First, thank you for all the notes either via email or posted on Facebook! The many, many notes that came in deeply touched my mother, sister, aunt, and father.
Dad was scheduled for a procedure/surgery this morning at 11:30am (EST); this was going to be an attempt at restarting the upper part of his heart (as of this morning that part of his heart was not working).
After only 2 hours of the predicted 6 hours (at about 1:30pm) the doctor came out and said that they were not able to restart the upper part of his heart; there is nothing more that they can do for him.
In addition, they discovered that a total of 5 arteries are blocked; this is different then what we were told yesterday, that 1 artery was blocked. These 5 arteries are inoperable as his heart is too weak for open heart surgery.
My father will be released from the hospital sometime in the next few days. He will definitely have a change of lifestyle from this day forward. The doctors have said that his life expectancy can be 1 day, 1 month, or maybe another year. For those of you who know him and have gone through his many heart problems in the past; you will probably join us (his family) in that it won't be a surprise if he lived another 5 years.
The fact that he remains alive at this moment is ONLY because God has decided that my fathers life is not over yet.
This has been a good time for us as a family, being able to talk about things and making decisions that need to be made. God remains in control... no matter how much we try to plan what tomorrow may bring... God remains in control!
As for me....
My health continues to provide some entertainment as it's never the same from one day to the next.
In regards to finances... God has allowed me to stay in the home that I am renting; He has allowed this by providing for my needs one day at a time, and usually to the penny.
With my Lord's help I have been able to hold 2 yard sales in the last month. Both have been very successful and God has given me the strength to pull them off (that in itself is nothing short of a miracle). A third yard sale is planned for this coming Saturday, another on Monday, and yet a fifth on the following Saturday.
If you haven't realized it yet, the God I serve asks that we walk by faith and not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
I wasn't really able to grasp that scripture until a few months ago when my youngest grandson was learning to walk. When he had hold of someones hand he would run; it didn't matter to him what obstacles were or were not around him. He trusted that whoever was leading him would take care of him. Sometimes he would fall, but he immediately looked up; once he realized that he was still holding on he would jump up and start running again.
Yet, when he was trying to walk on his own he would fall to the ground and start crawling. Even when he tried to walk around furniture he still wasn't sure of himself... he was walking in fear.
That's how it is with my Heavenly Father, as long as I am looking into His eyes and holding on to His hand I have nothing to fear (this means reading the Word of God daily; additionally having daily conversation with my Lord through prayer). Lately my Lord and I have been on an obstacle course with finances and health but He has NOT let me down.
Do I get nervous? Absolutely...
Do I wish that things would go smoothly; if even for a short time? Definitely...
But I do not fear what tomorrow will hold because my Lord already knows my future.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, YES, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Love to all,
Diana
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Update - My Father
There are few things in life that one can be certain of... but the one thing I know is that my God reigns, He is in control, and regardless of what this life brings He is good all the time. His ways are perfect and He is always worthy to be praised.
This update is primarily for friends and family... yes, you all are my friends, but the next few updates will be regarding my parents and those who know them.
I do apologize for the bluntness of this note but is seemed to be the easiest way of contacting everyone who knows my parents, both family and friends.
Those who know my father are already aware that he has had a heart condition for the last 30 or so years. Through his life he has had several heart attacks, two open heart surgeries, many bypasses, and angioplasties. For the last several years he has suffered from congestive heart failure, has a pace maker and a defibrillator.
This past Wednesday afternoon at 4:00pm (EST) I had a conversation with him on the phone; by 4:30pm he was calling 911 and complaining of chest pains. Today as I write this he is hanging on to life.
He currently has a blocked artery located behind his heart; this is inoperable due to the weakness of his heart.
The lower part of his heart is working with the aid of a pacemaker. The upper part of his heart is fluttering and not functioning. This coming Monday, at 2:00pm (EST) they will take him into surgery (6 - 8 hours) with an attempt at restarting the upper part of his heart.
The doctors are at a crossroads with keeping his blood thin enough to allow flow through the blocked artery and yet not to thin as to where he will bleed out (he is currently having constant nose bleeds).
The primary concern are blood clots and the possibility that he will stroke out... for our family and the doctors, this would be worse then his passing away.
Without going into further detail... it does not appear that my father will be coming home from the hospital; but instead passing on into eternal with His Lord and Savior.
My sister arrived in Florida this evening and my Aunt Shirley will be arriving their tomorrow (Sunday) morning. Please keep my aunt in prayer as well; she has dealt with the loss of many in her life to include her husband, mother, and most recently her son.
I'm sending this out to ask for a couple of things, the first is for prayer... in regards to my father, that God would extend his mercy and prevent my father from having a stroke; but most importantly, that God's will be done in my fathers life.
Then, prayer for my mother; please ask God to carry her through this; she is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.
And finally, to those of you who know my parents... If you could take a few moments and write my mother and father a short note of encouragement I would personally appreciate it. Please email them to me at grandmadianau@yahoo.com and I will forward it on to them. Our goal is to receive them by Sunday evening so that they can be read to my father & mother before his surgery on Monday. Send whatever is on your heart... a scripture, prayer, or a simple note would be wonderful.
I'm sure this is confusing, so I apologize... I'm very tired at the moment but felt the need to get this out as I wanted to give everyone a chance to send him a note.
Please forward this information on to those who will pray and to those who you think might want to know.
Love to all,
Diana
This update is primarily for friends and family... yes, you all are my friends, but the next few updates will be regarding my parents and those who know them.
I do apologize for the bluntness of this note but is seemed to be the easiest way of contacting everyone who knows my parents, both family and friends.
Those who know my father are already aware that he has had a heart condition for the last 30 or so years. Through his life he has had several heart attacks, two open heart surgeries, many bypasses, and angioplasties. For the last several years he has suffered from congestive heart failure, has a pace maker and a defibrillator.
This past Wednesday afternoon at 4:00pm (EST) I had a conversation with him on the phone; by 4:30pm he was calling 911 and complaining of chest pains. Today as I write this he is hanging on to life.
He currently has a blocked artery located behind his heart; this is inoperable due to the weakness of his heart.
The lower part of his heart is working with the aid of a pacemaker. The upper part of his heart is fluttering and not functioning. This coming Monday, at 2:00pm (EST) they will take him into surgery (6 - 8 hours) with an attempt at restarting the upper part of his heart.
The doctors are at a crossroads with keeping his blood thin enough to allow flow through the blocked artery and yet not to thin as to where he will bleed out (he is currently having constant nose bleeds).
The primary concern are blood clots and the possibility that he will stroke out... for our family and the doctors, this would be worse then his passing away.
Without going into further detail... it does not appear that my father will be coming home from the hospital; but instead passing on into eternal with His Lord and Savior.
My sister arrived in Florida this evening and my Aunt Shirley will be arriving their tomorrow (Sunday) morning. Please keep my aunt in prayer as well; she has dealt with the loss of many in her life to include her husband, mother, and most recently her son.
I'm sending this out to ask for a couple of things, the first is for prayer... in regards to my father, that God would extend his mercy and prevent my father from having a stroke; but most importantly, that God's will be done in my fathers life.
Then, prayer for my mother; please ask God to carry her through this; she is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.
And finally, to those of you who know my parents... If you could take a few moments and write my mother and father a short note of encouragement I would personally appreciate it. Please email them to me at grandmadianau@yahoo.com and I will forward it on to them. Our goal is to receive them by Sunday evening so that they can be read to my father & mother before his surgery on Monday. Send whatever is on your heart... a scripture, prayer, or a simple note would be wonderful.
I'm sure this is confusing, so I apologize... I'm very tired at the moment but felt the need to get this out as I wanted to give everyone a chance to send him a note.
Please forward this information on to those who will pray and to those who you think might want to know.
Love to all,
Diana
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)