Good morning…
Last Wednesday, Bonnie returned to our afternoon class after years of being a loyal member. She certainly had a difficult story to tell and a deep need for the prayers of our group. Bonnie told us the long version of her mother’s situation.
Two Sundays ago, Bonnie’s 83 year old mom, Patricia, fell at the Sandy Springs Theatre when they had turned the lights down for the play to start after intermission. She fell and hit her head hard on the edge of the step, which caused a traumatic brain bleed. Patricia was rushed to Northside Hospital where the operation to relieve the pressure was successful, but she had not regained consciousness and was placed on a breathing tube. Bonnie and her sister Tracy, who has also been a beloved member of our Wednesday group, moved their mom to Grady where she had been receiving excellent care in the ICU. At the two week mark, they were nearing the time when the decision needed to be made whether to take Patricia off of the ventilator.
Coincidentally, two of the fifteen classmates gathered in our home happened to be in the Sandy Springs Theatre the night of Patricia’s tragic fall. Sharing their own experiences of that evening, they helped to paint the picture of the emergency situation. This was very helpful to the sisters, since neither Bonnie or Tracy had been in the theatre that night.
Stumbling through the maze of “maybes and what ifs,” Bonnie and Tracy just wanted clarity. What should they do? Take their 83 year old mom off life support and allow her natural death or put her through a tracheostomy surgery, hoping that she might recover enough to enjoy the simple things in life.
Bonnie asked our class to pray, to pray wholeheartedly for the clarity she and her sister needed. We all left the class intent on diligently praying. The next afternoon, I checked on Bonnie to see what she and Tracy had learned from a 2:00 pm brain scan and follow up meeting with doctors.
“We will be letting her pass tonight,” Bonnie replied at 4:36 pm. “Please pray for us. Mom got much worse overnight and the doctors have said there is nothing left to do. We will be with her. Please pray for strength for us.”
Pray I did. I deeply prayed.
At 7:50 pm, Bonnie texted: “Just letting you know that mom passed away peacefully tonight with us by her side.”
“Awwww. My heart is with you two dear sisters,” I wrote back. “I am glad the path became clear. That’s what we prayed for, clarity. It seems the choice was made for you by the worsening circumstances and the doctors saying there was nothing left to do. Might I share your news with our Wednesday group? So grateful we reconnected for such a time as this. Please give Tracy a long hug, both of you feeling the warmth of my love.”
“Yes,” she replied before I sent an email to our praying class.
This has been a shocking whirlwind for Patricia’s family and friends. On Monday, Bonnie and Tracy shared their mother’s obituary and gave me permission to share it with our written word community. Patricia’s very vibrant life will continue to bear incredible fruit as her love expands into the many lives she has so generously touched. Please visit Patricia’s beautiful obituary.
..if you plant in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life (Galatians 6:8b, GNT).
…Sue…
