Comment from tfawcus

Excellent

No wonder FS has been taking second place. What a bittersweet burden you are having to bear. At least you have your faith and your love to help carry you through this dark time. My thoughts are with you.

 Comment Written 01-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thank you very much, Tony, for your kind, sensitive and excellent review of my post. I am sorry for my delay in responding to it, but you seem to have understood how I have had to prioritize my activities. This didn't change when I went home, and new challenges awaited me. Yes, faith and love do help in the dark times. As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, "Now these three remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love." I hope you and your wife are feeling fully recovered, and may God bless you. - Mary Kay

Comment from Anne Johnston

Exceptional

Thank you for sharing all of this with us. I pray for you and your mother as you go through this very difficult time. God bless you for being there for her when she needs you. I really like the following lines: "I believe that when she goes into assisted living, and I can no longer spend nights with her, we will both remember this experience of sharing God's Word to be among our most precious memories. And as tough as things are, we'll always know that we love each other."

 Comment Written 01-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thank you so very much, Anne, for your compassionate, kind and caring review, for the six shining stars and especially for your prayers! I am so sorry it's taken, literally months for me to reply and express my appreciation, but life was difficult not only during my months as a caregiver, but all summer, after I returned home. My husband had a heart attack, just as we were helping Mom prepare to move, and while he's doing better now (by the grace of God), we had a very difficult time with conditions in our apartment that I had to leave neglected, when I went to stay with Mom. I'm just starting to catch up on many doctor appointments and tests, for myself. And to make matters worse, my mother is very unhappy in the facility she moved into. She really needs a higher level of care, so we are praying that God will open up a door for a better solution.
Thank you for showing so much sensitivity in your review, and again, your prayers have been a blessing to us. May God bless you, my friend. Love, Mary Kay xoxo

reply by Anne Johnston on 21-Sep-2022

You are welcome

Comment from Judy Lawless

Excellent

My heart goes out to you, Mary Kay. I can only imagine what you must be going through. Sometimes I wonder if all the miraculous medical interventions we have these days only provide longer physical pain and suffering when we age, but take away real life. I pray that you and your family will find comfort soon.

 Comment Written 01-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thank you, Judy, for your kind, compassionate and excellent review. I'm sorry it took so long for me to answer it! I wish I could say that things are better; but it seems I've traded one set of troubles for another, as our home environment is full of problems and needs work that we can't do without help; my mother is very unhappy in the assisted living she was moved to; and while we were in the final throes of cleaning out her apartment, my husband had a heart attack. Now he's OK but mat need another surgical intervention later this year; I'm catching up on my medical appointments and we're doing the best we can, trusting God for the rest. Thank you so much for praying! God bless you.
Love, Mary Kay xoxo

Comment from Fleedleflump

Excellent

I can't say I believe in God, but I do believe good things should come to good people, and you have my heartfelt wishes for the best possible way forward. You write eloquently and clearly and I hope to get to know your work in future.

Mike

 Comment Written 01-Jun-2022

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reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thank you very much, Mike, for your thoughtful and kind review, and for the five stars. I also appreciate your patience with me, as it's taken a long time for me to answer some of these reviews. Life didn't get easier, even though I returned home -- it would take a lot to explain it, but sometimes we go through rough patches. And I still have faith that God will see me through, along with my family. I wish you blessings, my friend.
- Mary Kay

Comment from Cindy Warren

Excellent

I'm so sorry about your mother's condition, and I hope your kidney infection will soon be better. I work in long term care, and I have done homecare, so I know how hard this is on the family. It can be all-consuming. I'm wishing the very best for you and your family. Hope to see you back here soon.

 Comment Written 31-May-2022

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reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thank you very much, Cindy, for your kind and excellent review. Unfortunately the assisted living facility my mother went into wasn't a good fit, as it turned out--a mistake that is proving quite difficult or impossible to reverse, mostly because of financial limitations, which is largely why she went there in the first place. My health is somewhat better, but I have to catch up on a lot of doctor visits! The kidney infection is gone, thank God. I appreciate your good wishes and your patience, as it's taken a long time for me to answer some of these reviews. May God bless you.
Love, Mary Kay xoxo

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

You are having a very hard time of it and my prayers are with you. My mother had much better care in a nursing home than I or my sister could give her as she slipped into dementia very quickly although she was still mobile. Do believe you are doing the best thing for your mother and God bless you.

 Comment Written 31-May-2022

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reply by the author on 08-Sep-2022

Thank you so much, Carol, for your excellent and compassionate review. I'm sorry for the delay in responding. In retrospect, I wish we had found my mother a better living arrangement, because she's not happy where she is -- she really needs a 24-hour aide, which the government will pay for in New York, but not in New Jersey. I don't think a nursing home would have fit her needs, either; and currently, Covid is running rampant through her facility. I'm praying that she stays safe, that we can find a better situation for her and that God will touch her body, easing her pain. My husband and I are also going through some very hard times, apart from her situation.
Sometimes nursing home care is necessary, as you found it was with your own dear mother. Dementia is a terrible condition; I'm sorry your family experienced that. May God bless you too, and I thank you very much for your prayers! Love. Mary Kay xoxo

Comment from Paul McFarland

Excellent

In reading this piece, I count myself lucky to have the few aches and pains that I have. I have sent out a prayer for your mother, and hope that God will see fit to help her.

 Comment Written 31-May-2022

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reply by the author on 08-Sep-2022

Thank you, Paul, for your excellent, thoughtful and caring review. It's always healthy to count our blessings! I'm sorry for the delay in responding; when Mom went into assisted living, I found myself in another situation that was equally, if not more difficult. So I haven't been on FS very much. I deeply appreciate your prayer for my Mom, and may I be so bold as to ask for another prayer for her? The assisted living facility she went into was not a good fit, and changing it, at this point, would be very difficult. As her daughter, I continue to pray not only for her physical improvement, but for the opportunity for better circumstances. Thank you for your kindness, and God bless you. - Mary Kay

Comment from karenina

Excellent

God Bless you. With all you have on your plate you found the time to reach out to your FS family.

I pray the writing was cathartic for you. Sometimes the simple act of putting words on paper helps --- all the more, I hope when you realize you have a wealth of friends here!

You are a faithful soul, A good and loving daughter...

As difficult as this is, these too are memories you will one day treasure.

Please remember to take care of yourself!

You have my prayers... If there is anything I can do beyond that, I am a PM away!

Karenina

 Comment Written 31-May-2022

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reply by the author on 07-Sep-2022

Thank you so much, dear Karenina, for your kind and caring review, for your prayers, and your offer of help. Yes, I do have a loving community in FanStory.
I'm still going through a lot of difficulties, my husband is also, and my mother is unhappy in assisted living; the facility is not a good fit. But we keep looking up to God.
Yes, writing this was cathartic, and at the same time I got to briefly reconnect with this awesome group of writers. I'm only sorry it took me so long to reply, but I do hope you understand. May God bless you, my friend.
Love, Mary Kay xoxo

reply by karenina on 07-Sep-2022

I totally understand! I'm still a PM away if there is anything I can do...

reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thank you so much, Karenina! May God bless you abundantly.

Comment from C T Curtis

Exceptional

My heart goes out to you and your family while prayers go up for all of you. When we don't know the 'why's' of things happening, we can always depend on our triune God to get us through it. The key word is 'through' - we do not remain stuck. When our cup seems empty, that's when God keeps filling it, keeps renewing us. May you peace in the memories, joy in the moment of 'now' - it is a gift - the present. Blessings! Oh! And by the way - very well written and heartfelt.

 Comment Written 31-May-2022

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reply by the author on 07-Sep-2022

Thank you so much, Curtis, for your kind, compassionate and inspiring review; for the six shining stars; and especially for your prayers. Wow! The trials I'm going through now are somewhat different from the ones I faced then; and yet, your words of encouragement still apply! I'm copying out the words of your review, because they really resonate in my heart.
Mom is in assisted living, but it's not working out very well for her, so we really need God's intervention there. My husband and I are facing many health problems (including a heart attack he had, the same week Mom was moving) and a very difficult set of circumstances in our apartment. I am grateful that since I'm home, I'm able to at least begin addressing my health issues. Praise God for His love and thank you for your wonderful review. God bless you always, C.T.! - Mary Kay

Comment from Aussie

Excellent

Don't you have Govt. carers in US/respite? You are making yourself sick from the burdens you are carrying -get some help please. I have carers twice weekly. It doesn't matter how much you love your mother, if you don't look after your own health, what good does that do? Last time we spoke you were trying to clean the apartment out. "One day at a time dear Jesus, that's all I'm asking of you. Take my hand and show me the way." Love Kay xx

 Comment Written 31-May-2022

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reply by the author on 06-Sep-2022

Thanks, Kay, for your kind review and for caring so much about my health and well-being. Mom is now in assisted living, and I'm sorry to say, she's not happy there. This really isn't her own fault, but I think she was pushed into it by a family member who was managing her affairs, and it could have been handled in a much more appropriate and compassionate way. So now, we're left trying to do damage control, while I'm home, dealing with my health and other issues -- including my husband's health, as he had a heart attack during the week Mom was moving! Thank God, he survived it, but he's been following up with his doctors, and all told, we have our hands full. We can only trust in God, who knows best. May He bless you, my friend. Love, Mary Kay xoxo

reply by Aussie on 07-Sep-2022

Pray.

reply by the author on 07-Sep-2022

This, we are certainly doing! Still, that's one of the best replies I've ever received. ❤

reply by Aussie on 08-Sep-2022

Your biggest problem is you take on too much and wonder why you can't cope. Sorry to hear about hubby, how is he now? I think you should move and open a New Yorker pizza joint! Love, Kay XX

reply by the author on 17-Sep-2022

Thanks for caring, Kay, and for asking about Jorge. He's doing okay. But he will need an echocardiogram later this year, to see if his heart is pumping blood at a better rate. If not, he will need to have surgery to implant a defibrillator. So we're praying for healing. As for the pizza joint? I think that's off the table! ;-)
Love and prayers Mary Kay

reply by Aussie on 18-Sep-2022

Australia has just invented a tool that is inserted in the leg and instead of cracking the chest for surgery, it is all done through this instrument; recipient left hospital the next day! Bless you my friend; It's my birthday! I have turned 77 much love, Kay XX

reply by the author on 22-Sep-2022

Happy belated Birthday, dear Kay! You're 77 years young, and may you have many happy, healthy ones to come.
My hubby had open-heart, double-bypass surgery in 2011, and 5 subsequent stents inserted in the years that followed, in the manner you described. His blockages were also diagnosed through the instrument inserted in his thigh area, and this latest surgery (correcting blockages) was also done that way. If he requires the surgery to insert a defibrillator, they won't have to open his chest again--thank God for this technology! However, we're still hoping his heart will be pumping blood well enough by then, that the internal defibrillator won't be necessary.
God bless you too, my friend!
Lots of love, Mary Kay xoxo

reply by Aussie on 22-Sep-2022

Thanks for the good wishes. Glad Jorge has been patched up! You are right, get off the fat food, especially donuts and pizza! Love, Kay XX