Update on my mom #2

Mom had a feeding tube surgically inserted into her stomach yesterday so she is in some pain today. She was able to stand for a few seconds, sit for a few seconds, swallowed a tiny bit of applesauce. Still not coherent most of the time, but has had a few moments of clarity. Cannot speak, but shakes her head "no", nods "yes".

We go to a nursing home in Kapolei Wednesday to talk about options there. PLEASE PRAY my mom can get placed there. The Kaiser doctor who sees patients there is great, the place is accessible to my dad for daily visits. It would be a huge blessing for mom to be there.

I'm headed home Thursday morning (Thanksgiving Day). These are the times I wish I lived on the same island as my parents. I miss JB, Britt & Malia so much, but I feel like I'm bailing on my family.

On the drive over to the hospital tonight, I was reflecting on our human-ness. Our aging is part of God's design in us. We take care of our bodies, eat right, get exercise, don't smoke, all to get the best mileage and quality of life out of our bodies as possible. But even so, as we age, we don't have a magic "off" switch we can flip that lets us escape this process of aging where our body breaks down and our mind loses some functions. I thought about why we are designed this way. I know this: God has a reason for everything. He didn't make a mistake in the design or leave one switch out. It could be that he uses a parent's aging process to grow "something" in the children, spouse and loved ones of the aging one. I know for myself, I feel myself growing in the areas of caring, empathy, patience, service, devotion, compassion - and not just for my mom, but for my whole family, and for other families who are or will be going through this same process.

Sowing and reaping. On the one hand, one would think that if you sow good health, you shouldn't reap failing health in aging, but that is not the case. No matter how well you take care of your body, if you live long enough, it will break down. I think about the give and take in life and I'm reminded that Kit Lauer's illness brought full circle the care and concern he has had for others through the years, when they came to his and Shelly's aid in their time of need. That's sowing and reaping. So balance is good. Take care of your health, but take care of your relationships too.

Another way God may use the aging process for a purpose would be in saying "a hui hou" (until we meet again) to our loved ones. If there were a switch we could flip when we were ready to check out of this life, it would be nice and clean for us, but hard on family members left behind. But throw in a little (actually an awful lot) of pain and agony, and after a while, death almost becomes a friend. We don't want to see our loved ones suffer beyond what their body and mind can bear. That's inhumane.

No easy answers, but I find comfort in the fact that God has a purpose for everything.

Unsolicited tip of the day: a universal remote control brought from home makes it way easier to control the hospital TVs. Don't forget to bring the brand codes list.

An idea: someone should do seminars on how to navigate HMOs, Medicare and Medicaid. In the middle of a health crisis is not the time to learn the ins and outs of these systems.

Again, thank you all for your prayers and kind words. Forgive me for rambling on and on...

3 comments from Facebook

Eydis Rennan wrote at 8:42am on November 26th, 2008 Amen Lisa, that was beautiful. I pray for a wonderful Thanksgiving for you and yours. Report - Delete

Tyler Gillies (Hope Chapel) wrote at 11:03am on November 26th, 2008 continuing to pray for her Report - Delete

Debbie Ashcraft wrote at 3:49pm on November 26th, 2008 Praying for you guys, especially your mom...may the Lord's strength, comfort and healing surround you all in a totally tangible way. ♥ ♥ ♥ Report - Delete

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