OT - Prayer Request
I just got a call from my dear friend, June. I absolutely LOVE this woman, she is 73 and FULL of **** & vinegar! Unfortunately, she has also had one of the hardest lives of anyone I've ever met, including having both hips and a shoulder replaced, and surviving THREE bouts of cancer of the bladder.
This summer, she's had a cough she just couldn't get rid of - even after 40 days of antibiotics, she STILL didn't feel right. She had been a heavy smoker for years, but quit over 10 years ago. We all feared that this would turn out to be lung cancer. Unfortunately, it turns out half of her heart is not functioning, and she will be having surgery in the morning. She really couldn't tell me more at the time, but said she'll call me this evening. Dear God, she has NO family. Several of us at the Park District have adopted her as our own, and have always helped her out with rides to appointments, taking care of her apartment and mail when she's out, etc. I just LOVE her (she's the one that labeled Hazel a "lesbian" when she slipped her the tongue last spring! One of my favorite Hazel tales...)
Anyways, I know how powerful prayer is, we've all seen some amazing things happen as a result of it. So if you are feeling so inclined, please send up a prayer for June? She is a sweet old lady who deserves better than she's gotten in this life.
This summer, she's had a cough she just couldn't get rid of - even after 40 days of antibiotics, she STILL didn't feel right. She had been a heavy smoker for years, but quit over 10 years ago. We all feared that this would turn out to be lung cancer. Unfortunately, it turns out half of her heart is not functioning, and she will be having surgery in the morning. She really couldn't tell me more at the time, but said she'll call me this evening. Dear God, she has NO family. Several of us at the Park District have adopted her as our own, and have always helped her out with rides to appointments, taking care of her apartment and mail when she's out, etc. I just LOVE her (she's the one that labeled Hazel a "lesbian" when she slipped her the tongue last spring! One of my favorite Hazel tales...)
Anyways, I know how powerful prayer is, we've all seen some amazing things happen as a result of it. So if you are feeling so inclined, please send up a prayer for June? She is a sweet old lady who deserves better than she's gotten in this life.
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Thank you all so much. I spoke with June this evening - the nut job was going to DRIVE HERSELF to the hospital in the morning! Personally, I can't even fathom why they sent her home, knowing she'd be back bright & early for surgery - why not just put her in a room for the night???
Anyway, I'm taking her. I kinda insisted. She swore she could drive herself, but I told her no one should go through something like that alone, and she NEEDS another set of ears to hear all the things she won't be able to process. She'll have the angioplasty at Waconia, but will likely have to transfer her to Abbott for a stint or bypass. They said they'd transport her by ambulance as long as she got herself to Waconia to get the ball rolling. I asked her to call and see if we could just go straight to Abbott for the whole thing, but it was too late to make that change for tomorrow, and we don't need to put this off any longer. But she cried with relief to know she doesn't have to go through this all alone. There's a whole crew of us that will be taking turns going down to be with her for as long as she's in.
Fiesty old broad... does anybody know the legal mumbo jumbo involved in getting a non-relative listed as "next of kin" or whatever, so we (her "chosen family") can be privy to her records & get called whenever something happens much as a spouse would? I suppose I ought to talk with a social worker at the hospital... June agreed it would be a good idea.
Anyway, I'm taking her. I kinda insisted. She swore she could drive herself, but I told her no one should go through something like that alone, and she NEEDS another set of ears to hear all the things she won't be able to process. She'll have the angioplasty at Waconia, but will likely have to transfer her to Abbott for a stint or bypass. They said they'd transport her by ambulance as long as she got herself to Waconia to get the ball rolling. I asked her to call and see if we could just go straight to Abbott for the whole thing, but it was too late to make that change for tomorrow, and we don't need to put this off any longer. But she cried with relief to know she doesn't have to go through this all alone. There's a whole crew of us that will be taking turns going down to be with her for as long as she's in.
Fiesty old broad... does anybody know the legal mumbo jumbo involved in getting a non-relative listed as "next of kin" or whatever, so we (her "chosen family") can be privy to her records & get called whenever something happens much as a spouse would? I suppose I ought to talk with a social worker at the hospital... June agreed it would be a good idea.
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
Darla, you are an absolute angel and amazing friend to June! I'm saying daily prayers for her, and for you taking this incredibly mission. Yes, you're right, talking to a social worker at the hospital will be good for obtaining necessary direction. Please ensure she has a living will if she doesn't already--I strongly believe every adult over 18 should have one, since one never knows what could happen any moment of all our precious lives. Sounds morbid, though it's imperative, as I'd found out with my first of six live-in companionship with the elderly. The 89-yr-old individual had no living relatives, and I'd been awarded (hate that terminology for the situation) conservatorship by his attorney. Was able to follow the blueprint, particularly for funeral arrangements and his material and financial matters. He'd documented a generous amount be given to myself, though I barely took a pittance and through the attorney, made numerous donations in his memory to four solid chritable associations. Was in the late 80s and changed my life forever--I'd gotten home after work and had found he'd passed on. Spent that Halloween making plans at the mortuary, and have not 'celebrated' Halloween since. Bless his generous kind soul! Hugs, Patti
Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.
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