A lot of you have probably not heard this--I alluded to it last week on a status but did not explain. My dear mama, who has been very limited physically for many years, had a pretty significant stroke Aug. 20. She spent the first two weeks in the hospital (with a 2 day visit to a rehab in the middle of those two weeks). But 8 days ago she was transported from the hospital to a hospice house in Ft. Myers. Right now we are in a waiting mode. She hasnt eaten anything of significance since a week ago Sunday. The kids and grandkids have been making their way for visits (as well as two of her devoted caregivers who have become family to us) but she sleeps most of the time and we only get an occasional groan now rather than understandable sounds. Dad comes every day and my sister and I are alternating the bedside vigil every couple days. I occasionally play Pandora hymns, the audio Bible, and recordings of my daughter singing to her very close to her only ear that still has a little hearing. Two days ago she seemed to be more awake than she had been--however, her breathing also began changing a bit. We are novices at this and everyone tells us that each experience is different and nobody can predict anything when it comes to a timetable...so we wait. Even though Mom has been in a state of real dependency and slow, steady physical decline for 8 years, and thus this is not unexpected, its still very surreal when you actually reach this point. Im so thankful that our hope is in our Lord Jesus and that He has promised eternal life to his followers after our bodies give out in this world. I cling to these promises during this very difficult time and appreciate prayers for us and for her to transition peacefully into the arms of her Savior. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. (Romans 8:18-19) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:16:10 +0000