What a woman......what a God

So! Still praising the Lord! Still trying to make major reversals mentally-especially Mom. She struggled initially with reversing her outlook and expectations for life. She really expected to see Jesus that day. Now...she will have to be satisfied with us. Bummer for mama, but "For me to live is Christ." She's willing to stay, desiring to go. She has felt this way all along. The difference now is the "staying" is indefinite, while before, it was imminent. The doctor told us she could be here another 20 years as far as her heart is concerned. Really? Amazing. So, this last week, she began her path back to good health. Her major hurtle was withdrawing from the meds she has been on for 9 months. Morphine has not been her friend these days. We tease her about being our "junkie" mom. Seriously, though, she has actually had to go through withdrawal from her dependence on the morphine (she has taken for the pain). She's been nauseated, jittery, had headaches, etc. BUT SHE HAS BEEN A TROOPER!! She is determined. She spreads her time out between her doses (as we taper her off) to longer than we ask. She's drinking lots of water. She's getting up and moving around. (She walked out to the mailbox twice yesterday!) What a woman! Daddy would be so proud! And she hasn't had any pain. Go figure. She went to the doctor initially because she would get out of breath just going to the mailbox and back. Now as a junkie, she does it, no problems! We all are so proud of her. (My brother-in-law can't wait to get her into the prisons, talking to the other drug addicts about how, if she could do it at 76, they can do it!) So funny to think about....and yet.....who knows what the Lord has planned! We sure didn't know He had THIS planned! Every day is a little better than the last. She still struggles and will for a while, just getting back on her feet and doing for herself (we may have spoiled her a little...) If you want to send her a card as encouragement, her address: 500 Loblolly Dr; Anderson, SC 19625. I always send on to her your well wishes, hugs and prayers like you ask. It means so much. Please continue to pray for her through these next weeks. Pray for strength, physically and emotionally.... That God of ours......what is He up to next? Pick me, Lord! Pick me!

So....ummmm.....

So, the doctor comes out and calls for the Dean family. (Shallow breathing, thumping heart...) We all pile into a little room. He begins to explain what he's found during the procedure. Our immediate response:.........................WHAT? You're talking about Joy Dean? I guess we looked a little dumbfounded (more than usual) because he kept saying, "I promise you!" We just sat there, silent (and you know THAT'S not normal for us). We are still processing.... If you remember almost 10 months ago, with her last heart cath we were told she had two major arteries at least 80% blocked. Bypass surgery was the only thing advised. Stents and angioplasty were too risky because of the location of the blockages. And we needed to make a quick decision. We were told she had two days or two months. Death was certainly in the near future, and it could happen at any moment. At least 3 doctors confirmed this information. TODAY we were told her blockages were maybe 50% but the blood flow was almost normal. Stents or bypass are absolutely not necessary and Mom may be with us another twenty years as far as her heart is concerned. It is functioning normally. Seriously?? So....WHAT IN THE WORLD??? WHAT. IN. THE. WORLD? What do we do with this information? First of all,Praise the Lord! In my last post, I listed the options we believed were likely. Being the ultra spiritual person that I am, no where did I consider the Lord's healing. Hmmm. He must have laughed as I looked to Him for courage and strength for what we were about to face. HA! Should have known He'd sneak up on me and answer in a way I never expected....He is so that way..... We are now in the process of understanding Mom's new normal and what that means in our lives. We walk expectantly, excited to see what the Lord has ahead of us.... GOD IS REAL! We saw that for ourselves today...........

...pensive....

So, this early morning, I sit in the waiting room at An Med in Anderson, SC. Mom looked a little pensive. I think we all are. Not knowing what the Lord's plan is can really test how much you trust Him. She wants us to be excited. All I can think is this may be my last day with my mama.

Her procedure is scheduled for 9:00. I want to think and consider possibilities. I want to not think at all. I want to assume the best case scenario is what will happen today. I want to prepare myself for what could come. How's that for trusting......

Mom wants us to be excited. WHAT? Come on, Mom. Surely you understand our perspective is a little different from yours....But, if I'm truly trusting, WHATEVER happens is worth getting exciting about, right?
Right? Well.....Of course, in theory that would be correct. Always, He works on our behalf for our good. Right? I'm working on it......

Update and prayers, please

Yesterday, Mom had an appointment with her new cardiologist. After viewing her recent electrocardiogram, he said stents (sp?) were an option for her. She is scheduled for another heart cath tomorrow (Friday) morning (7:45). Depending on what they find during the procedure, she will have stents put in. There are three possible scenarios, as we see it. They will discover (after 9 months) that stents really are not an option and we will continue life as we have been. They will put in the stents and her quality of life will be greatly improved.  Or, she will not make it through the procedure.

This has all come about very quickly and we are still trying to process it all. We ask for your prayers tomorrow for the doctors, for mom, for us and wisdom for us all. Thanks for your continued support and prayers on our behalf.

I will update as I have further information.

All the way......

Mom's doing pretty well. She still has bad days, bad "episodes". But she's hanging in there and endeavoring to stay focused on Christ and "end well" whatever that may come to mean.

Today, we got together to celebrate the Lord's Day by spending our time singing. Most of the time was spent on hymns we grew up with and have loved forever. Always, the teacher, Mom made sure we stopped to consider the words of each verse of every song. (When you've been singing them for as long as we have, your mind can be a million miles away while you get every word correct. You know that. You've DONE that. But not today.) We took turns sharing our favorites and singing them, re-reading the verses and discussing them, understanding them and applying them to our lives.

We ended up with All the Way, My Savior Leads Me....."for I know what e'er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well. Though my weary steps may falter...." It's difficult just now not to apply each promise to where we all are, to where Mom is especially. This song is so appropriate to her life. She has allowed Him to lead her. Every step, every move, each struggle and trial she walked through because her Savior lead her that way. And He continues to lead. She walks hand in hand with Him drawing each day nearer and nearer to the uncertainties to come.

"Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell.....Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father's house above. When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day, the my song thro' endless ages, Jesus lead me all the way."

He doesn't just lead. He walks beside. He upholds. He comforts and whispers truths and promises to bolster us and calm our fears. Mama will never die. She will take one step on earthly terrain and the next on streets of gold. She will have reached her destination and begin unimaginable worship and communion with Him. "Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of JOY I see

Meanwhile.......He "gives me grace for every trial, for I know what e'er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well...." I love you, mama....