According to Mom's doctor, things sometimes happen that medicine just can't explain.
After being told on Tuesday that our Mom had only days to live due to aspiration pneumonia, we got a call from the doctor early Thursday morning saying. "You may want to get in here...your Mom is wide awake and talking. She no longer shows any sign of pneumonia and her temperature is normal".
We all rushed over. Mom was indeed awake and alert, after days of high fever and non-responsiveness. The doctors said that we should just enjoy this gift of more time with our Mom, and we did. Joanne and Mark even brought Mom's cat, Tabby, in for a visit. (Mom calls Tabby her "pride and joy" and there is some light-hearted debate in the family about where the cat stands in Mom's affections in relation to her daughters.)
On Wednesday, Mom's condition had been so critical that my son, Rob, took the train to Maine from NYC, arrived at 1:30 a.m. and went to visit "Grammy" with me at 2:00 a.m. Thursday morning. Joanne and Mark were already there. Six hours later, the fever had broken and Mom had spontaneously beaten the pneumonia...without antibiotics. 
The doctor said that he is unable to explain Mom's recovery. He shared that this was only the second time in his medical career that he had seen anything like this happen in a patient in Mom's condition. He warned us to enjoy these moments and not get too hopeful, but it feels like a miracle to have this time with Mom.
And maybe it is...
On Thursday morning, my husband, Hank, took off the gold cross he has always worn and placed it on my Mom's neck.
She has been awake since.
This morning, Mom is sitting up in a wheelchair visiting. Her feeding tube has been restarted. Her left side is still weak and her speech is slurred but she is back with us for now. We're amazed and incredibly grateful.
Who knows?
"There are only two ways to live . . . one is as though nothing is
a miracle. . . the other is as if everything is."
- Albert Einstein
a miracle. . . the other is as if everything is."
- Albert Einstein
Wow, isn't God so good to give you all some more precious moments with your dear mom? It's a wonderful idea to bring in her cat. Pets are so good for seniors to relate to. God bless her, and you and the family as you enjoy this special time with her.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Pam!
ReplyDeleteGod works in strange and wonderful ways sometimes and these are just some of small miracles we get witness so often. Almost the same thing occurred just a few months ago with my former husband. Both children came home because the doctor told us all that there was nothing more that they could do to save him and that it was in God's hands now. My daughter came from Tennessee, my son from Boston to say their last goodbyes or so we all thought. But, God took over, took good care of him, brought him through a heart attack and pneumonia and after six months in an intensive care hospital he was able to go back home. Even though he is totally bed ridden and cannot take care of himself he has stopped his cancer treatments and is so happy to be able to be in his home and to spend more time with his family. We all have lots of things everyday to be thankful for and I'm so happy for you and your family for the extended time you have to spend with your mother. Precious and miraculous moments to treasure. Love and Blessings to you Cheryl and to your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing your family's story, Kathy...and for the kind words. I always look forward to hearing from you. ~Cheryl
DeleteThat is amazing and encouraging news. Enjoy this special time with your mom and blessings for a continued recovery.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, you are meant to have more time with you Mom. Praying that you all enjoy this time with your Mother. Big Hugs and lots of prayers.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Great news! Yay!!!!! I love that you took Tabby to see her!!!!
ReplyDelete