Update on my mom

Written on Sunday, 6/29:

Hi again! Thanks so much for praying! We really, truly felt your prayers and appreciate your caring! My mom was discharged after two days and is continuing to recover at home. We don’t know how long that will take or how much her speech/eating/ will improve, but of course we’re hoping and asking for quick and total healing, trusting the Heavenly Father holds each of our days since before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139, which went through my mind on the way to the ER last week.) It was considered a small stroke, and many people wouldn’t even notice a difference until after some time with her. Of course, we can tell she’s not functioning at 100%, and she is the most aware of any of us. She has an amazing attitude and sense of humor, though! We have laughed at out loud at her jokes and funny observations. (For example, they were trying to turn the TV on and only realized after some time and lots of punching of buttons that they were using the bed-attached telephone.)

We’re in CA now, by God’s grace (after a day’s delay). The Lord wonderfully provided the stamina and encouragement and help we needed, including throughout a missed flight, a five-hour wait in the terminal, and driving back home again to try again this morning. 

Written today, Tuesday, 7/1:

My mom is still searching for words and speaking a bit slurred at times. She is also just very tired. However, she's been blessed to have met already with two specialists: the cardiologist and the vascular surgeon. The cardiologist has fitted her with a continuous heart monitor. He suspects the stroke was caused by her heart, given that she has a dilated ascending aorta and decreased ejection fraction(?). Her heart is supposed to pump 60-65% efficiency, but it's only pumping at 50-55%. The vascular surgeon thinks it's too early for any sort of surgical intervention, but he referred her to a cardiothoracic surgeon to be sure. She's on two or three new medications and not enjoying the side effects, but she's grateful and amazingly positive! Her hope is in the Lord, and her family (besides we who are in CA on our way to PNG) is around her and caring well for her. Thanks for your continued prayers, especially for encouragement for her and my dad. 

Love in Christ,

Carrie