Long Time, No See

Through the years, Doug' parents, Helen and Walter Nearpass, have been a strong influence on his life. They encouraged him to learn God's Word in their home, and then to use his musical talents for God's glory through his college years and beyond.

This past year saw them sell the house in which Walter had lived for 80 years, and move to "The Pines at Whiting", a retirement community in Whiting, New Jersey. For those who did not hear, it was two weeks ago tonight that Walter, Doug's dad, began a medical roller coaster that has kept everyone who knows him in prayer. Fortunately, through it all, Walter has kept a joy in his heart and a smile on his face. When Lee saw him last night, she leaned in to him and whispered, "Don't forget - Jesus loves you, and keeps you in the palm of His hand," to which he looked back at her and replied, "I told you that years ago!"

Here's the chronology as Lee put it together:

On Saturday, Feb. 23rd, Walter fell in their walk-in closet at the Pines. He fell on his tail bone and bumped his head. He walked around some on that Saturday and the next day Sunday the 24th. He began to become disoriented later that day and by evening was hallucinating. Helen called the medical team and they took him by ambulance to Community Health Center in Toms River at 1 a.m. on the Monday the 25th where he was in the ER for 41 hours There he had a CAT scan and blood tests and it was determined that he had not had a stroke. They put a wrist band on him that said RISK FOR FALL. All day Monday, Doug and I and Helen stayed with Walter. He was hallucinating all day. We waited for a medical team to give us a diagnosis. At 10:30 p.m. on Monday the 25th, a crisis team dr. suggested we transfer him to St. Barnabas Behavioral Center in Toms River for further evaluation and tests. More waiting. On Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Walter was tranferred to St. Barnabas. On that same day, Helen began taking antibiotics for bronchitis. Wednesday, the 27th, Heather, Doug and I visited Walter at St. Barnabas where they told us that the night before Walter had tried to get out of bed and fell on the floor. He claimed he was dizzy and just decided to lay on the floor! I think this is where he broke his hip. He had some pain in his left leg after that. As far as we know, this pain wasn't investigated. Walter was at St. Barnabas from that Tuesday, Wed., Thurs., Fri., Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Dimentia was the diagnosis. Monday evening, Holly, Doug and I visited Walter again. On Wednesday, March 5th, Doug and I successfully transferred Walter back to Hamilton Place at the Pines - the acute care facility, where he finally had a complete team of physicians and social workers examine him. On Thursday the 6th, he was complaining of leg pain. An x-ray was ordered and they found a fractured hip. Walter was transferred to Southern Ocean County Hospital and on Friday, March 7th he underwent a partial hip replacement successfully. Today, Saturday, the 8th of March, he was complaining of stomach pain. After an ultrasound, it has been determined that Walter has gall stones and a damaged gall bladder. We are presently in a holding pattern waiting for doctors to determine the next step. Carol, Doug's sister, and brother-in-law Dennis have arrived from Chicago. Helen is tired but back to good health We are all praising the Lord for his provision of excellent doctors and care teams now, and loving families everywhere praying.

The pictures above were taken on Wednesday, March 5, during Walter's brief stay at Hamilton Place at The Pines. Keep praying for Walter, then come back and check on his progress as we learn it ourselves. Thank you all for your continued care, interest and most of all, your prayers.

In His arms,

Lee & Doug