A Prayer for Mom

My mom and three of her siblings: John, Richard and Lindell

My dad called me earlier this evening and he and my mom are at the emergency room because my mom was running a fever. They are still there and the doctor is determining whether she needs to be admitted or not. So while I am waiting to hear the news, I thought I'd fill you all in on how she is doing.

The Good News: She has been doing well enough for my dad to go back to work part time. He is usually home by 2:30 and my mom is able to feed herself and get around the house well enough to be on her own while he is gone. Usually my aunt or myself or a home health nurse stops by during those hours just to check in on her as well. She is also gaining some strength back and has recently been taken off the iv antibiotics which is one less cord attached to her (although after her ER visit tonight, she may be back on them, but we'll see).

The Bad News: Her chest wound is not healing. It is clean and infection free, but it is just not healing. Her surgeon feared this might happen due to the damage of the radiation she received back in the early 1970's. It basically ruined her tissue; it just doesn't have enough blood supply. My mom will have to see a wound care specialist to determine a plan of action. For now, she will have to wear the wound vacuum indefinitely. Also, she is still not able to eat or drink anything because of a stricture in her esophagus. She will see a gastrointerologist this summer and hopefully he can figure out how to solve this problem so she can eat and drink once again. She can swish different things in her mouth (water, apple juice, even Dr. Pepper!), but she has to spit it out. She told me the other day that she had a dream she was eating fresh, ripe strawberries. It made me sad because I know she wants to be able to eat and enjoy food once again.

So there you have it. The good and the bad. I was feeling really down about all the bad things the other day, but then I remembered a verse from John 10:10. Jesus says he has come to "give us life and life to the FULL." Some versions say "abundant life". It encouraged me because even though my mom's health is not where we had hoped it to be by now, she is still here. And she can still have an abundant, full life. And for that I am very thankful.

And thank YOU, sweet readers, for continuing to keep her in your prayers.