It Is Well With My Soul

A great weekend was had by all!  The OGF (Old Girl Friends) didn't disappoint and was just what the doctor ordered.  They got Eat n Park To-Go, pizza, enjoyed homemade brownies, watched movies and even gave each other pedicures!

Dad's weekend was a bit different, campfires, family, reading, kids, target shooting, walks in the woods and eating ice cream sandwiches.  Again, exactly what the doctor ordered.  When mom called him at camp, Sunday morning, his comment was, "she sounded just like she did before, her voice was normal again."  That was very good news.

I called yesterday, Monday, and had awful timing.  Her upbeat and cheery voice answered the phone, but she told me that all the nurses just walked in, so I called back later.  She is getting along well, and passing all her tests with flying colors.  The home health nurse, PT and Occupational Therapy all observed her in her new normal routine:  taking a bath, getting dressed, making herself something to eat and even doing a bit of laundry.  They all gave her high scores and will re-evaluate if their services are still needed.  She told me that she had put a pair of jeans on yesterday for the first time.  They were not painful for her to wear and she felt more like a modern lady not an old grandma that has to wear pants with elastic.  ( I remember after having a baby or after foot/knee surgeries how good it felt not to wear the pants that you HAVE to wear, but what you WANT to wear!)  She was so excited and I could tell she felt good wearing them.  She said she feels no pain while wearing them as she did before as the seam lays right on the tailbone.

She still tires easily and was ready to take a nap after they left and was done "performing" for them all.   We are enjoying being able to make Easter plans and mom commented that she can't wait to hug the kids!  She has missed them.  I have to admit that I am looking forward to making dinner plans and thinking about what I am going to cook, not so much the care and aid of my mom.  I will do that again in a minute, but this is much more fun.

Dad had commented when we were away at camp how close we have all become as a family through all this.  It is a different kind of relationship when you are there for each other like we have been.  We have laughed, cried, have been concerned and relieved.  We have had amazing doctors that we swear must have photographic memories that make us feel like she is the only patient they have or will ever have, and we have had doctors that we are ready to report to someone...yeah, who do we report them to?  Some of the nurses and aides we have felt to be like family and the first question we would ask when we would call is, "who is the nurse on today," and ones that would come in, shut the door and sit down and talk to us about her care and they weren't even on duty with her.

The end of April will be further testing to see how her treatments have affected the tumor.  Please pray that it is 100% GONE!  She is still having some discomfort from the tissue and area involved and radiation's side effects.  Dr. Raminini, her oncologist, told her that this was the worse case of this type of cancer that he had ever seen.  We are hopeful that she is on the down side of this all and are claiming healing for her.

This week is Holy Week.  This week is the base of our Christian faith the WHY we believe what we believe.  This week we are reminded of Christ's sacrifice He made for us.  We were reminded of his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem as we celebrated Palm Sunday and were reminded to call him "Blessed" because he comes in the Name of the Lord!  We look toward taking the cup and the bread as it was His body and His blood that were given for us.  Friday, the day the cross, carried for each of us, our sins, the pain He endured so that if we confess with our lips and believe in our hearts, we too can live forever with Him in heaven.  Easter Sunday a day of rejoicing for our Resurrected Savior!

This experience with my mom, her journey has forced us to stare in the face, death.  None of us know the day or hour, but we have to be ready, no matter what.  I am thankful for one more day with my mom.  I rejoice in the fact that whatever day it may be, SHE knows where and why she will go when her time comes.  I am thankful for a family that comes together in a time of wonder, and pain and friends that are willing to hold us all up as we travel the journey.  And in my dad's words I close.  "It is well with my soul."  Amen.