Hi All
I posted recently asking for support (which I got tons of - thanks) as Dad was going to have an operation to remove a cancerous polyp in the colon. Well, last weekend he got rung up and told to get to the hospital fast - they had found a clot in a vein in the chest. As the clots were caused by the polyp they decided to operate last Sunday. I am pleased to tell you all that he is fine. There was minimal blood loss and his haemaglobin was only down slightly. We still have to wait to see what the results show, and what type of cancer it is but the relief he has survived this operation is immense. I also think those surgeons are amazing to be able to keep that blood loss down with a four hour open abdominal operation!!
While I was at the hospital the Presiding Overseer rang - he was very sweet and has insisted Mum gets lifts to and from the hospital from other witnesses. I also spoke to other witnesses I had known years ago on the phone and they were all very nice. I was surprised considering what a 'rebel' I had been - maybe its because its been so long - or maybe they are realising things for themselves. I say that because Mum told me how three elders stepped down - these were elders around my Dad's age - and the reason was that they were keeping in touch with their children who were either disfellowshipped or 'fallen away'. They did not want to 'shun' anymore. I have always said that it was unnatural to cut off your family like the Society encourage and in the end people will see through it - looks like its happening. Mum also told me that the 1914 generation change shook a lot of the 'older' ones. I also think that had a lot to do with it. Apparently the congregation dwindled so much in attendance that more young pioneers were brought in to boost the numbers back up!
So thanks again everyone for your support - it has made such a difference to me to know there are so many other people who have been through what I have and means a lot.