Sister-in-Law Update

We are appreciating your prayers during this time. 

Last night G and I went to spend some time with L and his family.  I have to say I was in shock when I walked into L's room to see her so close to the end of her life.  I saw her a week or so ago via Skype, but to see her all skin and bones was a complete shock.  Needless to say, the tears came immediately.

Her last functioning kidney has stopped working and the pain killers she is given, are 10x the normal dose.  Imagine-10x the morphine and still in pain, not too mention almost out of it because of the drugs in your body.

Her whole family was there-husband, daughters, spouses, grandkids and of course her siblings and her Mom.  Dad came a couple days ago to see her and is challenged in his health too, so wasn't there last night.  Her hubby GV is truly a stong man, but to see him teary last night and realizing that this battle is so close to the end was a tough one.  Her mom was great.  She just held me and told me to try to keep it in infront of Lina and comforted me through the shock. 

I think it was a tough one for G.  H's always optimistic, but in a situation like this, that's tough.  Plus, he has always wanted to remember people as they were, not as they are just before death.  I understand that.  My father is the same way.  I remember when my paternal Grandfather died.  Gramma wanted to see him one last time before they laid him in the casket, but Dad choose to have th visual memory of his father the way his was, not the way he finished his stay here on earth.  I understand that even more now.

As for the prognosis, I understand that it is only a matter of hours until L is unable to communicate and is unaware of her surroundings or people.  It could come in the way of a coma, or she could take her last breath shortly.  She is an incredible lady.  She has given it more than her all when it comes to the fight.  She has been and continues to be surrounded and loved by her family.

Below is where I am gaining some perspective and strength today.  I hope and pray it encourages you, whereever you are on your life journey.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  I will keep you updated here regularly!

Ecclesiastes 8:1-8  (The Message)  (Thx for the fix DAD!)
1 There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A rright time to wage war and another to make peace.

You may know it better like this, the New International Version:
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.