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Stray Dog

Posted by eph21920 on November 10, 2015 in Faith, Forgiveness, Struggles

Tonight as I was flipping through channels on the TV, I came across the PBS Independent Lens series. It was called, “Stray Dog”, and the first scene was a man sitting on his front porch grooming a small black poodle. Thinking it was a story about animals – perhaps this person rescues dogs – I kept it on. Much to my surprise, the “Stray Dog” was the man himself. He was a Vietnam Veteran and the hour and a half show was a snippet of his life. Of course I have heard about PTSD, the brotherhood of vets, and the plight of the vets at this time in history. But watching this one person’s life gave me a whole new appreciation and empathy for them. This man struggled desperately with guilt, anger, and rejection. But at some time, he got help and continues to work through. Not only that, he works to encourage other vets to find the help they need. There were also several times when he would participate at funerals and veteran events, even if it just meant showing up. At one point he and a couple of his friends tracked down the mother of a woman service member whose funeral they had attended. She was surprised and overwhelmed by their efforts. She shared that she had a grandson who also recently lost his life in military action. The men prayed with her and directed her to a group she could connect into. The “Stray Dog” was a large man who rode in motorcycle clubs wearing his heavy leather vest that was strewn with patches and medals. But inside he had a heart of gold. If I saw him on the street I would wonder what kind of life he lead and likely come to a snap judgment. Watching the show helped me to try to change my thinking and to try to honor our veterans – especially this Veterans Day.

I Found God today in learning more about the struggles of our veterans and seeing how 1 person can affect many.

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Visit to the Craft Fair

Posted by eph21920 on November 8, 2015 in Family, Problem, Struggles

My mom’s sister’s birthday is coming up. My mother has been browsing catalogs and the internet for that just right perfect gift. She (and I) like visiting craft fairs, but it has become very difficult for her as she cannot walk a long distance. I had been perusing the craft fairs during the weekend and found one that looked promising. A friend has a wheelchair and said that we could use it at any time, so we called her up to arrange the pick up. I loaded it up in the car and off we went on a new adventure. We got to the fair to find a rocky gravel parking lot. The 2 handicap spots were taken, so I asked the man who was working the fair if it was ok to drop my mom off at the entrance and then parked the car. He said of course and came over to give us a hand. He helped my mom out of the car while I unloaded the wheelchair. He must have had experience, as he knew just what to do. I parked the car and met my mom at the entrance. The fair was in the community center of the small town. We used the handicapped entrance into the building, around the corner, and through the doorway. We were met with tons of people, crafts, and tables filling the small space. Most of the “aisles” had enough room for the wheelchair and one small person to pass through. I told my mom to just look at the items for sale and not to worry about maneuvering around the people – I would look out for that. It was challenging to say the least. We were not able to see the entire fair, as some places were so small and packed that we could not even get in. But the majority of the people were very nice, patient, and considerate. My mom did find a nice gift that she thinks my aunt will enjoy. As we checked out, one of the ladies thanked me for bringing my mom in. They realized the difficulty we had, but appreciated the visit. We spent only about 1/2 hour at the fair, but that was enough. My mom was exhausted from the venture by the time we got home and I was weary as well.  All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable new undertaking. We got my mom out and about, saw some interesting items, managed to make it through all the obstacles and I think it was good experience.

I Found God today in being able to get my mom out and in all the considerate people we met along the way.

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Gardens and Gratitude

Posted by eph21920 on November 7, 2015 in Creation, Family, Grateful, Struggles

My sister loves plants. At one point she even considered going into horticulture as a career. Not surprisingly, she recently became a member of the Botanical Gardens. They had a special tour set up for new members today and she invited me to go, but I have been hesitant to leave my parents alone for the day considering all that has gone on. My sister has also been going through a difficult time and been very stressed. Yesterday, her husband called and suggested that he and my brother come for the day and do some things around the house while I go to the Botanical Gardens with my sister. It sounded like it would work out for everyone, so we made it happen. This morning, I headed to my sister’s, and my brother and brother-in-law headed to my parent’s. My sister and I had a wonderful day. The sky was a clear beautiful blue, the air was chilly, but the sun was warm. Many plants had frozen already, but there were a couple of buildings that housed those from warmer climates so there were still some flowers to look at and smell. Back outside we found several different types of gardens, some with water falls, and trails that went every which way. It was very serene – just what we both needed. Back at my parent’s, my brother and brother-in-law installed some railings along the 2 steps leading from the garage into the house. They also helped my dad install a grab bar in the shower. Everyone was glad to make the home little safer and grateful that everything actually did work out very well.

I Found God today in the thoughtfulness of my brother-in-law, the consideration and work from he and my brother, the beautiful day enjoyed with my sister, and grateful that everything worked out nicely.

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Forgiveness

Posted by eph21920 on November 6, 2015 in Bible, Faith, Forgiveness, Struggles

This morning I got up and ready early enough to go to church. The priest spoke about the scripture Romans 15:14-21. He talked about how important it is to be humble, to raise each other up, and to pray for others. What really touched my heart was when he said we also need to pray for those who we have battled with – maybe even hated – and to forgive. Of course, that is easier said than done. I have personally struggled with this situation. For a while I was getting pretty good about praying for those who hurt not only me, but loved ones as well. When those painful thoughts came around, I would start to pray, I tried to remember that God loves them too and constantly offers that love. It is up to each individual whether or not they accept it. Later in the day as I was running errands, the song, “Forgiveness” by Matthew West came on in the car. It caught my attention as just a little while previously, I was starting to allow some of those negative thoughts in my head. I sang along and prayed. I was grateful to be able to go to church as it always gives me a better direction for my thoughts, my actions, and my life. You can find the song HERE. The story behind the song is also very powerful. You can find that HERE.

I Found God today in a reminder of what I need to do to keep positive, hopeful, and loving.

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A Quiet Day

Posted by eph21920 on November 5, 2015 in Family, Life, Peace

It was a fairly quiet day today. I got up early, walked and exercised, made meals as usual, and talked to my sister. I got a couple things accomplished that I wanted to. Both my mom and dad were active around the house and took care of some things as well. Not much excitement. Not much happening. At this stage in the game, it was a welcomed change.

I Found God today in a quiet day.

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An Emotional Day

Posted by eph21920 on November 4, 2015 in Children, Faith, Grateful, Joy, Prayer, Struggles

Usually after one of our way too many hospital experiences, I run on adrenaline for a couple days, then exhale. Today was that day. I seemed to be teary eyed and weepy at many times during the day. This morning during my prayer time, I read a paragraph from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska that really touched my heart. It felt like God was speaking directly to me. Here is part of it, “A noble and delicate soul, even the most simple, but one of delicate sensibilities, sees God in everything, finds Him everywhere, and knows how to find Him in even the most hidden things….It places its trust in God and is not confused when the time of ordeals comes…this soul passes on without fear or difficulty.” I may not pass without fear or difficulty, but I do try to put my trust in God and push through difficult trials. Later in the day, I took my mom to see her primary care doctor to follow up after her stroke. We told him the story of what happened and I started crying as we talked about her miraculous recovery. He was also amazed at how well she was doing and said that my mom is the poster child for how things can be overcome during a stroke if everyone does the right thing at the right time. He commented that is was such a gift. Back at home, we all talked about that comment and the fact that within the year through all the difficulties, my parents have been given the gift of continued longevity. My mom said she thought about that this morning, thanked God, and asked Him to let her know what she should do with the time she has been given. More tears. After a while, she played the piano – no problem. She is as she was – as if nothing happened. Choked up again. Even watching the evening news there was a story of a little girl who had a bone disease and couldn’t walk until she got a therapy dog who she is able to walk with. Tears trickled down my cheek as I watched them go to school together. I saw new pictures of my granddaughter, which always bring tears of joy. It just went on and on.

I Found God today in all the things that deeply touched my heart.

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Unique Talents

Posted by eph21920 on November 3, 2015 in Family, Grateful, Relationship

My brother has been staying with my parents for a few weeks while I was helping my sister get situated at her house with her broken leg. He helped them with all that was needed – cooking, doctor appointments, taking them to church, etc. Of course, all relationships are different, and my brother brought his own unique talents to the situation. He and my dad especially connect on a whole other level. They talked about computers, the stock market, and watched old Star Trek episodes. Not that I don’t like Star Trek, but last night we watched Dancing With the Stars. He made excellent coffee for them and taught my mom how to play a musical game on her iPad. Today he packed up his things, his dog, his dogs things, and headed off to his next endeavor. I am very grateful for his time with my parents to allow me to help my sister and to spend time with my friends when they came for a visit. I see him in a new light as we share the experiences with the family and very much appreciate his contribution.

I Found God today in the unique talents and helpfulness of my brother.

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All Souls

Posted by eph21920 on November 2, 2015 in Answer, Death, Eternity, Faith, Family, Healing, Jesus, Life, Sick

Today is All Souls Day as celebrated in the Catholic faith. It is a day to remember and pray for all those who have died and especially praying that they may enter into Heaven. I made it to Mass early this morning and started praying on my way there. I started by thinking of all the babies that I never knew as they were taken away before they could even make it out into this world – children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and siblings. I thought of extended family – cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, in-laws, and beyond. My mind then went to friends who I wished I could have known longer. I felt like I brought them all to Mass with me as I asked God to bring them into His heavenly Kingdom. After listening to scripture, the deacon gave the reflection. He talked about the way that we love our bodies and work hard to keep then healthier. He also challenged us to think about how we are taking care of our souls – the part of us that will last forever. I thought that was very appropriate considering what we have been going through. Jesus Christ died and was raised from the dead. He promised that whoever believes in Him will do the same and live forever- amazing to think about. I am hopeful to see all those who have died in Heaven.

Later, we went to the hospital to be with my mom. We were optimistic and my mother told us that the nurse said she thought she may be able to go home today. A woman came in to administer Holy Communion, so my mom was pretty happy about that. Then a woman who had a harp came around. She came into the room and played for us – it was so soothing and calming. Then a nurse came in and did an ultrasound on my mother’s heart. Not too long after that, the neurologist visited and said that the cat scan showed everything was normal and that my mom was doing great. Before she left, she was joined by a heart doctor. They found that there is a slight leak in the 2 upper chambers of my mother’s heart. This could cause a blood clot and could have been the culprit for the stroke. She prescribed a blood thinner and released my mom to go home. We settled back into the “normal” routine. I was still in awe of the fact that my mother had a stroke 2 days ago and you wouldn’t even know it now. Before bed, we said a prayer of thanksgiving to St. Jude.

I Found God today in a reminder that this body will not last forever, but there is hope of eternal life.

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Aware of Awesomeness

Posted by eph21920 on November 1, 2015 in Eucharist, Faith, Family, Grateful, Healing, Miracle, Sick

Last night I slept a few hours straight, then woke often thinking about my mother. I made myself stay in bed until close to sunrise. Then I was up and back to hospital. She was actually speaking even better than she was when we left last night. The nurses completed neurological tests every hour all through the night. Even with a lack of sleep, my mom was functioning as normal. The doctor came in for his visit and was pleasantly surprised at her progress. We asked about the cause of the stroke and he talked of a couple possible scenarios. He pulled up the computer screen with the pictures of the CT scan and showed us where the blocked artery was. I was enthralled by the 3D image that could be turned this way and that to get a better view. He said they would like to do an MRI to get a better look at things. I learned that there are a couple different types of strokes and the medication they gave her worked only for a blood clot. The doctor spent time with us, explained things to us, and made sure all our questions were answered before he left the room. A little later a woman came in and offered prayer and Holy Communion which we were glad to share. We told her my mom had a stroke yesterday and she couldn’t believe it. After the 24 hour watch period in the ICU, my mom was transferred to a room in the stroke patient area. Her new nurse who works with stroke patients all the time said that it was rare to see such a recovery as my mom’s. She said it was the best case scenario in which everyone involved did exactly the right things in the right timing. She explained how important it is to get to the hospital right away with stroke symptoms so treatment can be effective. My mom was elated to be able to sit up, move around, and eat. After a while the physical therapist came in to assess her and was also surprised at my mom’s ability to move as she had previously. Unfortunately they were unable to do the MRI because the voltage used by the pacemaker is so high and my mom is dependent upon it. So, they did another CT scan. We look forward to seeing those results tomorrow. My dad and I left this evening exhausted but still very optimistic, incredibly grateful, and somewhat overwhelmed by my mom’s awesome recovery.

I Found God today in the continued awareness of my mom’s miraculous recovery.

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Miraculous Stroke Improvement

Posted by eph21920 on October 31, 2015 in Family, Grateful, Healing, Miracle, Sick

This morning started out like most, my mom and dad got up, took their pills, and we talked about how they were feeling. My mom has felt weak the last couple of days, but that comes and goes. She was hungry, which was a good sign. After breakfast, I was working in the kitchen and my mom went into her room. A couple minutes later I heard her call me. I went in and found her lying on the floor at the foot of her bed. I was very confused and thought at first she had been doing some exercises. She said she could not get up, so I took a hold of her and helped her. She was having trouble standing. Luckily her walker with a seat on it was nearby, so I got it over and was able to sit her in it. During this time, I asked why she was on the floor. She said it was not on purpose. She was going to the back of the room and felt too weak to make it, so she held onto the bedpost and slid down to the floor. I could hear that she was having a hard time talking, which happens sometimes with her Parkinsons. But when she sat down, I could see that this was different. Her speech was slurred and it seemed that her mouth was not cooperating. I asked her to smile for me and only the right side of her face responded. I knew this was a sign of a stroke. Not wanting to leave my mom, I yelled for my dad and he came in the room. I briefly explained what happened and that I thought she had a stroke and we needed to get her to a hospital right away. My mom said, “Call 911”, which we did. The EMT’s arrived and my mom was able to answer the questions, but with some difficulty. As they tended to her, I could see that she was declining. The ambulance arrived and they whisked her off to the hospital. My dad was going to ride with her, but as he went back inside to retrieve his hearing aides, they left without him. They wanted to waste no time. When my dad and I arrived at the hospital, the doctor was speaking to my mom who was in a pretty bad way. She was struggling to form any words, had no feeling on the left side of her body, and was loosing peripheral vision in her left eye. The doctor said the testing that they had already done showed a spot on her brain and they were fairly certain she was not getting blood to that area and having a stroke. He talked about a drug that they could give her – TPA. He said she was a very good candidate as she was there so quickly after the onset of the symptoms. The medication needed to be administered ASAP. (I later found that there is about a 3 hour window in which this medication is effective.) The drug is given through an IV and breaks up blood clots that have formed, allowing blood to flow to the part of the brain that is being blocked. The doctor said the risk was potential internal bleeding and that they would keep a close watch for that. My dad said yes – to please do what could be done. He asked my mom who nodded her head and managed to form the words, “I read about that.” They got the medication set up quickly, gave her a large dose, and hung the rest on the IV pole to continue the process. The nurse stayed in the room and went through a regimen with my mom every 15 minutes. The first few tries, everything seemed to stay the same. Then, she was able to raise her left eyebrow a bit. Her words were becoming more clear. Gradually, she started coming around. After the hour drip in the IV, she was sent to ICU to keep a close watch over her for the next 24 hours. As time passed, her speech was more understandable, her thought process was better, and she got feeling back in her left side. Her nurse in the ICU called her a TPA miracle. I asked if they see many people improve in such a dramatic way. She said unfortunately not, as most people do not get to the hospital in time. As evening came, my dad and I were exhausted so decided to head home for the night to get some good sleep. By the time we left, my mom was just about back to her normal. I am still amazed and grateful for this miraculous improvement. And I am grateful for those who continue to care for my mom.

I Found God today in being close to my mom to respond to her, in my mom’s prompting to call 911, in the EMT’s and doctors who knew just what to do, in the medical knowledge and medications that are available, and mostly in the amazing improvement that my mom showed in a short period of time.

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