Mom Update, June 17, 2013, Monday

Just spoke to mom's doctor this morning. He said, while she still has pneumonia and a urinary tract infection, she is dramatically improving since last week. Her white blood cell count went down from 32,000 to 11,000 (which is good). A chest x-ray done last Saturday showed that the pneumonia is clearing up (the type she has is 100% fatal with other infections). She still needs to be in the hospital because she still needs intravenous antibiotics. BUT she is definitely getting much, much better.


Last week, after she was admitted into the hospital again, she had been so very, very peaceful. We haven't seen her this peaceful in years. She was even trying to talk to us and was actually able to talk to us a bit as well. I had asked her what my name was and she said, "Um...I don't know...Ava?" Some of what she was saying was real sentences, phrases or words spoken out loud, while at other times, she just mouthed the words. It was miraculous.
By Friday, she was beginning to become very agitated again (for her, this means seemingly involuntary motor movements of the arms and legs---it looks much like a seizure of sorts but isn't). The agitation, as the medical personnel refer to it, becomes so bad at times that mom needs to be heavily sedated to stop it. It has to be stopped because her blood pressure rises and heart rate increases when the agitation starts.

God's Will and Peace are what we all need at this time. Some of us question why mom is being left in this state. I don't know the exact answer, but I do know that we, as humans, can't even begin to understand the mind of God. We also can't see the world or anything in it through His Eyes. For all we know, mom's outward appearance, which isn't so great to look at right now, may show nothing of what she is experiencing in her spirit between her and God---she may, in fact, be having a grand old time with Him...we don't know. All we can do is take things one minute at a time and trust in Him Who holds all the answers in His Hands.

I hold onto these 4 scripture verses at this time....
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine." Isaiah 55:8
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Mom Update, June 12, 2013, Wednesday

Just a quick update on mom. At the end of March, right after Easter, she went into respiratory distress and it seemed as though she had a 3rd stroke as well that affected her ability to swallow and breathe well. She was sent to the hospital and remained there for 2 months. She was also put back on a ventilator and feeding tube.


She was just transferred to a long term skilled nursing facility this past Friday. Last night, she had difficulty breathing (even on the vent) and was sent to the hospital in the middle of the night. She was diagnosed with Klebesellia pneumonia which is caused by a weakened immune system caused by bacteria growth from a catheter when it is in for a long time. She has 3 very serious and severe infections as well that are resistant to any type of antibiotic. A pic line was put in this afternoon so that she can receive a combination of 4 different antibiotics as an attempt to hopefully fight the infections, but the prognosis is not good. She had a cat scan with contrast today as well. Her white cell count is literally through the roof...which means a huge infection.
Mom continues to be a strong woman. The nurses had to hold her arm still to do blood work because of how strong she is. She appears to be in a semi-conscious state these last 2 1/2 months. Up until last night, she could shake her head yes or no when questioned sometimes, and could give you a kiss when you asked for it. She cycles through a series of motions in about every 1 -2 minutes when she is awake---she stares blankly, then grimaces in her face as though in pain or upset, then her arms and legs twitch and jerk around, then she closes her eyes peacefully, then the cycle repeats. She has been through so much.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. They mean the world to all of us.
"God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting Him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade." Romans 3:27-28

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Corinthians 4:17