Just got news yesterday, indirectlyly from another non-JW family member, that my mom is going to have heart surgery afterall. They will replace a valve and do a triple by-pass to try to fix her up. This is such surprising news for me, especially at this time.
For months the family was on a rolley-coaster of emotion, with her former operation date set for last December. Then at the last minute she declined to have her valve replaced and the by-pass surgery she desperately needs. She would of course decline blood, and her doctor at the time said a blood count of only "12" made it way too risky for him to proceed. Still, it was her decision.
Now, it seems, she may be having the surgery the same time my husband is having his. They are giving her daily iron shots, whereas before, they were giving her a shot every two weeks. Word is, although she is not presently in the hospital, she is at a critical stage. She is extremely weak and will die soon without the surgery. She gave up her apartment a couple months ago, and moved in with her JW sister. I knew she was growing very weak, since they had to stop the iron shots she was getting because her surgery in December was canceled.
I just never expected to have to deal with this again. And, it hurts that she never called to let me know, even though this was a "medical issue", which always before, she has felt able to discuss with her children that are no longer JW's.
Ahhh, when it rains, it pours. I have no control over any of this. When I called my loving Aunt Elsie yesterday, she is the one who inadvertantly told me. (She had been given the news by another Aunt) She felt so bad for me that I didn't already know just how critical everything is with my mother,etc......my dear and only remaining parent, who will be 80 on the last day of July, if she lives to see it.
...I ache to just put my arms around her. I have only those memories of good times, of laughter and joy, mostly from childhood, and being with her, and near her, feeling her arms about me, and listening to her read my favorite stories, and long walks on country roads that weren't paved, and covered with honeysuckle. Life was so much simplar for all of us then.
/<