The Greatest Day in Human History: Update on Mom

Here are some qualities Mom prides herself in: boundless energy, fierce independence, the ability to host a great party, and her trendy and stylish ways. Her decline in health strikes at the heart of these qualities. It’s why it was difficult to hear my sister describe how she’s noticed a significant decline in Mom’s functioning even before she was hospitalized. Deborah took a leave of absence from her job to take care of Mom for the last five weeks. She says,

When I came to Houston I wanted to take lots of pictures with Mom. I haven’t been able to do that. She spends most of her time in bed. Mom has one good day every two weeks.

Nowadays she’s exhausted. She has to depend on a caregiver for simple tasks like transfers and dressing and bathing on bad days. Because of her immunosuppression she has to limit her crowd exposure especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of her hair makes her self-conscious.

For our daily FaceTime I shared a worship thought on the Resurrection. Unfortunately, Mom would not process much of it.

She’s had a setback.

This morning Mom had significant desaturations (decrease in oxygen levels) and a drop in her blood pressure due to a busted cuff around her endotracheal tube (breathing tube) causing an air leak. Since there was no seal around the tube, the ventilator could not fully support her breathing. She struggled without the support of the ventilator fully behind her. 

The breathing tube was exchanged for a functioning one. Her ventilator settings were increased including her FiO2 up to 100%. Levophed was re-started at 20 mcg to stabilize her blood pressure. Mom was sedated with Fentanyl and Versed, too, so she could not interact with us during our daily FaceTime. This was obviously not the outcome we were praying and hoping for this weekend.

Her respiratory status needs to stabilize. She needs diuresis to draw out fluid build-up. And then finally she can have the breathing tube removed.

Honestly, answers to prayer can sometimes feel like a roller coaster.

During our FaceTime today we saw the breathing tube in Mom’s mouth. Her eyes were closed. She did not respond to our greetings as before. I shared with her and the family about the greatest day in human history – the resurrection of Jesus (Yahshua the Messiah). If it were not for the resurrection our “faith would be useless” and we would be “pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15). 

But Paul gives us this promise:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed…When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that it is written will come true. Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. – 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

I ended with a direct message to Mom.

Mom your body may have failed you this week. But this isn’t the body you will have for eternity. Yes the day may come when you may have to die. But because of your strong faith in Yahshua the Messiah, you will be resurrected in what will be at that time The Greatest Day in Human history. Your cancer and hypertension will be gone. And your body will put on a new glory. Death will be swallowed up and there will be no more separation. No more goodbyes. We will all be together. And we will be together with Yahshua in heaven. Hold on to that hope Mom. Hold on to that empty grave. Because when Yahshua finally comes in the clouds – that will be the greatest day of human history.