Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Grandmother

I know I've been away for quite some time. I've been busy with school, work, and other affairs that demanded my attention. I hope all of you and your families are having a peaceful Lent.

This past Sunday I had a terrible experience. My grandmother had a heart-attack and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. For a moment there it was thought that she would not make it. However, she was stabilized and they've kept her in ICU for the past three days. Yesterday the doctors and nurses were talking about releasing her on Wednesday, but this morning she took a slight turn for the worst. Her blood pressure dropped significantly, so they had to give her more medications to stabilize her. She appears disoriented and tells the nurses that administer to her that she wants to go home. I know she is elderly and that I should be glad for having her as long as I did. But when we love someone, there is no such thing as having them for just the right amount of time.

Truth be told, I've been dreading the day a lose her for the longest time now. I've wondered how and when it will come despite obvious answers and admonitions not to do so. A few years ago when she had a cardiac incident and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, I prayed for a few more years with her and it appears those prayers were answered. Now, selfishly I pray again for just a little more time.

Please keep my grandmother, Isabel, in your prayers. Thank you and God bless all of you.

10 comments:

Mike and Kim said...

Oh,Tom,I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother! It's been three years since my mom was in ICU and I remember those days like they were yesterday...Mom, too, asked to go home often.

I will definitely be lifting her, her medical team of doctors/nurses, and your family up in prayers.

Visit her often...it sustains us and brightens their world.

Peace be with you!

Katie Alender said...

You and your grandmother are in my thoughts and prayers, Tom.

Chris said...

I will say a prayer for your grandma and for you also, Tom. It's never easy.

Vicki aka Diva Mom said...

Prayers going up for you and your Grandmother!

Adrienne said...

You are not being selfish to want to keep your grandma. You love her and that is a natural reaction.

We will both keep her in our prayers.

Shirley said...

Tom. I sure will keep your Grandma in my prayers. My mom is in the hospital now too, they are doing tests on her, and have her on oxygen. She has pneumonia and some sort of infection and will be there for a few more days while they assess her. So please keep my mom, Zora, in your prayers too.

Tom in Vegas said...

M & K-

I know when I describe my experiences, with you I’m preaching to the choir. By reading Kris’ blog I know well enough how painful it was for all of you to lose your dear mom. Kris has also been very supportive about my fears since she was the first one I confessed them to a few months ago. Thank you for your continued prayers.


Katie-

Thank you so much for stopping by. Those prayers do come in handy.


Chris-

You are so right - it’s never easy. Even when you see it coming you anguish anyway. Thank you for praying for gram’s.


Vicki-

Thank you. Prayers indeed!


Auntie A-

You’ve always been so understanding about these things. God bless you and I hope someday I can give you a big and strong hug in person. On our behalf, thank you for your continued prayers.


Shirley-

I’m so sorry to hear about your dear mom. I guess you and I can especially find solidarity with each other in knowing of our simultaneous experiences. Of coarse I will keep Zora in my prayers. Thank you for praying for grandma and please keep us up-to-date with the condition of your mom.

ukok said...

Oh Tom, i'm so sorry, it is never easy, this thing called love. We want so much to hold on to our loved ones and to never let them go, hopefully your dear grandma will recover from this illness and you will have her with you for some time left to come.

(((hugs)))

Terry Nelson said...

I will pray Tom - the elderly are our treasures, so we need to care for and keep them with us for as long as possible.

Tom in Vegas said...

Debbie and Terry, thank you both so much for your thoughts and prayers.