** Due to the increasing severity of MY ILLNESS, it has become impossible for me to continue to post on a regular basis. Unfortunately, as much as I desperately long to, I am also unable to visit each of your blogs often or reciprocate all the loving, supportive comments many of you continue to leave - even though at times it may appear as though you've arrived at some long ago, forsaken blog! With that said, I really want you to know that I miss every single one of you and that I really am still here! I'm just too sick and too weak most days to be able to sit up long enough to create a brand new post...or even read one. However, I absolutely do receive AND read every new encouraging word you leave (and, often, the old ones, again and again!) and I cherish them now more than ever! I truly appreciate your love, support, and, most importantly, your precious time spent on your knees in prayer for my family and me. It ALL means the world to me and I am truly blessed to have friends like you!
~Hugs and Sister Love, Teresa

FYI: All comments come to my email, which I can easily read on my phone. I also enjoy Facebook on my phone because I can catch up on A LOT in a very short time there. Soooo, if you're on Facebook, come 'friend' me there! {{HUGS}} **

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

~ MY GRANNY ~

Daddy, Granny, Mama
Mother's Day '08


'Her children will rise up and call her blessed....'

~ Proverbs 31:28


Last night (Monday), my 95 year old Grandmother was taken back to the Emergency Room at the hospital down the road from the nursing home where she lives. Some of you may recall that she was just sent there on Sunday morning by the nursing home staff. This time, though, it was Granny who insisted on going. That, in and of itself, had me a little concerned. OK, a lot more than a little.

You see, Granny has never been one to go to the doctor unless it was absolutely necessary and, even then, sometimes you still have to prod her to help convince her she really needs to go. She certainly would not make an unnecessary trip late at night when my parents, and other family members, would be notified that she was going and would have to travel almost an hour to meet her there.

However, Granny has not been herself for quite some time. I wrote the following about that in May, in a FLASHBACK FRIDAY POST about Mother's Day. Here is an excerpt:

'...it has been extremely difficult and sad to watch as her once very beautiful human body has really started to deteriorate, her mind has begun to fade and, bit by bit, she is losing all of her glorious memories she used to enjoy sharing with us each and every time we would see her. I can remember she LOVED to tell us stories about when she was a little girl. Her mind would wander back in time as she would recount how different (and better!) things were back in the day.'

When I spoke with my dad this morning, he said that Granny is now in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. She has been diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and a pressure sore on her back, which the nursing home staff has been treating for a while but without much success. She is quite sick from all of it and is Septic, meaning she has a severe bacterial infection in her bloodstream - like what I get when I have an infection in my port - though her's is probably caused by the UTI and/or the pressure sore. This is quite serious for anyone but particularly for someone elderly and weak.

I have not seen my sweet Granny in quite some time. She has been in the nursing home and, as you know, I have been homebound and bedridden due to my illness. I want so badly to be by her side during all of this, but it is dangerous for me to go inside a hospital right now because my immune system is so weakened. I could get really sick. I may decide to risk it depending on how things progress.

Regardless of how things go, I am really at peace with my relationship with my Grandmother and with how things sit right now between Granny and me. A couple of years ago, I wrote her a really long letter telling her just how much I loved her and Papa (my grandfather who passed away almost 24 years ago after a valiant fight with colon cancer). I also thanked her for the significant influence she and Papa had on my life and the lives of my two younger siblings, as we were growing up. They lived next door to us the entire time we were growing up and saw to it that we went to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I honestly don't think the three of us would be the people we are today if it weren't for the influence of our grandparents living right next door and making sure we were in church. (Granny continued living in that same house, which she and Papa built back in the 1940's, until my dad and his brothers literally made her move out once she was no longer able to care for herself AND someone tried to break in on her in the middle of the night while she was sleeping....and she didn't hear a thing.)

Now, please don't get me wrong! It is literally breaking my heart in two to know that I may never get to touch her sweet face, hold her soft hand OR tell her that I love her just one more time while we are still here in this temporary place we call home. However, I know in my heart that Granny knows I love her and that I appreciate the difference she has made in my life. I also know that Granny knows and loves Jesus and soon will be sitting at His feet, holding hands with Papa.

That thought makes me happy and may have to do until I see her again there in Heaven. What a GLORIOUS day that will be!

Here's a beautiful song I'd like to dedicate to Granny. Every time I hear it, it reminds me of her.




Please continue to keep my Granny in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray that she feels better soon and that she not suffer. Please pray for the Lord's will to be done. We would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much.

Blessings,

Teresa

P.S.
This afternoon (Thursday), the doctors said that due to the severity of the infection, my grandmother's heart became very 'sick' from it. There is nothing else they can do for her, so all treatment has been discontinued and it is just a matter of time. For my prayer warriors, I'd like to ask you to please pray she does not suffer and please keep our entire family in your prayers as we all deal with this very difficult situation. Thanks so much.

13 comments:

Kelly said...

I'm here visiting from SITS - praying for your grandmother!

((Hugs)) & prayers

Ruth said...

Can your family set up a webcam so that you can be there? It's not the same as touching her but it might give you connection to the rest of your family.

Unknown said...

Awww...sweetie!!! You have had to go through so much lately. I am so sorry. (((HUGS))) Praying for your family now. For your grandma's health and for God's will in her life and yours.

Here if you ever need me to pray/talk/listen.

Love ya gal! Praying!

KM said...

Prayers for your grandma, you and your family.
Kelly Marie

Michelle said...

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving some comment luv. I so feel for you, my dear. My Dad passed away January 2010 from complications, including sepsis.
I did not get to see him in his later stages. The last time I saw him we danced together. I am believing he would rather me remember him that way. He wanted to be cremated so there was no closer. The funeral home was suppose to wait and bury him when the family was there. Unfortunately they did not wait, didn't even tell us. They just went ahead and buried him when they put the tombstone in. He is under the tombstone.
We do believe he is in heaven and we'll see him again.<3

Michelle (Joyful) said...

I forgot to tell you I'm your newest follower.

Unknown said...

I'm glad you're at peace with the possibility you won't see her again here in this life. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and her.

Anonymous said...

Sending prayers to you and to your grandma. I was with my grandma when she passed and I know how hard it is when the time is coming soon. Such wisdom in the time that we get with them! Hugs to you!
-Mary

Unknown said...

It is so hard to know that you are going to lose your Granny, but you are so loving and unselfish to let her go and be at peace...knowing that she will no longer suffer. That is the ultimate display of faith!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Teresa! I feel your pain! I wasn't able to be there when my grandmother who raised me died. I didn't have help with my boys at that time( never did) - and when my aunt called (they were 4 hours away), to say it was going to be soon, I went outside on my back porch, faced North (toward her) and prayed Proverbs 31 over her - and prayed. A few minutes later, I left for church - we had praise and worship that evening - and, God so blessed me - I swear He allowed my spirit to feel her Spirit soar as she crossed over to the other side. I could not be there - but God so blessed me with those moments! I think it comes to the point where our job is to help them cross over to The Promise of God - to the otherside. And, that, too, is such a beautiful time - when you have someone in your life who loves the Lord. If you just sit or kneel and pray, read scripture over her spirit - you might not be there physically, but you are just as surely there in spirit, beside her, loving her, helping her.

Be blessed dear sister!

septembermom said...

I'm so sorry Teresa. I will pray for your Granny and your family. I know that she must feel all your love. She will feel peace just knowing that you all are with her in love and support.

Ruth Cox aka abitosunshine said...

I've whispered a prayer for your Grandmother ... Peaceful, painless passing.

Blessings & a bit o' sunshine!
Ruthi
http://abitosunshine.blogspot.com

Johnnie said...

He never leaves us alone. What a day it will be when we are with our loved ones in eternal joy. Blessings and prayers for you, your grandmother and your family.

In Christ,
Johnnie

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