The Prayer List

[joanrae]

Well, Mom, made it thru surgery well. She was actually a happy camper--must be all the drugs. They put a rod and three screws in her arm and repaired a torn rotator cuff (old injury that she didn't know about). I am home, resting up for what is yet to come--mom at my house for, who knows how long.

Thank you my dear friends for all your prayers and encouragement.

Jordan's mom is a nurse and has been at the same hospital for over 30 years, my Ex is a security guard at the same hospital. They are going to be talking with doctors today to see if they can get Jordan moved to their hospital. It will really help when Mary Kay has to go back to work.

[WandaM]

Glad to hear about your mom, Ritzy. Get some rest...you'll need it!

[quilting00]

Ritzy-I've helped my mom through three shoulder surguries. Have on hand a bunch of pillows because she will need to prop her arm in her sling and it will be hard for her to sleep. Have on hand a bunch of frozen water bottles. She will need to ice her shoulder and hopefully she has an ice man machine. That is a wonderful invention. (You put the frozen water bottles in it; fill it with water, plug it in and cool water circulates through a small pad.)

Think of foods your mom likes; but also foods that she can eat with her fingers. . .cutting up items is okay; but it will get old with both of you.

Think oversize button up shirts. . .there will be weeks that your mom can't manage a bra and will have to wear her brace full time and it will be a challenge to put on a t-shirt.

Finally, take some time for you. . .care giving is tough. . .care giving is tougher when the client is a family member.

I'll be thinking of you,
Terry in Oregon

[quilting00]

Terry you are right on the money with all of your wonderful advice for Ritzy. Ritzy tell your mom to get use to being free on top because the bra business is not worth it after surg. Also things to concider is making a deal of some sort with an area hair dresser for wash and sets maybe a discount rate. Mine was really kind after one of my surg every third one was half price. This way I didn't feel like I had bugs in my hair all the time.
Thanks for the update on Jordan my heart aches for his parents and your girls.
Keep the faith
Rachel

[quilting00]

Ritzy . Prayers coming your way, for your mom and also for Jordan, but be sure to have some "Ritzy" time.
Margarita in Auburn, CA

[Judymc]

Your're in my prayers, Ritzy, and your Mom, too. Take care of yourself.

[Judymc]

Ritzy, sorry I haven't been able to monitor this thread for a few days, but I will again be praying for Jordan's situation, and for you as you care for your mom. The suggestions given sound wonderful.

I also want to let everyone know that DH's blood test did not show any problem with his blood, so the conclusion is that he has valve damage in that leg, probably from the initial blood clot he had 3 years ago. He will stay on Warfarin (anti-clotting drug) and will see the specialist again for consultation in July. Meanwhile, the doc suggested exercising the leg to strengthen the muscles and increase the circulation. DH is willing to do that, and we brought the stationary bike to Arkansas with us! I think he will do whatever he can to help this heal. Thanks for praying.

We still do not know the results from DH's contractor test he took last month. We will probably know on Tuesday whether or not he passed the test, when we pick up the mail that's been held while we were away.

[BethMI]

I agree with the suggestions about lots of pillows. I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder 2 1/2 years ago, and it took much longer than I ever imagined to really recover -- one year for me to really have full range of motion in my shoulder and 2 years for me to feel again like that was my dominant arm. that 6 weeks of PT just gets you off the sling and barely functional.

The very best thing I did for myself was before my surgery, I bought myself the biggest, fattest queen-size bed pillow I could find. I then made a pillow sham from some flannel leftover from a quilt back. I had visions of me taking naps on the sofa. WRONG!

I used that pillow to rest my arm on for weeks and months after my surgery and to prop my arm in a comfortable position when laying in bed. The flannel was SOOOOO soft, and it washes beautifully. I still use it every night and like it on the sofa when I watch movies on TV.

I now buy such pillows and make flannel pillow shams for friends who are having similar surgeries or who need chemo. They uniformly tell me that they love theirs as much as I love mine.

BethMI

[mknavy90]

Hello, All!

I found out today that my sister-in-law, who had her thyroid removed a couple months ago, is being flown back to the states (he is in the Navy deployed to Afghanistan and the family is based in Italy) for lumps that have been found on her pituitary glands. Scary to find out that things may be more serious than the original thyroid problems that she was dealing with. She is my age and we both have daughters who are 14. Please keep her (Renee) in your prayers.

Thanks so much!

On a good note, my Uncle's blood work has been good, and they are anticipating that all should be well until his next doc's visit in a month. He is enjoying the quilt that I brought home for him a few weeks ago. It is starting to get cold in MN, so the quilt is coming in handy, he says!

Much love, kindness and prayers to all of you!

God Bless!

Mary Kay

[PattiSure]

Linda, glad to hear the good results from the blood test. And hoping good news is in the mail about the construction test.

Mary Kay, sorry to hear about your SIL, I will be praying. And it's no surprise that your uncle appreciates that quilt. I'll bet it's keeping his heart as well as his body warm.

[PattiSure]

Mary KAy Sorry to hear about Renee I will keep her in my prayer. well.My BIL did not get the job with the Va power My sister is doing better and so is my brother he is doing better. My sister is getting worryed about no health INS she has RA and her durgs cost alot so hopefuly he will get something so Happy

[PattiSure]

So sorry to hear that your BIL did not get the job Happy. Seems to be my main prayer focus this year. My BFF's husband has been out of work since Feb and works so hard looking for a job. I walked into work on Friday to hear that 37 people were furloughed with another furlough happening in Nov and again in Jan. for about 100 total. I should have enough seniority to skid by if that's all they furlough. My heart of course aches for the unlucky ones.

[PattiSure]

My heart aches for all those people and I know that tighter times are ahead simply because of this wallstreet business. I too suffer from the no insurance bs this country has. My family has always fallen in between the cracks. So I do respect how those without it feel. My mother calls my husband and I the working poor. Too proud to go on any assistance so we work our backsides off and get nothing for it. I pray that the economy gets better but I feel that pray is futile.
Ritzy I am glad that you Mom is recouping. I do hope her pain is minimal that way her stay can be more enjoyable.
Elijah is feeling much better today. Tomarrow he turns 12. He has told me everything that he wants. He wants A LOT :!: :!: :!: That and none of it is cheap :roll: .He is my big helper and my lovebug. So he is getting quite a bit on his list. He has helped so much with the back room. Plus he did it without complaining. He also told the one neighbor it was time to leave me alone. That they had made me sad enough. Like I said he is my boy.

[PattiSure]

I need to thank everyone for praying for DH as he took his test for the contractor's license; HE PASSED! He had to get a score of at least 70 - and guess what, that's what the Lord graced us with! :wink: I wonder if an angel DID go in and change just one answer... anyway, I'm giggling as I write this, I'm so relieved. So thanks again for praying - it's a real load off our shoulders.

[Stinki]

Hello all, I won't be hypocritical and ask for prayers, but do keep my DH in ur good thoughts. A year and a half ago he had a heart attack and had 4 stents placed in his coronary arteries. Today he developed chest pain again and had to go to ER. Another heart cath later and he is spending the night in the hospital with an 80% lesion of his LAD coronary artery awaiting transfer in the morning to have another stent placed. He is only 57 years old, way too young to be having all of these problems.

Carla