I can’t identify with the fiery trials of war. I can’t identify with being in a mob or being physically persecuted. I can’t identify with being scared in a situation beyond my earthly control. But I can feel the disgust at several sleepless nights of worry, or concern about the state of the country, or threats of financial ruin, or the chaos of political controversy, or, definitely this week, of issues that affect my sister Dorothy who is occupying 90% of my thoughts and almost 100% of my prayer time.
For those who have not been following my emails or in direct contact with me, here’s the situation. Dorothy is in a nursing home setting in upstate New York and has been receiving abominable care and attention since a heart-stent surgery Thanksgiving time last year. As a result of that surgery, she has lost the use of her leg because of infection and what we think was incorrect use of the artery in her groin where the stent was inserted on its way to her heart artery. She is now confined to a wheel chair.
Fast forward to a month ago when my other sister, Dorothy’s POA, and I decided to transport her to assisted living here in Florida. While Ellen dealt with a horrific hoarding/house sale and debt crisis Dorothy had created, I found a place for her here in Florida and have spent the last six weeks or so passing documents between there and here and finally got her accepted to the facility here.
On August 8th, Dorothy fell in the shower in New York because there was soap and shampoo residue in the shower and it was slippery. The aide did not report the accident. The next day, Dorothy was in pain, stayed in bed three days with pain from the fall and a cold she caught from her roommate. She asked for an Xray of her spine. They x-rayed her lungs because her cough was troubling. They tested her for COVID. It was positive. She was sent to the hospital. There they treated her for COVID, x-rayed her lungs and spine. She is bruised from the fall, then developed bedsores, and gradually (over a week) recovered from COVID and viral pneumonia.
Meanwhile, the facility here has rescinded their use of the room we had agreed upon and paid the reserve fee and community fee, because they want it for someone else. Dorothy has now returned to a private room at her facility for rehabilitation. Because of the steroids and Paxlovid she was treated with, her diabetes is out of control and she is extremely weak. Because her medical assessment needs to be redone, she may not qualify for assisted living.
I have already arranged for her hospital bed, wheelchair, etc. here. So I am feeling overwhelmed by circumstances way beyond my control not. It is the topic of constant prayer for me and my prayer partners.
Today, on my prayer calendar, I read about the early church, in Peter’s words. I am taking this as a positive message to me for the day. May it bless you for whatever you are going through this day:
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad–because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering, and afterward you willl have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory.” (1 Peter 4:12). Not for a minute would I suggest my difficulties in all this are as difficult at those faced by others. But, I do know that these things cause persistence to result in character building and trust in God that He will work out the details I cannot even fathom at this moment. I know God is sovereign. If He wants Dottie here where I can look after her interests better than I can 1900 miles away, then it will happen. If I can get her to a facility where she will be treated medically, physically, and socially, then I will attempt to do that. When I can assure she is competently cared for and honestly assessed, then I will be in a better place and might get a good night’s sleep. Is that too much to ask?
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