Pray for Mom

My sister called to tell me that Mom had a severe reaction to a drug the doctor prescribed for her pulled muscle pain. Mom is so nauseous she can't stop retching. She has lost weight, something she can't really afford to do. The doctors are working to balance her sodium levels thrown off by the vomiting and to stabilize her so they can figure out if the pain is something more than just a pulled muscle. She will remain in the hospital until they get it all back under control.

I sympathize with her agony. I lay awake half the night praying for her, that God's presence would comfort her, that the doctors would have wisdom, that Mom would know she is not alone and that we are lifting her up, that the pain would subside, that the levels would normalize. This is the first crisis she has faced without her husband of so many decades. Its terrible to feel so awful, but even worse to have to go through it alone.

Please everyone, if you have a minute, pray for Mom. Her name is Lillian and she is the most gentle and loving person in the world. You want to hug her to pieces when you meet her and I love her dearly. I am chafing at not being with her, and it is all I can do not to jump in the car and drive to Lake George just to be there and hold her hand and tell her its going to be alright.

I make plans in my head, ready to drop everything and go on a moment's notice. I refill prescriptions so I will have enough to get through an extended period of time if I need to. I check my calendar at work and mentally tick off who to ask to cover my commitments for me. I make a written list of details to cover before I go. Even though I know my brother and sister are there and I am not needed. Still, I want to be there.

I talk with my sister and things are going better today. She tells me not to come. I will only be in the way and Mom is mostly sleeping anyway. OK. I mail a card and buy a package of her favorite chocolates to mail out. She is not big on flowers. Maybe balloons. If I go, I will take a book to read to her. She likes reading and may not feel up to it.

Darn - its hard to send hugs in the mail. I will find a way though. If I can't be there, I will send my best prayers and thoughts and wishes. Get better Mom.