The Death of a Saint

Dear Friends,

I wanted to give you all an update. I'm sorry I have not gotten out here earlier. I know I have seen a lot of you and told you how my MIL was doing, but I never made it out here to post.

On January 6th we learned that there was nothing more the Doctors could do and they turned my MIL's care over to Hospice. She was able to be at home. God continued to keep us in His care as that afternoon my husband received a phone call with a job offer. I think it was perfect timing as he got to be there when she needed him there and has a job to distract him now. The following is a note I posted on Facebook and I thought it was fitting for here too:

Last Saturday my MIL slipped into a coma at her home. Hospice told us this would happen and that she would have 12-24 hours left. Her immediate family gathered at her home to be with her during her final hours. She had told the Hospice nurse and social worker on Wednesday that she was "anxiously awaiting" being with the Lord. She also said that she hoped her family and friends could feel the peace that she was feeling. Her life was a walking testimony to her faith, the way she handled the cancer returning was such an inspiration. I watched her go through so much but she continued to smile through it all.Just before midnight we all gathered around her bed in a circle, we needed to pray with her. We held hands and started a prayer chain. By the time the last person finished praying, my MIL was gone. We prayed her right up into Heaven. I know it was exactly how she would have wanted to leave us. I cannot begin to explain the feeling I had while I was praying, to say I physically felt the Lord would be an understatement. He was there no doubt about it.

Earlier in that day I had read the book “90 minutes in Heaven” while my MIL lay sleeping beside me. If you have not read that book I encourage you to do so, especially if you are dealing with the loss of a loved one. On Thursday before my MIL died, I got the honor of hearing her talk to loved ones that had passed away years ago. She talked with her Mother and talked with her Sister. On Friday while Kelly (my sister-in-law) was there my MIL had many more conversations with people that had passed away. Every conversation would end the same way "where are you going" or "when will I see you again." I know in my heart she is with the Glory of God and all of her family that she talked to. I think God allowed us to see those conversations to give us more peace and comfort. I also believe we are meant to share it with others. It was a way for my MIL to witness from the grave. There is a Heaven, there is a Jesus. She believed and I know she is there. I believe and I know I will see her again. I pray that everyone who reads this will be there too.

Here is her memory page http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=2832636 you can click on "movie" to see a photo display. All the photos she picked out herself in the weeks before her death. It's another gift from an incredible lady.

My In-Laws in September.

I will try to start getting my schedule back in order and start posting regularly in February. Thank you for your prayers and emails of encouragement. Please continue to pray for my family as we grieve. We miss her so much!

Blessings,

Melissa

Dear Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is enjoying a great start to the New Year. I saw many of you while I was out enjoying triple coupons at Harris Teeter. It was different for me this time as I wasn't as prepared as I normally am. I was overwhelmed at how many of you read my blog and remembered me and came up to me. I was touched when you asked how my Mother-in-law is doing. I thought I needed to come out here to my blog and give you an update.

My mother-in-law came home Christmas Eve! We were so blessed to be able to spend Christmas with her at home. We decided to skip the meal this year, since she can't eat and enjoy it. We did enjoy time together opening presents. Here is our annual picture in front of the Christmas tree at her house:

She is still not able to eat any solid food, but she gets fed through her port every night. We thought we would have a nurse each day but found out that is not the case. We have all learned how to prepare her IV bag every night, hook up her TPN (nutrition), flush her port, change her dressings and empty her bags. I am grateful that we have several adults in the family so we can trade off to help my father-in-law care for her.

Her next appointment is Jan 6th. The doctors thought that she would probably end up back in the hospital before then, but we are optimistic that she will not! They are saying they will not be able to continue with the chemo as she is running a fever every night and they will not do chemo if she has a fever. They have also said that if they do not do chemo they will not nourish her as to do so would only feed the cancer. We will worry about that on the 6th I guess.

We have learned to take each day as we have it, enjoy each day and not worry about the future as it is not promised to us. God is in control of the situation and we are comforted by him daily. We are blessed to have to time to spend with each other now and I feel like this is drawing the family unit even closer to each other and Him.

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. They have truly touched me. I do not know when I will be back, I am enjoying my time with my family. When it feels right, I'll be back.

Love to all!

Melissa