Posted on 02/07/2005 3:52:54 AM PST by bd476
My Mother was admitted in critical condition Sunday morning to an ICU unit in the Midwest. I was told at 3:00 p.m. that she was stable, not to bother flying back "yet" and that she'd be monitored in ICU for a few days, but since then she has had to have CPR performed on her several times.
She requested they stop resusciating her sometime around 10:00 PST although they kept it up anyway (yeah brave nurses and docs!) so that a local sibling could get to the hospital in time.
Her blood pressure is normally very low, and it's dropped to frightening levels. Her only chance would be surgery, and they said her best chance for surviving the surgery was Sunday. She said she did not want the surgery on Sunday, that she would think about it and discuss it on Monday.
She is sleeping now, but local sibling doubts she'll pull through.
I'm a bit muddled right now, this was sudden and unexpected. No serious health problems preceded this.
My prayer is that she recover enough strength to say yes to the surgery, to survive the anesthesia and to recover completely so that my 10 year old and I can see her again, give her a few hugs, and watch her live another 10 years.
She's Southern by a long list of Virginian notable blood kin, she's Southern by Spirit and determination, she's got the heart, compassion and sensitivity of a Southern lady and a Midwesterner and she's a devout Christian.
I feel selfish in my prayer request, yet want God to determine her time. One nurse told me that she wouldn't last through the night and another told me to get on the earliest plane and fly back. Budget constraints are tight, and I'm also trying to find a place to board two cats.
Thanks in advance for any ideas on safe but inexpensive airlines and/or reputable online deals.
Our prayers to you and yours.
Prayers sent for your mother and your family. I know how hard that situation can be. Many airlines offer flight options for your emergency situations such as yours. Also, Southwest has many discount fares.
She's your Mom and the situation sounds dire.
Slap a credit card down for the plane tickets, dump cat food in the biggest bowl you have in the house and go to her.
The ticks can be paid off and the cats will be fine by themselves for awhile but if you don't go out there and be with her you may regret it for years.
My prayers for your mother, you and your family.
This is in God's hands for sure!
Your prayers should be that she lives out her life as a strong believer, showing no fear due to he faith in Christ.
If she lives the night, fly out to see her.
You will regreat not flying out if she lives.
If you have a credit card use it. You only have one Mother and you can figure out how to pay later. Normally I would never charge a non appreciating item, but this is an exception.
Sorry I did not mean for the post to go to you.
For what it's worth, you are on my prayer list.
Life is so short and so fragile. May God continue to watch over you and your family.
Prayers for your Mom's health and for your strength.
Prayers for you, your mother and your family are on the way.
Thank you for your prayers and very thoughtful notes of encouragement and ideas.
Sadly, my Mother has passed away. She passed away sometime before I had posted this Prayer Request, but I didn't find out until about an hour later.
When I heard the news about her suddenly becoming very ill just yesterday, Sunday, I was in shock and remain so.
I live in Los Angeles, she's in Columbus, Ohio and we talked several times a month by phone. She's a real character, anyone who knew her said the same. I loved her, she was my Mother.
Anyway, I took the phone and for some reason, after talking to the nurse the last time, I turned the ringer off. I think I had intended to get to bed to get some sleep, but instead got on the computer and started looking for airfares. I had too many things going on at once. The list of things to do yet half written down, oh yeah right, the laundry before we would leave, what bills are due...
I had posted this Prayer Request, then went back to searching for airfares, airports, checking back on my notes on what the nurse said, what my brother said and then I looked at the phone's caller id thing and saw that someone had phoned and that it was the hospital.
I have since learned that my Mother was not doing well by 3:00 a.m. EST so they had to intubate her. She had had an oxygen mask on from her first admittance to the ER Sunday morning.
For the size of my Mother, 90 pounds, 5 feet 2 and feisty she had the strength of never quitting, never giving up in defeat and a very strong faith in God.
She requested they pull the oxygen giving tube out one half hour after they inserted it. She wanted everything pulled off and then they gave her some painkillers. My brother did not tell me the details when we spoke sometime around 5:00 a.m. EST, when he came to the nurse's station phone, just that he didn't think she would make it. 58 minutes later she was gone.
It's uncomfortable right now. I hope she was pain free. She had what they describe as a heart attack in her small intestine, they call it an intestinal infarction. A blood clot blocks blood vessels in the intestine and the intestine constricts and part of it dies off.
When she was seen in the hospital ER on Friday, they had thought she either had the flu (nausea) or a serious case of constipation. She was given a laxative and sent home.
Sunday morning a friend checked in on her and was alarmed at her appearance. My Mother wasn't feeling too hot so the paramedics got her to the hospital where the ER thought she was in extremely bad shape. She stabilized soon though and she was offered surgery to correct the problem with her intestine.
For my Mother, she would probably say it was not her preferred way to leave God's green earth. Apparently when asked "how are you feeling?" by the Doctor in the ER yesterday (Sunday) after they had been examining her, her very typical and classic response as always was "Why with my fingers of course!" She was a character.
I loved her and sure hope she knew it.
Thank you dear Pegita. My Mother is with God now. I wish you could have known her, your faith reminds me of her.
Prayers up for your mother and for you.
Moms always seem to know everything, including this.
I'm sad to hear of your loss. God bless and keep your family!
Dear bd476,
You have my heartfelt sympathies at this difficult time.
My mother passed a year ago next Friday in a similar way and while you will go through some sad and questioning times in the days ahead please take comfort in the knowledge that your mother had a strong belief in our Creator and savior and she is now at peace in his loving embrace.
P.S.
She knows you love her still.
Go with God.
Prayers sent up.
Flyi.com has a special going on now, and I love them--they are more accomodating than the expensive airlines. I also happen to have an extra roundtrip coupon for $20 off, $10 each way, and I can't use it. Look at their prices, and if you decide to go with them, FRmail me.
BD, I am sorry for your loss. Prayers for your entire family.
I lost my father last August.
There is a God in heaven who kows how to comfort the hurting.
I'm sure she knew how you felt.
My Grandmother died of the same thing. And my Father died ten years ago last week. My Mother is still with us but getting a little bit older and a little bit slower.
All I can say is give yourself some time and space and take care of yourself. When my Father died it took me three weeks to even "process" the information. Oddly enough, the best thing a friend of mine did was bring over a tray of lasagna which we could cut a piece from, microwave and eat. I never understood why people bring food when a relative dies. It's because you are too upset, busy, etc. to cook!
I don't want to sound like I'm trivializing things but please remember to take care of yourself. I know this must be absolutely devastating and yet we all have to follow God's plan. Thank goodness she was being treated in a clean hospital and relatively at peace and pain-free. I think of crime victims, auto accidents, etc. and the awful extra burden these families must have.
Sorry, everything I'm saying is coming out wrong. But you have friends who care.
My Mom uses that same line on the doctors too!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.