Charlie - After 'Observation'

Sunday May 23, 2010

My mom is feeling much better, but still hasn’t gotten much sleep, and still can’t hear very well.  She has decorated my dad’s ICU room – the wall he faces is covered in blown-up family photos.  She is spending a lot of time at the hospital and we are so grateful for the precious precious friends that have been there by her side.  

 The doctors are quite perplexed and amazed about my dad.  We spoke to the surgeon on Sunday after he did the ‘observation.’  He was not optimistic.  Ultimately my dad’s body is beginning to fail.  I know that seems strange to say as he has had ALS for over 30 years, but these complications are new on the horizon.  And they are not necessarily due to the ALS – they are due to the diabetes. The surgeon said it is getting grim, and that my dad may not make it through the night.  All we can do is wait...and pray.  

My dad has been in and out of the hospital these past few years.  Every time he goes in, we make sure he is never alone – either one of our nurses are with him or a family member.  On Sunday, my mom, Kale, and I were all there at the same time.  It was difficult to see my dad after he came out of surgery.  He was very bloated and didn’t look like himself.  They got him started on dialysis, which is good for him, but he can’t have his pain medication when he is on it, and that takes hours.  I couldn’t stand the thought that he had just come out of a difficult surgery and couldn’t have pain meds.  I can’t bear to see him in pain.  It was comforting to have my brother there.  He brings a calming element to the situation.  He checked out my dad, watched the monitors, knows what to look for, and what is a concern and what is not.

I left at about 8pm to be home with the kids so that Keith could go out to an appt.  He is covering as much of the real estate work load as he can so my mom doesn’t even have to think about it.  While it is a bit crazy and chaotic, we are grateful to be living with my parents at the moment.  This way I can make sure my mom is eating and resting.  She and Keith can readily communicate about work.  And when my mom comes home late each night from the hospital, she is not coming home to a dark empty house.  Dear friends have been bringing food, and just showing up to pray and just ‘be there.’  We are so grateful.

My cousin, Yuki, sent this scripture, and it is perfect because it is in Him we put our hope.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
       on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death
       and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the LORD;
       he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
       for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
       even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33: 18-22
 

As followers of Christ, we don’t ‘fear’ physical death.  The death that Christ has delivered us from is spiritual death.  In Him we live – either here, or in glory.

By grace alone...through faith alone...
because of Christ alone