutes since it was Friday rush hour and summer. The Dr
said that he thinks that Bruce was feeling so bad because he was
dehydrated. He is bloated because his stomach is working to
slow and things are backing up. He gave bruce two bags of
fluid and he gave him some medicine to make his stomach work
faster and something to make him have an appetite. He has
to try to drink more fluids not necessarily
water. Hopefully this will make him feel
better. He has at least been out of bed today. We
also found out that it is something with our transmission on our
car. We are going to try changing the filter and see if
that is it. My cousin Joe is going to do that for us.
pray that that is all that is wrong. Well, keep up your
prayers. God is without a doubt good. Looking Upward
Roni
Also, the Thomas and Thompson family got together tonight for dinner. It was a nice night. Bruce is hanging in there. Please keep praying for him! ... Lisa Thomas
UPDATE JULY 29, 2005
Hi all, Bruce is doing about the same. His medicine makes him so tired he just sleeps most of the day. The new development is that he is loosing his hair. We knew this was coming but it doesn't make it any easier it just makes everything seem that much more real. Last night I went to a prayer service for Bruce at Trinity alliance. It was a wonderful service. It is great when brothers and sisters in Christ pray for each other. It is amazing when someone that you don't know prays for you and gives you a hug and is in tears for you. It was truly a blessing to see. It is nice to know people are praying but what a blessing to be there and see that it is really happening and that people you don't even know care so much. Thank you Trinity you have really been a huge blessing to us. Thank you all for your prayers. They are what is helping us through all of this. I was having a really bad day yesterday. A lot of it was lack of sleep. But several other things all conspired to make me really down. I am still tired but I feel much better today. The Lord is letting me see in lots of ways that He is really here for me. He right there next to me. What a comfort to know that he is there and willing to shelter me and protect me. I mean This is the God that is so big that he created everything but He cares about me. It is a very hard situation but I sure would not want to know how hard it would be without the Love of God. With Him there is always hope. I don't know what He is doing with this situation but I am sure it is something big. I can see him working in my family through this. He is drawing people near to him. His people are calling out to Him about Bruce. He loves us and He knows what is best. He also wants us 100%. I think He has our attention. Keep up the prayers. He wants us to pray. Thanks so much for being such a blessing to us. Looking upward in awe at such a wonderful God, and He loves ME! Roni
UPDATE: AUGUST 3, 2005
Hi all, I would just like to share with you some blessings. I had some major ones today. I think the Lord is showing me how good he is. First I sent Cody to Kennedy's fruit stand (not bar Pastor Phil) to get some corn for dinner. He came back with a huge bag. I asked him what in the world he got. He told me that the owner left word with his daughters that the next time Cody came up they were to give him a whole bag of produce for free. I was just really blessed but that was just the start of it. Not a half hour later a van pulls in my yard and out pops 3 guys from trinity alliance. They have a men's Bible study and they decided to buy us some food. They came in and filled up my dinning room table and then some. I am truly awed at how gracious and giving that people have been. Just yesterday a church that we have never been to that friends of the family go to gave us a sizable donation. It seems to me that the Lord is supplying things for us before we even have to ask. Just when a worry pops up so does the answer. He is so great and so loving. I am so awed the I just don't know what to say. Thank you so much for teaching me about Christian love. WE are truly one family. I know that you all will be greatly blessed. You are truly helping with our burden. Thank you for everything. Especially your prayers. They mean more to me than anything. And the Lord is hearing them. Looking upward Roni Thompson
UPDATE: Aug. 4, 2005
Bruce is having chemo today at the Univ. Of Penn. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We'll post an update when we can.
Hi all, We just got back from Penn. These trips are truly exhausting....especially when I have to drive. We made it there safe and sound. Dr. Sun is just great. He told Bruce that he is allowed to be tired to stop kicking himself for it. It is a combination of the cancer and the meds. He told him to take it easy. This chemo drip med. doesn't really make him feel bad like the other. He is just exhausted from the trip and from being up and around all day. His lost one pound since we were there last week. He did say that the lymphnode in his neck seems to be smaller. They said they will probably use that to kinda tell what that the treatments are still working for him. they haven't said what is next though. We go back in 3 weeks. Thank you so much for your prayers and blessings looking upward Roni
UPDATE: AUG 9, 2005
Hi all, Just a
quick update. Bruce is still doing about the same.
Please pray for an appetite. I never thought I would be
asking that about Bruce. Also pray for energy. He is
still sleeping most of the day. Please pray for the rest of
us because even with all this going on life goes on. We
have to get ready for school. We have supplies and uniforms
to buy. The kids also all have to got to the
drs. And I have books to order and other things to do
for school. The last few weeks before school are so crazy
and are more so now. I need the energy to get all this
stuff done. It is hard to just keep going like normal when
nothing is really normal. Please just pray for Bruce to
start feeling a little better. He is so tired of feeling
bad. The Lord is good though because even with it crazy
around here He shows himself in some small way everyday. He
is ultimately in control and He IS taking care of us.
Thanks for your prayers and your encouragement. It seems
like when I am down I run into someone or someone calls or
emails. Thank you. Also there is a benefit being planned
for Sept 24th that will be for friends and family. Mark
your calendars and you will be sent more info later. There
will be two big benefits in Oct and Nov. One a golf outing
and one a Chinese auction. These will be for anyone who
wants to come. If you would like more info or would like to
help with either you can email me and I will send the info on to
someone who can arrange it. Thanks again Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE AUGUST 15, 2005
Hi all, Just a
quick update. Bruce is really not feeling well. He is
very nauseas and he is hardly eating. I have to take him up
to Penn tomorrow so they can check him out. Please pray for
him to start feeling better and that we have a safe
trip. Also that the Dr has wisdom to know what to do
to make him feel better. Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE AUGUST 17, 2005
Hi All, We made
it to Penn and back safely. The dr decided to give
Bruce an extra 5 days off of chemo so they can see if it is the
chemo that is making him so sick or if it is the
cancer. They gave him some more meds to try. Hopefully
they can get his nausea under control and get him
eating. They want him to start doing things. Or at
least try. They want his quality of life to have some
quality to it. So all the meds are suppose to help him feel
better and to eat. So just pray for something to work.
Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE AUGUST 23, 2005
I dont know too much but Bruce was admitted this morning after a long night at the ER (Univ. Of Penn). He has fluid around his stomach and they arent sure why. They orginally thought it was a blockage but the good news is, it isnt. Please continue to pray for him. Continue to pray for Roni has she travels to and from the hospital.
I will update later once I hear more from Roni. ................ Lisa
UPDATE AUGUST 25, 2005
On Monday we ended up at the emergency room at Penn because Bruce was so bloated and in severe pain. We waited in the waiting room for 5 hours with Bruce in severe pain (he said a 9 out of 10). We were then in the emergency room for more than 24 hours. They thought he had a blockage. However after a Cat Scan they found that the fluid was not in his stomach but around it. We were then admitted. Yesterday they put a large needle into his side and they pulled out 4 liters of fluid. That is like 4 1 liter bottles of soda. They also said they could probably take out the much again but they could only take out so much or else he would get sick. The cat scan showed more cancer on his stomach and they believe that is where the fluid is coming from. He will probably have to go in regularly to get the fluid removed. They have also decided that his kidneys aren't working correctly and there is a blockage there. He will see a urologist tomorrow to decide what they want to do with that. He will have an MRI tonight because his left leg is weak. they want to make sure the cancer in his back is not pushing on anything. Yesterday Bruce was really down because it seems like everytime we go to Penn it is more bad news. He really had the worst two days he has ever had and then found out that there is more cancer. Please pray for him to have strength. It is so hard to see him hurt physically but it is ever harder to see him hurt emotionally. Everything is catching up to him. Please pray for us all to have the strength we need. I think that yesterday was the hardest day we have had. Even harder than the day we found out. The Lord is good though. He is always there for us and always making His presence know. WE don't know why we are going through this but as Bruce said yesterday Just think what we will be for going through this trial. I just think about gold going through the fire and how that must hurt. It is possible to hurt and to have peace. WE do thank you for all of your prayers. I know we could not make it without your help to keep us up. We love you all. By the way it looks like we will be going to Disney on Sept 12th.
Looking Upward
Roni
AUGUST 27, 2005
We came
home last night from the hospital. They took another 4
liters of fluid from Bruce before we left. We also got more
bad news Thursday night. It seems that the cancer has also
spread to two more places in Bruces back and one place in is
skull. Right at the base. They started radiation
Thursday night. He will have to have 10 treatments.
The DR said that it is very bad that it is spreading like this
and we will have to try to play keep up with it. Please
pray for strength for us all. Bruce is really down and it
is really hard. He really feels bad right now too.
The Drs. are really pushing for us to got to Disney so please
pray for physical strength. I think we also need some more
peace with the situation. It is so hard. I still am
at peace in knowing that God does not make mistakes and He knows
what he is doing but my heart is just breaking. I really
don't know what you are supposed to do in this situation and I
never thought I would have to know. I am taking this
basically minute by minute. It hurts to much to do
otherwise. Please keep up those heavy duty prayers.
The Lord is good and He does listen. Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE AUGUST 29, 2005
Hi all, Well, our limo will be
picking us up at 9:00 am on Sept. 12th to take us to
Disney. Boy do we need this trip. Please be praying
for physical strength for Bruce. Today we had a problem
with his pain meds and he has really been out of it all
day. Please pray though that he can start eating a little
better(a lot would be good for me). It is really hard to
watch him getting so thin. I feel like the food
police. Watching each bite that goes into his mouth.
Feel free to send us things that might tempt him. I haven't
found anything to tempt him. He so wants to go to Disney
though. It is not going to be easy. We have 6
more radiation treatments to go. Tomorrow we also have an
appointment with the chemo dr. too. Bruce's sister Brenda
and her husband Calixto are going up with us. Now when we
go I have to get a wheelchair for him so he doesn't have to
walk. That hospital is huge. Please be watching for
information on the benefits that are coming up. There will
be one in early October that will be more for family, friends and
church family. I really thank you for your prayers.
This is such a hard time for all of us. The Lord is
faithful though and I am trying so hard to keep my eyes to
Him. It is when I look to me that I fall into
despair. This is a true test of our faith. Not just
mine and Bruce's but also yours. Pray for us to come
through as God wants us too and that we do not falter. It
is His will and he loves us and knows what is best for us.
I don't understand any of this but I guess it is not my place to
know at this time. We are praying for many to come to
saving Grace through this. I have already seen many lives
touched. As our Pastor said on Sunday, This seems to be the
mission that God sent Bruce on. It is not an easy one but
there is a reason for it. Maybe it is to get many loved
ones saved. Still Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE AUGUST 30, 2005
hi all,
We had another exhausting day. We left here at 9:30 and
didn't get home until 6:30. The chemo dr decided to try one
more chemo. He also pumped some more fluid out of bruces
stomach. It was a good thing Brenda and Calixto went
with us because it was a lot of running around. Then I
wasn't by myself to eat. Bruce is still feeling pretty bad
and it is back tomorrow for more radiation. Really pray
that he starts to feel at least a little better. The dr
wanted us to move our trip up a week but that would have messed
up his radiation so we are leaving it the same. Thanks for
your prayers. We so need the strength right now. Looking
Upward RONI
UPDATE Sept. 1, 2005
Please pray for the family. Bruce was admitted back at the Univ. of Penn tonight. His cancer is really hitting him harder. Roni, Bruce, the kids, the entire family, we all need your prayers and thoughts. They are going to do a procedure tomorrow to place a cath in. They need to drain more fluid from his stomach. PRAY that everything goes smoothly and Bruce will make it home quickly. I will update when I know more details. Bruce isn't well enough to go on their Disney vacation. Please pray for peace, strength, courage, hope, love and guidance at this difficult time. Everyday is harder.....The Lord is in control, his plan is set for Bruce and though its hard for the family to handle, the Lord will guide is all through this difficult time.
More Sept. 1.....
Hi everyone, This is Brenda, Bruce's sister, I am writing this for Roni. We went up to Philly for his regular radiation treatment this morning. After visiting with his Physician they decided to admit him this afternoon. They will be doing a procedure tomorrow to put a catheter in his belly to remove the fluid build-up. This will eliminate the need to put a needle in everytime they drain fluid. It took several hours before they could get him into a room so he was very tired tonight. They were doing a bunch of lab work tonight to prepare him for the procedure tomorrow. They do not know what time that will take place but he is on the schedule for tomorrow sometime. Roni decided to stay over night at the hospital to stay by his side. Since Sunday he has been extremely tired and weak. He has also been a bit disoriented, as he falls asleep in the middle of conversations and then confuses his dreams with what is going on around him. Usually he asks about carpentry tools, so we assume he is hard at work in his dreams! Please continue to lift Roni and the kids up in prayer. These are very difficult days. Pray for strength and wisdom and for God's grace to be poured out on the family. Pray for Bruce to have relief from the pain and good rest. Roni is doing a great job, better than she ever thought she could I am sure. She knows that it is Christ strengthening her daily. We praise God that he is good and he is our refuge and our strength. Indeed he is an ever-present help in trouble! Thank you so very much for your prayers, Roni will continue to keep you updated. Brenda Arce
UPDATE SEPT 2, 2005 (10:15 PM)
We are asking for continuing prayers. Bruce, Roni and the family have decided to stop all treatments. They have requested Hospice also. Bruce is doing very bad. Dan and I saw him tonight and things just aren't good. An hour after we left, Bruce's health got worse. Right now they are just keeping him comfortable. Roni, the Kids, Bruce's sisters and parents are staying at Penn with Bruce tonight. Please pray for the family. Please pray for strength. Roni has been so strong and holding it together so well. We are very proud of her and thank the Lord for giving her that strength. Please pray for the kids. They need strength, patience and understanding. The Lord is calling Bruce home with him and we all know that when this day comes, Bruce will be in a much better place! Bruce, Roni, Elizabeth, Cody, Wade, Cheyenne.. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! We are here for you always. (((((HUGS))))))
Updated Sept 3 2005
Hi all, Thank you so very much for all of your prayers and support. I know that you have all heard the news already. Bruce is even now gazing into the face of our heavenly father. He is without pain and illness. He is in perfect body. Praise God He has answered our prayers and had healed Bruce. Bruce made his death an amazingly awsome experience. It hurts like crazy but He was amazing. Maybe someday soon I will share the experience with you. What a wonderful and Godly husband Bruce was. I will keep you all updated on when and where services will be. Thank you for everything. Looking upward with tears of Joy and Pain, Roni
UPDATE Sept. 5, 2005
I never imagined in a million years I'd ever have to think about doing a website for a loved one who has cancer. I never thought I'd post an obit on a website for a loved one. My heart just aches. I know Bruce is in the best place and he is just enjoying his time with Jesus. I can hear Bruce now, asking millions of questions and challenging the Lord. I know he is up there enjoying his feast also. Its been a long time since he's had any good meals and I know he's eating up! Roni and the kids are doing great. So many people have asked and I am thankful for your concerns. Roni is a strong women. A women I hope to be like one day. She holds her head up high and keeps looking upward. She knows Bruce is OK and she's at peace with that. There are people who don't have a strong faith like Roni and Bruce, who may not understand...but the Lord does provide for us and that is showing so much through Roni and the kids. Don't get me wrong, the pain is still there but she's doing great. We just ask that you keep the family in your daily prayers, even down the road when people don't seem to be thinking about the family as much. Continue to keep all of us on your prayer list, that's what we'd like most. Praise the Lord, he is great and loves us all. He has sent me to help the Thompson family and with that my love for them grows deeper. I will do everything he sends me to do for them now and always.
We thank each and every one of you for your love, support, prayers, hugs, donations, offering to help out, ect. THANK YOU!!!!!!! Lisa Thomas (Roni and Bruce's sister in law, Danny's wife)
UPDATE Sept 7, 2005
Hi all, We had a beautiful viewing tonight. Thank you so much for coming. Bruce would have been honored by all who came. Please come come back tomorrow there will be an awesome service. Everyone is invited to the log cabin at gabiel field afterwords to celebrate and eat. The Lord is so good. Looking upward Roni
UPDATE September 13, 2005
Hi all, Just a quick update. We are all
doing very well. Thank you so much for all of your prayers
and support. The Lord has truly been good to us and has
still been answering our prayers. He has made sure that we
are taken care of. Because of Social security I will not
have to go out and get a job beside teaching at the school.
He has also provided many other things that make is so I do not
have a worry. It is very hard doing things without
Bruce. So many things make me think of him. Night
time is the worst. It is also hard getting use to the fact
that all decisions are now mine to make. I have four kids
to raise and discipline on my own....yikes so much
responsibility. The Lord really is good though. We
have a great family lots of friends and tons of support. We
will be ok. I sure do miss Bruce though. I can just
picture him walking along that street of Gold. Can you see
him in his sparkling white robe. I can almost picture him
asking for the denim model with the hammer loop on the side.
Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE: Septemeber 22, 2005
Hi everyone, I have heard a lot that you would like to keep receiving updates. If you want to be removed from the list just let me know. We are really doing well. We are busy with school. I am also in the midst of deciding what I want to change before we go back home. So far I bought new furniture for the livingroom and am having hardwood floors put down. I am debating on what to do with my kitchen. I can't put the floor down in there if I want to change the cabinets and I do want to do that I am just not sure when or if I can. We are still staying at my inlaws. To me it just seems so lonely at home. I am hoping with these changes it will make the transition a little easier. I just miss Bruce so much. Every day something comes up that makes me think of Bruce. Sometimes it is just all day. I still just can't believe he is gone. It still seems so surreal. I find my self wanting to talk to him to tell him stuff or just to go and look at him. I didn't know it was possible to miss someone so much. But the Lord is merciful He has been providing all that we need. He has also provided me with a very supportive family. That helps a lot because a lot of time we just sit and talk about Bruce. The kids were having a grand old time telling all of their gross memories of Dad. I could just see him there chuckling at the stories. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. It is really holding us up. Looking upward still Roni Thompson
UPDATE SEPT. 28, 2005
Hi all, I can't
believe that it has been almost a month. I thought that
perhaps it was time to share the testimony of Bruce's death with
you. In my mind my fear is that everyone will forget
him. I know that is a dumb fear but I want to keep him
fresh in your memory. So here we go. This is the
joyful story Bruce gave me to tell. The day before Bruce
died he was not doing well his kidneys had failed and he had very
high potassium in his blood. They had done one course of
dialysis and it did not really do anything. They had plans
for more dialysis and some other things. Bruce's Dr. came
in to talk to us. He said that he recommended that we stop
all treatment. He said that all these things were just
torture for Bruce and that nothing was going to make him
well. He also said that he recommended that we call hospice
in and that if we wanted we could go home. His DR told him
that he thought he was a great man and he actually started to
cry. When the DR left I talked to Bruce just to make sure
he knew what we had talked about because he was really pretty out
of it. Bruce told me that if he was going to die he wanted
to do it at home. They stopped all treatments and
just started to give him morphine to make him comfortable.
It seemed like after the decision was made Bruce just
relaxed. He was so out of it that I couldn't rouse him
anymore. A little later Bruce's friend Tim and The Harvey's
came in to see him. It was so upsetting. Everyone
started to cry. Tim broke down and Bruce woke up. He
told them hi. When he saw how upset they were he said Tim
let me pray for you. Bruce then proceeded to pray for Tim
and the Harvey's. He even prayed that if the Harvey's
weren't saved that they would become saved. He said how
much he loved them all like family. It was a beautiful
prayer. How like Bruce to be ministering to others from his
death bed. My parents and brothers and their wives
all came in and visited for a while and then we went to get some
food. When I came back not an hour later Brenda and Calixto
were there and Bruce was so much worse I couldn't believe
it. We discussed and prayed about what we should do.
Whether we should call everyone up or if we should just let them
know that we might have to call them. I decided that I
wanted everyone there. So we called and everyone
came. Bruce's Mom and Dad, Tracy, Elizabeth, Cody, Wade,
pastor Phil and his wife Cindy. When everyone got there
Bruce just woke up. It was amazing. Cody was really
upset and Bruce told him that everything would be OK. Bruce
then talked to each of the kids. Telling them how much he
loved them, how proud he was of them and what he wanted for their
lives. He was personal to each of them and told them
that he wanted them to rely on God. He then
talked to each of his sisters, His Mom and dad, Calixto and
Pastor Phil. He was personal to each one of them. And
he talked to me. He then kept telling us that he wanted
everyone to know how much he loved the Lord. He spent quite
a while just praising Him. Here was Bruce again ministering
to us. Trying to make it easier on us. We all spent
the night there. I didn't move from his bedside. When
he reached out for me I was there. He rested better when I
held his hand. We spent much of the next day sitting around
his bed. Telling stories. He would chuckle once in a
while. Or we would ask him if he remembered something and
he would say yes. He was listening to us. At one
point he became very uncomfortable. They upped his morphine
and gave him something to relax him. At that point he
finally relaxed and went to sleep. I never left his side I
kept holding his hand. At around 1 or so his breathing
became very labored and they told us that it wouldn't be
long. We all took turns telling him good bye. I
whispered in his ear that it was OK. He could stop fighting
so hard. He fought a good fight for us. I told him
that we would be OK. That I loved him very much. Elizabeth
rested her head on his chest. He took his last
breath. I am so glad that he gave such a story to
tell. Imagine if all I could tell you was that he
died. He touched many people during his life. Tim was
one of them and so was my brother and his wife. I have
heard from many people that he touched them even in his
death. He would have wanted that. He would have loved
the service. He would have loved the joyous singing and the
laughing. he would have loved that the gospel was
preached. I know that he is in heaven just watching all the
chain reactions and that God is telling him "WELL
DONE." I keep thinking of all the crowns that he has
received to lay at God's feet. I know that he would never
chose to come back here. He is well now. Our life is
but a vapor. I can't wait to go to heaven to be there with
him again. I know that there is a reason for all of this
happening. As Bruce told us though We don't know why he
chose to take Bruce at such a young age, it is not our place to
ask. There is a reason that Bruce is in heaven and I am still
here. A very wise man told me that I am at an exciting time
in my life. Waiting to see what the new plan God has for
me. I made it through a trial that just 6 months ago I
never would have thought I could have. Cancer was not a
word that I would have thought would ever touch us. The
Lord is so good. He gave me strength and gives it to me
daily. He taught me to totally rest in Him. It is not
easy but as I told Bruce we will be OK. Never have I ever
felt so close to God. He has been answering prayers before
I even ask them. I find myself awake in the middle of the
night and just find myself talking to Him. It just flows
out. He gives me comfort and peace. Not that I don't
have times when I just sob out my pain, but I it is not
inconsolable pain. It is just the physical pain of missing
the person who was half of me for almost 18 years. The Lord
has brought so much good out of all of this that it is worth the
pain because we can see that all of this is in God's will.
Thank you so much for your faithfulness to us and for all of your
prayers. Keep up the prayers because we will surely need
them for a while. Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE Oct. 13
HI everyone, it
seems the Thompsons need your prayers again. My sister in
law Tracy Just found out that the biopsy they did on her breast
came back positive for cancer. Please pray for strength for
tracy and for all of us. Especially until we find out how
bad it is. WE know that the Lord has a purpose. He is
good He has shown us this through Bruce. Please pray for
healing and PEACE. The Lord is really strengthening
us. Pray for me too because this is really hard for
me. Looking Upward
Roni
UPDATE Oct. 17
Hi all, Just a quick update. We are doing very well. We have been keeping busy. Yesterday me and Cody went to Basto to do the country living Festival with our friend Tim and Patty. It was very hard to be there without Bruce. For us and the Schulers. Bruce and Tim usually take turns doing the bee beard. This year Cody did it. It was very hard for me and while he was doing it I just couldn't contain the tears. I have seen Bruce do so many bee beards. Cody did an excellent job though. He only got stung 3 times( that is three to many for me). He was brave though and did not panic. Bruce would have been so proud of him. We had a good but bitter sweet day. The Lord is so good. (we will add pics of Cody soon) Roni
UPDATE Oct. 19
Hi all, Just a
quick update on Tracy. She went to the dr on Monday.
She is going to have to have a partial for full mastectomy.
This dr said that if you have to have cancer this is the one you
want. She is going to go to the University of Penn for a
second opinion and will most likely have everything done up there
from now on. Her Dr. seemed to want this and so did
everyone here. The dr. told her that this is nothing like
Bruce, she will survive this. She is also going to Penn to
have tests on her stomach today and tomorrow. Please pray
that that is nothing serious. Please pray for strenght and
peace for her and wisdom for the drs. The Lord is so good
and He shows us everyday. Continue to keep us in your
prayers. Looking Upward
Roni