Sunday, May 31, 2009, Nashville, TN., 4:53 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Bill Sandusky here.  Thought I'd fill you in on what is going on (not so much with us, but with a friend's daughter).

We are doing pretty good (Johnny is due to be released from the hospital tomorrow afternoon; he went in Friday to have a PICC line installed; he came through the surgery with flying colors), but I am afraid that things for Kendra (and Michael) Kent aren't so hot.

Their daughter, Holly, who has cancer, is now lying in the hospital, fighting for her life.  She is in Memphis, at St. Jude's Hospital, in a comatose state; right now, things are still pretty much touch and go.

Louie has been hanging by the phone, waiting for the latest news about Holly; she has also been keeping our church family informed, so they can pray for her.  She suddenly looks like she's aged ten years:  she looks like an old woman instead of a forty-year-old.  It's really heartbreaking to see.

I still don't know why God allows children to suffer like this.  It only brings back memories of when our own children were in the hospital, fighting for their lives, in particular, our now-adult son, Anh Kim, who had cancer, not once, but twice.  There were a few times when he was so sick, and doctors were more than ready to write him off.

It also takes us back to when our other children were in the hospital for one thing or another; it brings back the memories of the uncertainty, the fear of not knowing, the tears, and the endless hours of whiling away the time in a hospital setting.

While I am glad it is not us going through this, at the same time, my heart breaks for Kendra and her family.  Holly is barely a teenager, but she has been through so much in her life.  She has proven the doctors wrong with her fighting spirit and will to live; however, this time, it looks bad, very bad.  She is not responding at all, and her condition at the current time is grave.

If she lives the day we will be surprised.

We are waiting for that terrible phone call, when Kendra (or Michael) calls, to tell us that Holly has passed on, gone on home to Jesus.  It is a terrible thing to have to endure.

Pastor Bilkey could tell this morning that something heavy was pressing on my spirit.  He could see it in my face.  He had the church pray for me, and they also lifted up the Kent family in prayer.  I only hope Kendra or Michael could feel the prayers as they go through this time!

The only good thing that we have to look forward to is our vacation next week (Fan Fair), as well as going to Hollywood with Ronee' in a few weeks; she got the call that she has a very good shot at making it to the televised portion of America's Got Talent.  (That's two good things.)

We also have Johnny coming home from the hospital either tomorrow or Tuesday.  Louisiana is going to teach me how to clean out the PICC line or administer meds through it.  She says it's not hard; however, I am scared I may hurt Johnny or cause him to get an infection somehow; with a PICC line you have to be so careful!

I don't have the medical training like she does; I am having to learn how to do things through her.  She is so thorough with those kinds of situations!

We will be so happy to have Johnny back home, where he belongs; I know Ginger, his dog, misses him terribly!  She lies there by his bedroom door, whining or looking lost.  She doesn't eat that much, and she looks so sad!  I know when Johnny comes home she will go wild with joy; we all will!  :)

Well, the phone's ringing, so I'll go now.  We also have to get ready to go to church; we have to leave in less than a half hour.  Just keep Kendra Kent and her family in prayer; they could really use a miracle about now!  We would greatly appreciate it, and I know they would, too!  I will write in here again soon with another update; until then, this is Bill signing off!

God bless!

~As always, Bill.  :(