Mom took a turn for the worse

It has been an emotional weekend!! Let me share what happened and my emotions and thoughts behind it. I have a lot to share so this will be long!

On our way out of town on Friday afternoon we planned on stopping by the hospital one last time to visit Mom. We would be home here in Tucson by about 5pm. 20 minutes or so before we were to get there I got a phone call that Mom had been moved to room 211B. From spending quite a bit of time at the hospital this week I knew immediately that was an ICU room. I quickly started asking questions as fast as I could. All anyone knew at that time was that she had internal bleeding and a lot of it. Not a good thing for someone on blood thinners and/or at a dangerously high risk of blot clots.

I met Dad at the hospital. My brother, Drew, joined us about 30 minutes or so later. We waited over 4 hours to get in to see her. Dad was trying to distract himself, and my kids, who were very tired and even more hungry, were the perfect distractions. He took them on walks all around the hospital. At 6 o'clock I had had it. They would not give me the ok over the phone check in so I grabbed my bag and told Drew that "I was going in." I wasn't sure what trouble I would get into, but at that point we needed to know how she was doing, my kids were becoming unbearable and this was just ridiculous. I just marched myself in and found her room. Someone was in working with her so I hovered outside of the room just waiting. Two gentlemen that were there suddenly asked me if I was Marsha's daughter. I, of course, quickly said yes. They were her two doctors. Dr. Basha & Dr. Deyden more than willingly allowed me to go in and started to explain everything. Thank goodness I was "not in trouble." I asked questions about everything, what was this and what is that. Why is she on this and that. I wanted to make sure she was getting the right treatment. Of course I wouldn't know what the right treatment really was, but in asking the questions it allowed them to explain so I could make sure she wasn't getting anything that she shouldn't.

They estimated that Mom had started having the internal bleeding about Wednesday. The nurses she had on the 3rd floor were less than stellar so I am not surprised that it took them that long to notice something was not right. She almost collapsed in the shower. The doctor took one look at her and knew what was happening. They took her blood vitals and everything was in a "critically low" state. Hence the reason she was rushed to ICU and no one was allowed to go in. They had to get her stabilized and they had to do it very quickly.

When I went in I was unprepared to see Mom in the state she was. They had just given her the medication to heavily sedate her. As the time past she was less and less coherent. She couldn't really talk, although she tried. Mostly she just squeezed my hand. She was paler than anything and her skin was so cold to the touch. The central line going directly into her neck with four lines coming off of that was scary to see. In addition, they were on the second blood transfusion when I got there. They had also given her frozen plasma. Drew donates plasma every couple of weeks. Perhaps he helped to save her life. That is a nice thought. And if not her - someone like her. I knew he did this, but never appreciated it until now. Thank you Drew for helping to save someones life somewhere. I am proud of you!!!!!

As I left the hospital I was calling my other brother, Phil & his family and my sister to give them the report of what was happening. Phil & Tiffany, bless their heart, were willing to pack up and drive all night from Albuquerque, NM to be here. I told them I didn't feel it was necessary at this time that they could check back with Dad on Saturday. What great love and respect on their part to be willing to drop everything to do that! I sure love and miss them.

As of Saturday morning the bleeding was still there and the doctor still didn't know where it was coming from. By early evening, after more rounds of treatment and tests all day long, they finally determined where it was coming from. They treated it with a combination medication. She received a third blood transfusion and of course was being monitored 24 hours.

Today Mom is much better. The bleeding has finally stopped. She is drinking liquids and moving to sit in a chair. Dad she she looks better too - he has a sense of relief in his voice. They anticipate that she will continue to be in ICU through Tuesday so they can continue to monitor her condition to make sure there are no later surprises. Michelle called me and said that the nurse she has is just divine. She brushed Mom's hair and teeth for her. She helps her move and get around. She is just kind and loving. I don't know this nurse and she will never know me, but today I am grateful for her and her kindness towards my Mom more than she will ever know.

As we made it through this scare, although I was anxious and admit that yes, I was scared, I still had a great sense of peace. I know it may be hard for some to understand, but I will try to explain. Mom received a priesthood blessing on Saturday prior to her surgery. In that blessing she was promised, "You still have work to do on this earth and it is not your time to go. You will recover." I kept those thoughts in my heart and mind as often as I could over this weekend. When I walked into the room and saw her there, still not knowing what was going on, I clung to those promises. I knew that some how she would be alright. If I had felt differently I would not have come home to Josh in Tucson that night - I would have stayed with her, I would have told Phil & Tiffany to come now.

Again, another miracle happened. We have been praying for Mom and her doctors. Her doctors were alert and saw the problem. They have been blessed and led to find the cause and have helped save her life - again. That same doctor had the insight to decide not to try the smaller surgery. As it turned out, there were two cancerous areas on her Gallbladder. It was a huge blessing that this surgery was done when it was and how it was so it didn't have time to spread.

Our family has been tremendously blessed. I thank my Father in Heaven for his love and the peace that he allowed me to feel through this rough time.