Medical Update

Just this morning Nathan's doctor called with the biopsy results from the colonoscopy. Besides the tear in his rectum, Nathan has Colitis (not the ulcer type) and will begin medications this week. We really do not know anything about this so will be in research to learn what Nathan needs. We do know that the doctor’s are hoping he will eventually be able to be weaned from all medications during childhood.
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My mom, Sally, is now home on her own and off oxygen. She's recovering as expected, slowly...but is recovering!
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Thanks for all of your prayers and concern. It's so neat how my friends check up on us asking how both of these medical issues are. I love you all!

My Mom is Home!

Not much to say, it's all in the snappy title...my mom is home! Well, not her home, but my aunt's. Thank you for your continued prayers. She has a long recovery ahead of her. We are thankful that she is in the hands of people that love her 100% vs. nurses that are very busy and unengaged. Praise be to God for his continued protection and healing on Sally!

Sally Update

We are so thankful for your prayers and to our God the Ultimate healer. My mom is recovering well. She is still in ICU. Early this morning they removed the chest tube that collects all the extra liquid from her lungs. Now they are weaning her off the epidural, she’s at 16 and every hour will be moved down one level, until 0. She will then transfer to morphine, more than likely. Today she is assigned to walk with assistance, four times, still with her catheter and oxygen.

The results came back from the area of lung they removed, she is cancer free and it was verified that it was indeed “just” Valley Fever. This is reason to rejoice!

They moved her into a better area in ICU, it’s much quieter so she is getting more rest, exactly what she needs. Her spirits are up and she is being a super patient with following doctor’s orders with hourly breathing treatments, even if it hurts.

Please continue to pray. It appears that doctors are trying to move her out of the hospital quicker than she (and family) feel comfortable. We pray she gets hospital care through the weekend at least. After that, she’s declined our offer for her to move in here for the time. Instead, she’ll be going to my aunts… or by herself (which in my book should not be an option). My mom definitely knows how God took care of her, we pray she continues to trust in Him and grow into a deeper faith with Him.

Hugs to you all.

Sally Update

Thank you all for your prayers today. My mom's surgery is done. She is recovering in a special ICU unit at Desert Banner. The great news is that they did not have to remove her right lung, just the damaged area on the right lobe. The Valley Fever was so severe that it had connected the lung to the chest cavity which took the surgeon a long time to cut the two to disconnect. By the time I left the hospital she was already breathing on her own without a respirator.

Things are still very serious for her and will for quit awhile, so I covet your prayers. She'll be in ICU for a week or so, getting great care. Pneumonia and infections are very common to set in and her lung needs to build back up (not correct term...her lung is collapsed too due to surgery) which happens with deep breaths, although VERY painful due to all her ribs being broken.

God sure blessed me with some peace today as I turned around in the pre-op room to see my sweet friend Kari's mom working that room (nurse). She held my mom closely while she was getting her epidural and then held her hand until she was asleep for the surgery. That meant the world to me.

Reschedule

Just a quick note to let you know my mom's surgery is now scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday May 6th. She'll be at Desert Banner in Mesa (on Dobson). I'll keep everyone posted. She needs a lot of prayer. Her health has declined considerably.

Ladies Day Out!

The local ladies on our side of the family went out for lunch together to celebrate my mom, Sally's birthday at the yummy Wildflower Company. You'd think living so close to everyone, that we'd do this more often...maybe we're on the right track though to start new traditions. I sure hope so!

We had good food, lot's of laughs...which was well needed for my mom, and a neat time of prayer in honor of my mom and her upcoming surgery. We ended our date at my cousin Laura's new, beautiful home looking in awe of all their hard work to turn their house into a home (that's only 5.7 miles away from mine, whoa hoo!). It's gorgeous.

Each gal in our family brings so much joy to my life.
Mom- well..you’re “everything”. I love you.
Aunt Linda...you’ve always been my second mom. You are generous and very silly, especially when it comes to choosing food!
Laura- over the years you have been my “little” cousin, but since adulthood for us both, you’ve become one of my best friends. I love our heart to heart talks. You are one of the most helpful people I know and we have a lot of great laughs together...even at our own “expense”.
Baylee- It's so fun having you as my daughter. You are such a young lady with a soft, gentle spirit!

(We missed you Jen, Cheri, and Aunt Evey)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my beautiful mom's 63rd birthday and although she isn't an online gal, let alone a blogger, I wanted to send out a message of love to her.

Sally is a magnificent person. I have learned so much from her, even more in my adult years than my kid years, I think. She's a very sweet, thoughtful, sensitive, gentle, independent family lady. She's taught me how to press on and survive when the storms of life hit. She's shown me what hard work is and how to live by simple means. She's a remarkable woman that we all adore. I can’t imagine not having our “daily brief calls,” just to check in. I love knowing she’s in my corner, rotting for me every step of the way. I love you mom!

“My Grandma Sally is sweet, kind, caring, and loving!” Love Baylee Rose

(This photo was taken at her birthday party 2 years ago in the Pecan Groves of Phoenix…a great picnic, lunch spot.)

A Date Has Been Set!

My mom’s surgery date is set at Good Samaritan in Phoenix. It’ll be May 5th…Cinco de Mayo.

Thank you for continuing to pray for her (all of us). She is very fearful, especially with the pain the doctor’s have told her she’ll experience. She’s expected to be in ICU for at least 5 days though.

Prayer Request

Our family would covet your prayers for my mom, Sally. She has not been feeling well for months and has been diagnosed/ treated for Valley Fever. After taking the strongest medication on the market, nothing has changed. After a second opinion today, she’s been told that she must have surgery on her lungs quickly. She has a hole, the size of a tangerine, on one lung and it needs to be fixed or cut out. The doctors are pretty sure this is not cancer. Surgery is not scheduled yet however it’ll be in May.

My mom is single and is the only source of income. As you can imagine, she is scared for her diagnosis but also full of worry about her job (if it will be there for her once she recovers) and finances. The doctors told her that this is a very painful surgery and recovery. They also said she’ll more than likely be out of work for 2 months.

Please pray!

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4