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Prayer for my sister's recovery.
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Well, folks, I got a call from John, my brother-in-law, last night at about 1.10, as I was getting ready to turn in, and it sounded fairly dire. They were having difficulty staunching internal bleeding, and would have to operate on her again, particularly in the circumstances, with her failing kidney, a dangerous procedure.
Although reluctant to be rely on dialysis again, Anna discussed it with John, who understandably enough, said, yes, it's your only shot. But it's an expensive operation (for the NHS), so she presumably felt she was committing herself to resuming with the dialysis, if all went well.
So far, it has. I phoned John this morning and he said she was doing OK now, but receiving some dialysis straight away, as the shock to her kidney could either impair its functioning further, or stop it functioning permanently.
It's only in a crisis such as this one, coupled with John tending to my mother with senile dementia, and his dealing with everything in a matter-of-fact way, and keeping his emotions under wraps, you realise the depth of some people's character.
He's always had a very dry sense of humour and great banter (a specialty, I think of our armed forces. He'd been on submarines with my brother), and unlike me, has always been a great, very steady provider, working night-shifts mostly, and worships Anna. But how can you realise the strength of someone's character in the ordinary cirumstances of life. I think a lot of people are like icebergs: a lot more to them than we see, until critical situations occurs. Anyway, I'm rambling.
Thanks a million, again, for all your prayers. Until John told me about the op. and its seriousness, I'd had a good feeling about it, and opened a page of a missal, at the prayers and readings for the sick, the other day, when over the page, were prayers and readings for the dying. I felt it was a good omen, and with the better, more hopeful news, it's returned to my memory.
It would be presumptuous to say she's 'out of the woods' yet, but I'm hopeful; preferably also that she doesn't need too much dialysis. I don't think she'd wear it, and John understands that. In any event, I know this forum is a power-house of prayer.
Although reluctant to be rely on dialysis again, Anna discussed it with John, who understandably enough, said, yes, it's your only shot. But it's an expensive operation (for the NHS), so she presumably felt she was committing herself to resuming with the dialysis, if all went well.
So far, it has. I phoned John this morning and he said she was doing OK now, but receiving some dialysis straight away, as the shock to her kidney could either impair its functioning further, or stop it functioning permanently.
It's only in a crisis such as this one, coupled with John tending to my mother with senile dementia, and his dealing with everything in a matter-of-fact way, and keeping his emotions under wraps, you realise the depth of some people's character.
He's always had a very dry sense of humour and great banter (a specialty, I think of our armed forces. He'd been on submarines with my brother), and unlike me, has always been a great, very steady provider, working night-shifts mostly, and worships Anna. But how can you realise the strength of someone's character in the ordinary cirumstances of life. I think a lot of people are like icebergs: a lot more to them than we see, until critical situations occurs. Anyway, I'm rambling.
Thanks a million, again, for all your prayers. Until John told me about the op. and its seriousness, I'd had a good feeling about it, and opened a page of a missal, at the prayers and readings for the sick, the other day, when over the page, were prayers and readings for the dying. I felt it was a good omen, and with the better, more hopeful news, it's returned to my memory.
It would be presumptuous to say she's 'out of the woods' yet, but I'm hopeful; preferably also that she doesn't need too much dialysis. I don't think she'd wear it, and John understands that. In any event, I know this forum is a power-house of prayer.
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Bless his heart, and Anna's. he sounds like a dear soul and a real gem. Your sister is blessed to have him in her life. Praying for Anna and that God intervenes as only He can and that God sustains and strengthens him and blesses him, Anna, and their household. Father may it be so, in Jesus name, amen.
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Thank you very much, hypostatic. I know they will be very grateful, and for all your prayers, peeps.
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praying for your sister's recovery and wellness.. may the Lord bind you with love and unity at this point of time.. Praying for your strength In Jesus' name amen.
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Thank you very much, charity. I know all the prayers of you good people carry a lot of weight with the Almighty.
Well, Anna is back in the ward, and John finally had a good night's sleep. But he said, Anna's personality has changed: she's been swearing at the nurses, accusing them of stealing her jewelry, and ordering them around, raving about their house having been burgled - all sorts of crazy stuff. I told him I'd be very surprised if it wasn't just a temporary thing. Yes, he said, sometimes it takes a long time for the anaesthetic to wear off. That sounds the most likely thing to me.
Anyway, I was in stitches as he was telling me, and I think it cheered him up too, as, with all his worries, the funny side of such a thing would have escaped him, I dare say.
Another funny thing she said to a nurse - well she accused her, of calling her a dirty Pommie who didn't wash. Something like that. Well, I said, when I was in hospital over there someone in my ward (a young lad whose parents were Poms, I believe
told me they had a saying, 'As dry as a Pommie's towel!" Which also had me in stitches. (So, when John told me he was off to have a shower, I said, 'Oh.. yes... we've heard that one before!' More laughter. He's a great lad for banter himself, John. He said something hilarious. I must try and remember.)
Anyway, I said to tell Anna that about '...dry as a Pommie's towel, and thinking I might stir up some mischief, get Anna raging at him! But he saw through my ploy.
He said her kidney is still not working, so she's still on diaysis, though he doesn't think she realises it. They'd talked about it a lot, apparently, and she was adamant that she wasn't going to go through that again. I hope and pray her kidney kicks in again, even partially. It took a long time to get working after the transplant she had, though eventually it's last nineteen years - which I believe is considered pretty good. Having to take those anti-rejection drugs is a shame, considering they might not be necessary, but the risk of trying to do without them is too great.
Yesterday, I phoned up an old pal of ours (Anthea's and mine), who used to look after our car, pick it up, deliver it back, get the work done cheaply and try to give us it 'on account'. As he said, when we asked what account, 'on account you haven't any money!" Any way, he'd had his hip replaced and was back at home.
Well, telling me of his travails in the ward after the op, was the cue for more 'schadenfreude' kind of laughter. The old boy in the bed opposite him kept him awake all night ringing the bell for the nurse all the time, etc. The person next to him, peed the bed, so the bed-clthes had to be changed. He's a light sleeper, like Anthea was.
So, I said, yes, I can't sleep during the day at all. And he replied that during the day, after keeping him awake most of the night, His Nibs slept like a baby.
Isn't it strange how you get different things from either sex? I was musing the other week, how bleak life was without a female presence in the flat. But at least when I get the opportunity to gibber with male friends and relatives, I get a lot of of laughs with them. As much as I ever did when I was younger. Most of my memories of the army are of the laughs we had.
anyway, John'll be phoning me tomorrow again. Oh, also. The care workers are arranging for someone to come in in the evenings to make my mother's meal and put her to bed. Also, he'll be free on the weekends. It'll take about a fortnight to arrange, but what a blessing it will be.
Well, Anna is back in the ward, and John finally had a good night's sleep. But he said, Anna's personality has changed: she's been swearing at the nurses, accusing them of stealing her jewelry, and ordering them around, raving about their house having been burgled - all sorts of crazy stuff. I told him I'd be very surprised if it wasn't just a temporary thing. Yes, he said, sometimes it takes a long time for the anaesthetic to wear off. That sounds the most likely thing to me.
Anyway, I was in stitches as he was telling me, and I think it cheered him up too, as, with all his worries, the funny side of such a thing would have escaped him, I dare say.
Another funny thing she said to a nurse - well she accused her, of calling her a dirty Pommie who didn't wash. Something like that. Well, I said, when I was in hospital over there someone in my ward (a young lad whose parents were Poms, I believe
told me they had a saying, 'As dry as a Pommie's towel!" Which also had me in stitches. (So, when John told me he was off to have a shower, I said, 'Oh.. yes... we've heard that one before!' More laughter. He's a great lad for banter himself, John. He said something hilarious. I must try and remember.)
Anyway, I said to tell Anna that about '...dry as a Pommie's towel, and thinking I might stir up some mischief, get Anna raging at him! But he saw through my ploy.
He said her kidney is still not working, so she's still on diaysis, though he doesn't think she realises it. They'd talked about it a lot, apparently, and she was adamant that she wasn't going to go through that again. I hope and pray her kidney kicks in again, even partially. It took a long time to get working after the transplant she had, though eventually it's last nineteen years - which I believe is considered pretty good. Having to take those anti-rejection drugs is a shame, considering they might not be necessary, but the risk of trying to do without them is too great.
Yesterday, I phoned up an old pal of ours (Anthea's and mine), who used to look after our car, pick it up, deliver it back, get the work done cheaply and try to give us it 'on account'. As he said, when we asked what account, 'on account you haven't any money!" Any way, he'd had his hip replaced and was back at home.
Well, telling me of his travails in the ward after the op, was the cue for more 'schadenfreude' kind of laughter. The old boy in the bed opposite him kept him awake all night ringing the bell for the nurse all the time, etc. The person next to him, peed the bed, so the bed-clthes had to be changed. He's a light sleeper, like Anthea was.
So, I said, yes, I can't sleep during the day at all. And he replied that during the day, after keeping him awake most of the night, His Nibs slept like a baby.
Isn't it strange how you get different things from either sex? I was musing the other week, how bleak life was without a female presence in the flat. But at least when I get the opportunity to gibber with male friends and relatives, I get a lot of of laughs with them. As much as I ever did when I was younger. Most of my memories of the army are of the laughs we had.
anyway, John'll be phoning me tomorrow again. Oh, also. The care workers are arranging for someone to come in in the evenings to make my mother's meal and put her to bed. Also, he'll be free on the weekends. It'll take about a fortnight to arrange, but what a blessing it will be.
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Thank you Servant of Merciful Love and Callie. The effects of the prayers of people here can be seen all over the forum.
I'll probably be hearing from John how Anna's getting on, in an hour or two.
I'll probably be hearing from John how Anna's getting on, in an hour or two.
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Yes, you're right, Brinny. They are real love birds. John has been a terrific husband to her, and he obviously feels the same about her, as his wife.
I love the stoicism of that couple. I can't begin to fathom the nature of their faith, but when it bears such good fruit, we see how God isn't constrained to insist on formal religious observance for everyone, (much as we cherish it, and must spread the Gospel).
Anna had an NDE when she was about three, and while she doesn't remember it in any detailed kind of way, the comforting effect is still with her.
Also, our older brother, Barry, who died in a car crash 27 years ago (Anthea keeps such records) appeared to her about 20 years ago, when she suddenly woke up at about 3.00 am. She said he didn't say anything to her. Just looked at her smiling, as if to comfort and encourage her. She'd suffered a lot and was to have a major operation.
She said that he didn't look like a ghost. Solid. And close enough, for her to have reached out and touched him. Then he did gradually become transparent and fade away.
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Thank you, Callie and Linus. I spoke to John just now, and he said that Anna's pretty depressed at the moment; he's never known her to be like it. He told her to remember as soon as she wakes, that it's the drugs that are making her hallucinate, but he doesn't think she can take it in - override her fears. She just wants to go now. She's had enough of suffering with the kidney business before.
I said to tell her to hang on for a couple of weeks anyway, and he agreed. By then she might be feeling a little different and better. If she decided 'enough is enough', she would just stop taking her tablets. We're not under a Christian obligation to prolong our life artificially.
Tomorrow, I'll try and remember what he told me about a care official finding a place in a respite home for my mother, and how he's going to have to kid her, to go along with it. Being pretty demented now, she thinks only of herself, and has been adamant that she wouldn't even go into a respite home, to give Anna and John a break.
Amazing how these things have clobbered poor, old John, all at the same time. There is a man who needs our prayers, as much as his wife, my sister, yet he seems to cope with great fortitude.
All for now. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Sunday: Back again. Yes, this social worker/official told John he couldn't carry on like that, and is arranging for my mother to go into that respite home, from which it should be easier to arrange for her to go into a pemanent one. John said he wondered if she sensed it, because she said to him that she'd rather die than go into a home.
I can't quite remember or work out how John's going to get her to the respite home, tomorrow, but he said something about pretending he would have to go into hospital, so there would be no one to look after her. He said he wouldn't take a suitcase with her clothes, etc, as it would give the game away. So, presumably, he's pretending it's just a 'recce', for her to have a look at the place. But he doubts it will fool her.
I hope and pray, as you've been, that soon Anna will be able to get off these drugs that are making her hallucinate and depressing her. She really brightened up when their son, Carl came, but John said that might have been because he told her not to talk about dying, etc, to him. Though I suspect it's mostly just that she dotes on him, like Anthea does on Simon. I find it impossible to speak of Anthea in the past; which is nice, since she's more alive than ever, the noo.
I said to tell her to hang on for a couple of weeks anyway, and he agreed. By then she might be feeling a little different and better. If she decided 'enough is enough', she would just stop taking her tablets. We're not under a Christian obligation to prolong our life artificially.
Tomorrow, I'll try and remember what he told me about a care official finding a place in a respite home for my mother, and how he's going to have to kid her, to go along with it. Being pretty demented now, she thinks only of herself, and has been adamant that she wouldn't even go into a respite home, to give Anna and John a break.
Amazing how these things have clobbered poor, old John, all at the same time. There is a man who needs our prayers, as much as his wife, my sister, yet he seems to cope with great fortitude.
All for now. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Sunday: Back again. Yes, this social worker/official told John he couldn't carry on like that, and is arranging for my mother to go into that respite home, from which it should be easier to arrange for her to go into a pemanent one. John said he wondered if she sensed it, because she said to him that she'd rather die than go into a home.
I can't quite remember or work out how John's going to get her to the respite home, tomorrow, but he said something about pretending he would have to go into hospital, so there would be no one to look after her. He said he wouldn't take a suitcase with her clothes, etc, as it would give the game away. So, presumably, he's pretending it's just a 'recce', for her to have a look at the place. But he doubts it will fool her.
I hope and pray, as you've been, that soon Anna will be able to get off these drugs that are making her hallucinate and depressing her. She really brightened up when their son, Carl came, but John said that might have been because he told her not to talk about dying, etc, to him. Though I suspect it's mostly just that she dotes on him, like Anthea does on Simon. I find it impossible to speak of Anthea in the past; which is nice, since she's more alive than ever, the noo.
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John phoned with good news a few hours ago. Anna is thinking a lot more clearly today, is clearly happier, and was lying on a recliner. So John's in a pretty good mood - improved further by the fact that he came clean with my mother about his being unable to run two households, and the need for her to go into respite care. He was about to go over to her place to help her dress and make her breakfast.
Thanks for all your prayers, folks. The Christian Forum's cavalry to the rescue, once again! You never let us doon!
Thanks for all your prayers, folks. The Christian Forum's cavalry to the rescue, once again! You never let us doon!
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Thank You, God, for the good news Paul Becke has received. Please continue to uplift Anna, John, and their family and have mercy on them. Please provide for everybody in this situation that they may have healing, comfort, and all the support they need. Please provide for them in every way. Thank You God in Jesus' Name. Amen.
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That is kind of you, DruryGirl. Although the news now is disappointing on the human, family level, who can doubt that John, Anna and Carl are benefiting from your prayers and love.
John phoned just now to tell me, despondently, that Anna refused to have the dialysis needle, so it is now just a question of time. When she had dialysis years ago, they got to the point where they had difficulty finding a spot to insert the needle.
Carl, too, is very close to his mum, so he's very upset about it. John said they had talked about it at great length, so he was prepared for it in that sense, though I don't imagine it will make his cross easier to bear. He was feeling bad about having had to take our mother to the respite home, yesterday, too, but he couldn't have carried on the way he was - he did most of the housework at their place, as well, I believe, due to Anna's infirmity.
The thing is, together with billions of other old geezers, we are inevitably succumbing to the various ways in which our poor, old, human bodies break down, so I think we're glad the worst has held off for so long. We're part of humanity, and this is the way we all taper off one way or another, if we are spared a sudden accident, but we have had a longish life to prepare ourselves for it; even to look forward to the prospect of heaven; which is not to minimise the grief and loss poor old John and Carl will feel, of course. Thank you again, kind friends. I'll keep you posted, anyway.
To tell the truth, I'm tickled than Anna can face death now with neither despair, nor a constraining fear. John said he understands her thinking, and I expect Carl does. My mother shares Maurice Chevalier's position on old age: it's better than the alternative!
John phoned just now to tell me, despondently, that Anna refused to have the dialysis needle, so it is now just a question of time. When she had dialysis years ago, they got to the point where they had difficulty finding a spot to insert the needle.
Carl, too, is very close to his mum, so he's very upset about it. John said they had talked about it at great length, so he was prepared for it in that sense, though I don't imagine it will make his cross easier to bear. He was feeling bad about having had to take our mother to the respite home, yesterday, too, but he couldn't have carried on the way he was - he did most of the housework at their place, as well, I believe, due to Anna's infirmity.
The thing is, together with billions of other old geezers, we are inevitably succumbing to the various ways in which our poor, old, human bodies break down, so I think we're glad the worst has held off for so long. We're part of humanity, and this is the way we all taper off one way or another, if we are spared a sudden accident, but we have had a longish life to prepare ourselves for it; even to look forward to the prospect of heaven; which is not to minimise the grief and loss poor old John and Carl will feel, of course. Thank you again, kind friends. I'll keep you posted, anyway.
To tell the truth, I'm tickled than Anna can face death now with neither despair, nor a constraining fear. John said he understands her thinking, and I expect Carl does. My mother shares Maurice Chevalier's position on old age: it's better than the alternative!
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Well, folks, great news. The night before last, I spoke to John and he told me that the doctors seemed to have talked Anna round, and it looked like she would have the dialysis, at least for a while. He said it seemed to be up and down all the time, from one day to the next. He hardly dared to believe good news.
Then, last night, he told me that the kidney seemed to have started working again, though she was very weak still and having difficulty standing up and walking.
Well, I spoke to ihim just now and he said she seems to have recovered amazingly, doing exercises under the physio's guidance, and looking terrific; evidently much stronger all round. So, how about that for the power of the Christian Forums cavalry! Credit also to the prayers of a neighbour's family in India.
John called in to see my mother again at the respite care-home, and will call in again this evening together with Carl. Thanks a million, folks. I'll keep you posted.
Then, last night, he told me that the kidney seemed to have started working again, though she was very weak still and having difficulty standing up and walking.
Well, I spoke to ihim just now and he said she seems to have recovered amazingly, doing exercises under the physio's guidance, and looking terrific; evidently much stronger all round. So, how about that for the power of the Christian Forums cavalry! Credit also to the prayers of a neighbour's family in India.
John called in to see my mother again at the respite care-home, and will call in again this evening together with Carl. Thanks a million, folks. I'll keep you posted.
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Thanks for the update and that is great news!
All praises is due to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
All praises is due to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
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