Mom's Sister Barbara's stroke....

If you cannot follow a trail of tears right now, do not read any further. My mom for 68 almost 69 years passed away this December 7, just 25 hours from her 92nd birthday. We had her memorial and funeral on the 11th and getting through this and Christmas without her is or was a little hollow without her in our life.

But mom lived a long and a good life and she is no longer in pain but in His care with her husband, her sister, and brother and the sweetest grandchild that went before her. Someone said to me at a time I needed some new preview of these happenings and he said the stands in heaven were cheering her arrival, a multitude of saints and angels now carressing her where I could no longer. She is happy now and without the rigors of old age and pain of over 5 weeks in the hospital fighting until there was no more fight left in her. But now...

Mom left 3 brothers and 1 sister behind and Barbara, who is my Bobbie, is only 7 years older than this nephew of hers. She hugged me at mom's memorial and told me to remember "Jeff, you know I am the only sister left and I need you now more than ever!"

Karen and I drove to Hickory, NC to the Clarks for Christmas with her mom and dad and family. Christmas eve night, my cell phone rings and it is Laurie, aunt Barbara's daughter. Bobbie did not show up Christmas eve afternoon as expected and did not answer her phone. They called her neighbor across the street and he said Bobbie's car was in the garage but she did not answer the door or her phone.

Bobbie's son Russ and son in law Steve went over there and could unlock the door but had to break the door in as she had the dead bolt and chain on the door. They called for her, but no answer. Russ found his mom unconscious on the far side of her bed next to the wall.

Laurie called me from the ER and told me the paramedics had just gotten there with her mom and they determined she had been unconscious for a time having suffered a stroke either during the night or early morning. Here I am 450 miles away and the plaintiff sound of Laurie's voice asking me "Jeff, what do I do?" I tell you this as Laurie told me later that I was the first one she thought of when looking for what to do? Do you know how helpless I felt listening to this daughters voice through tears and choking on her words.

I went though this with losing mom and she said I would know what to do if anyone did. What a compliment to me that words do not work in my telling of how I felt and even as I feel now. But like the Good Book says "he strengthens those that believe in Him and will only give you challenges that He knows you are capable of handling!"
Karen could over hear my conversation and walked over to the sliding door and held my hand as I attempted to comfort her.

I don't know even now where the strength and composure came from but I must have said the right words. She is now with family and I called mom's and Barbara's brothers and got them all in the loop of caring for this family. Jim drove from Gadsden the next morning but told me that night not to come home until he found out more detail. Jim stepped into the gap where Jeff could not and he called me on his way to Birmingham Christmas morning to help support the family and find out more than Laurie could tell me.

Bobbie was placed in intensive care and is still in ICU in Brookwood hospital at this writing. But just like when mom passed away, family and friends stepped up and were there for them with love and care. Bobbie had a major stroke, cannot speak, and is paralyzed on her right side. Jim called me about every 6 hours and discovered as I did with the nursing care at Brookwood, they are just great. Laurie called me again Christmas night and told me and Karen again to stay with my family as I needed them just as she needed hers now with her.

The news is some better. Bobbie is progressing slowly, is conscious and recognizes her family. She cannot speak but her color is better, her vitals are better and the doctors have her sitting up now in bed and testing her reflexes. She is trying so hard to talk and to smile and is conscious of what is said in the room. Laurie called me again this afternoon after returing to Birmingham and she encouraged me to not come tonight as her mom was tired and sleeping but to come Friday morning.

Laurie and Russ have been at the hospital at all hours over the last 3 days but she was now on her way home to get some food and much needed rest in her own bed. Laurie sounded so encouraged as were the doctors that there is a possibility she may be moved out of intensive care late Friday or Saturday into a private room.

If things could not get worse or more complicated, Karen had to have necesary hand surgery on her right thumb today to release it from some scar tissue that has been very painful. So I have been nursing a wife with only one hand and she cannot dress, bathe herself, tie her shoes, put on her clothes, cook, anything for a week from Friday when she sees the doctor for a checkup. She is now in bed with pain medication and I have to plan short trips out and back to make sure she is OK. Got another ball for me to juggle right now...well i've handled all of them until now. Maybe this is His way of strengthened one's strength and faith in Him.

Thanks to all my friends and readers as prayer is holding each of us up right now. I will fill in more info on aunt Barbara after I see her tomorrow morning. Thanks,
Jeff and Karen

 Anonymous

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you walk through this hard time with your creator, Jeff.

Travis  

 Jeff N,

My mom's sister Barbara passed away today January 6th, 2007 at Brookwood Hospital in Bimingham. Please keep all the Guyton, Northcutt and Nutter families in your prayers,
Jeff N.