Staying in the Light

We have been having three weeks of intense life.

Last week, Lance’s father had his remaining leg removed. This was quite a blow to our dad’s moral.
He had just started trying to use a prosthetic on his right leg, and it was a huge accomplishment for him to be getting up out of bed or a chair. It was slow going, and very exhausting, but Ron had something to set his sights on after being depressed and incompacitated for the last four years. The journey out of pain seemed to be leading to hope.

But then came the news they would have to take this leg, too.

So, last Thursday, they took the other leg.

We got a phone call last night in the middle of the night for Lance to come to Georgetown. His father had a 106 degree fever and was being transferred from the rehab center to the emergency room. They have brought his fever down by packing his body in ice. It has stabilized at 100 degrees, but, as you can guess, he is completely miserable. Please pray for Ron to find relief. Please. This man has been enduring pain and trauma for almost the entire length of my marriage to Lance (six years). There never seems to be any rhyme or reason to any of it. It just seems to be a long, drawn out process of suffering.
The times we have asked for prayer, miracles happen, and Ron receives comfort, or a good word about his health, or he can accomplish what looks like small tasks, but they are tasks that bring him hope.
Please also pray for Lance’s mother, Gert, who has been by Ron’s side this entire time, and has risen above exhaustion, confusion, and the myriad of feelings that surface while being a caretaker/wife.

Not to sound overwhelmed, but my grandmother, Meema, will be leaving, gracefully. Last week, she fell and broke her hip, and they decided that even though she will be 100 in June, they would put pins in her hip. The surgery was scary enough…they weren’t sure she would make it through that, but she was wheeled out, afterwards, with a smile on her face. During this week, they discovered she couldn’t pass her swallow test, and is aspirating her food. My mother was forced with the decision of whether to insert a feeding tube, and after prayer and discussions with my sister and me, we came to the conclusion that
it is time for her to be able to go. This wasn’t an easy decision, although my sister and I both felt a tube was invasive. My mom got mixed info from doctors and other folks, so it was harder for her. Plus, this is her mommy. Please…say a prayer of thanksgiving for my Meema. She has had a long, bountiful life.
And a prayer of gratitude for my mother, who has been complete unselfish, loving and devoted to caring for my grandma for the last ten years. I hope I can be the daughter to my mom like she has been for hers.

I’ve had many exciting things happening within my career, but it all takes a back seat to our family right now. I’ll try to catch up about all those things later on….

I would like to mention that I think the Arnolds will have a beautiful driveway starting next week because of all the kind souls who have responded to their plea…thank you for the checks and cards and well wishes you have sent to me on their behalf. I will be honored to hand them all of it later tonight. I do believe they can break ground on Monday. Your efforts have, once again, changed lives. Simply by coming together and being a group of caring people. That is a blessing beyond words. I humbly offer up my most heartfelt gratitude.

Love,
Sara