Lori You Are Loved

The elevator door opens to the 7th floor on Saturday, May 19, and Sammy and I immediately see Travis and Brittany very upset.  Sam asks what's wrong and Travis says through tears, "It doesn't look good.  Ask Dad."

Sam and I rush to Lori's hospital room and are taken aback by her appearance.  Eyes half open, mouth wide open, staring at something on the ceiling.  Paul gathers all the kids in another room.

She had been swallowing liquid into her lungs and had to suction out a lot of stuff.  And basically, the doctors have given her only a few hours to a couple weeks to live.

Immediately most of the hope I had been holding on to leaves, and as a family we all cry.

The next couple days are filled with family members, friends, pastors...everyone wants to pray for Lori and see her again and help the family in any way.

She will nod yes or no to some things.  She will smile sometimes, and that always makes us all smile in return.  If her mouth is moist enough and her lungs just got suctioned, she will talk, although not always clearly.

Sometimes her eyes will look across the ceiling and she will smile.  What is she seeing?  Angels?  Her vision has decreased to seeing only shadows.

I'm so proud of Paul and the boys.  They are watching their wife and mother come close to death, yet they are constantly at her side and are strong.

Last night we all took turns reading out loud from the Bible to Lori for a while.  The Word of God is active and alive.  It did us all good to hear the promises of the Lord and get reminded that He is with us and He's in control.

What all is going through her mind?  Does she know we constantly cry for her?  Is she scared?

I know she wants to go home so badly.  Hospice care is the next step.  And then no more chemo.  And we wait and pray for what happens after that.

We firmly believe that God still performs miracles.  I know he still even raises people from the dead.  Never will we stop praying.  Never will we stop seeking a miracle.

Whether Lori gets healed on earth, or she receives her healing in Heaven, dear Lord, let it come to pass quickly.  For she is in so much pain, as are all of us.

She needs to live.  She needs to be a grandma.  She needs have mother/son dances with her sons at their weddings.  She needs to be there for her mom.  She needs to go shopping with her friends.  She needs to stay here for her husband, because Paul needs her so much.

Jesus have mercy.