“She Is A Very Sick Woman”

Good morning…

Up in the middle of the night, I scroll through photos I snapped last month while visiting my parents in Ohio. As my mom and I went on a walk through the welcoming sidewalks of their senior living community, I took the picture above at one of her favorite resting spots on a bench outside the villa of a friend. Visiting these happy photos counterbalances my mixed emotions from yesterday.

At 2:26 am my dad texted, letting me know that my mom, very lethargic, had been transported to the ER at the nearby hospital. In the ICU, scans revealed a major infection, so she was put on very strong IV antibiotics. By 6:30 am, she was placed in a regular room. “I went to see your Mom and she was very tired so I left her and am now at Cathy’s,” he wrote a little after 1:00 pm from my sister’s home. “As one worker said she is a very sick woman.”

She is a very sick woman. The sentence felt like looking through a cloudy lens. Muted. Distorted. Impossible to see clearly from eleven hours away.

Talking on speaker phone with my dad, our whole family expressed, “Merry Christmas, Grandaddy.” We could hear his concern and exhaustion as he recounted his worrisome morning visit with my mom. Later in the evening, I called back to talk privately. His second hospital visit for the day revealed a small bit of progress. My mom was interacting more. My dad was able to feed her some jello and ice chips, but she had no interested in the chicken broth.

I am so grateful to be flying to Ohio tomorrow morning. With my dad picking me up a little after 10:00 am, we will head straight to the hospital to visit with my mom. I often say to my dad and siblings, “Kiss mom on the forehead for me.” It will be really, really nice to kiss my mom’s forehead with my very own lips.

An earthly father expresses love for his children;
    it is no different with our heavenly Father;
The Eternal shows His love for those who revere Him.
For He knows what we are made of;
    He knows our frame is frail (Psalm 103:13-14a, VOICE).

I cherish your continued prayers for my mom and my dad, as God forms a sturdy web between our frail frames.

…Sue…