Home, Sweet Home – Making Our House Into a Home

Papa and Jill

Here’s my Papa.  One of his favorite activities is to sit on the porch and watch me and my dogs.  And as you can tell, the dogs love him.  But he’s had a few rough weeks (and even months).  My grandmother died on March 2.  On March 3, my grandfather became critically ill and had to go into the hospital.  He missed her visitation and funeral.  We were devastated and disappointed…scared we’d lose him too.  Thankfully, he was able to return home from the hospital but his health has been pretty unsteady, but his spirits have remained high.

Last Sunday (7/13) he had a heart attack at church.  After church was over, I came down from the “Crow’s Nest.”  He stopped me and the conversation went something like this:

Papa: [calmly] Kathy…do you have water around here close?
Me: Well, yeah, Papa.  We have a water fountain.  Why?
Papa: [still eerily calm] Could you get me a drink of water?  I think I’m about to pass out. 

Chaos ensued.  We called paramedics and he spent 5 days in the Cardiac Unit.  The doctors didn’t expect him to live.  But, he’s resilient.  He came home on Friday.  Still tired but still in great spirits.  Today we had another setback.  He couldn’t empty his bladder due to what the doctors said was an enlarged prostate.  He’s wearing a catheter until the 31st. 

On top of that, we met with Hospice today to determine a course of action.  I forgot to mention that in November 07 he was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia, given 3-6 months to live, and has been receiving regular treatments for that.  Like I said, he’s resilient!  ANYWAY…we met with Hospice today.  I’ve never met such a wonderful caring group of women.  We don’t want to see him leave us, but there’s great peace of mind in knowing that such a great group of Christian women will be there with him and with us as things progress.

The hardest part for us in all this is that his mind is so clear.  Each hospital visit he uses as an opportunity to talk about his Lord and Savior.  He witnesses to every person he meets.  We have been spending lots of time with him and will continue to do so.  He’s such a joy to be with!  We don’t know how much time he has left but we hope to make the best of it.  We know he’s tired.  He tells us that regularly and that he feels “Ma’s hand reaching out” for him. 

Not sure where to conclude for the night.  The only thing I can think of is that I want Christ to be as real to me as He is to my Papa.  Papa lives and breathes Jesus.  I want to be that way.