I just heard that my mother had a serious stroke and is not expected to live. I live in Africa and I am trying to get a flight to the U.S. The next flight out of here is Sunday evening and I will arrive on Monday evening in Atlanta.
Those of you who pray, please pray for me and especially for my dad. My parents have been married almost 60 years. My mom is a strong Christian and eager for heaven. I don't have much hope of seeing her alive unless they choose to have the machines kept on until I can get there.
I have been in a really bad fatigue cycle and now this hits. I am really worried about how I am going to handle the stress and the 24 hour trip. God is faithful though.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Friend, you are in my thoughts and prayers. YOur Mother is fortunate to have faith in her Maker.
My hope is that you and your Dad find comfort in Him as well.
Take care of yourself. Try to sleep when you can.
Hugs, Feelfit
Posted by wantabe (Member # 14703) on :
Praying for you and your family! Take your strength from your mother's love-Moms always have it to give where ever they are.
Take care, wantabe Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
ajisuun
i'm so sorry to read of this devastating news to you and with you being 24 hrs. away in africa!
for your long flight, perhaps you could write down or dictate to a recorder ALL your wonderful memories of your mom and things you did together and how she influenced your life. This way you are sending POSITIVE VIBS to her/family your entire trip. just an idea
i'm going to dig out a link of important info on FLYING from a male stewardess in hoping that will help you on your LONG trip.
please have a safe flight, and your lymenet family will thinking and praying for your dear Mom, family, and your safe journey back home! Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
I'm praying you will have a comfortable trip home. I pray your father will do well and things will go well for you all.
I hope you will see an LLMD...before you leave home again. I think it would be a good idea.
God bless you and your family, -p
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Praying for your Mom and you.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
ajisun,
I'm so very sorry to hear about your mother. Traveling from Africa to the U.S. in this conditions is hard on anyone, but with your fatigue already in place, just don't forget to take care of yourself as well.
My prayers go out to you and your family.
Cathy
Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :
Ajisuun,
Praying for you and your family.
Posted by ajisuun (Member # 17658) on :
Thanks for the prayers and good wishes. I have a ticket for that Sunday flight so I will try to cross the ferry first thing in the morning. The flight doesn't leave until about 9 pm, but I can stay with friends until it's time to go to the airport.
My family has taken my mom off life support and she is still alive, but I don't think she will make it until I get home. One day at a time.
Posted by mcctrun (Member # 18565) on :
ajisuun,
i am so sorry to hear about your Mom. my prayers are with you and your family.
hold on to all that your Mom taught you about your faith and know in your heart and soul that she is right there with you as you travel home.
Posted by Melodymaker (Member # 16434) on :
ajisuun, praying for travelling blessings, and for your Mom and family.
Posted by ajisuun (Member # 17658) on :
Thanks so much for your prayers.
I arrived on Monday night January 5 and was able to get the the hospital about 10:30 pm. Mom was still alive, but was breathing heavily. The family had disconnected the life support on Saturday and no one knew why she was still alive. There was no medical reason to explain it. Her pulse was running between 20 and 30, but her blood was 95-100% oxygenated. The nurses all said that was impossible, but God specializes in the impossible. The doctor said she was waiting for someone.
I held her hand and told that I had finally made it, but she could not respond. I sat there chatting with my dad, sisters and brother-in-law, telling stories about some things I had been doing in The Gambia in the days before I came. Mom always loved my stories. As I talked, my sister who is a nurse practitioner, saw that mom's breathing had changed and the breaths were coming very sporatically. Within about 1/2 hour of my arrival, Mom went home to be with her Lord. It was very evident that she had been waiting for me to arrive.
The funeral was Saturday. I will be here in Tennessee with my dad for about a month and then return to The Gambia so that I can wrap up loose ends and turn over my responsibilities in some kind of organized (I hope) way before returning the the U.S. in early April for furlough.
It was a very difficult week, so we appreciated everyone's prayers. Dad is holding up fairly well most of the time, but he will need people's prayers for months to come. My presence for the next month and then again as I am in and out during my year in the States should help to ease the transition to living alone.
I am holding up surprisingly well, but I can feel the crash coming. I have a couple weeks to recover before I make that killer trip again.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
ajisuun
my heartfelt sympathies to you/your entire family on your deep loss of your beloved mom! xox
so GLAD you got there and she was waiting for your physical presence and hearing one last story from you before she left this earth for heaven.
glad you're taking 1 month to be here helping your dad adjust, write on all sympathy notes, and paperwork of her estate, etc.
for the times when you really miss your mom, get our a video/dvd, and play it of her ... great listening to her voice and laughter and just watching her mannerisms/expressions !!
continue talking daily to her as you did before; she hears it all, and you can feel it in your heart.
i was just thinking of you the other day and wandering...thanks for coming back as you felt up to it.
may god help you now and in the days, months, and years ahead ... betty
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
ajisun,
So glad that you were able to make it for your MOms last hours. I am sure that it was you she was waiting for.
Bless all of you in your time of transition. Loving someone and losing them is never easy.
Take care, Feelfit
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
<<<<< Ajisuun >>>>>,
Just saw this, dear one! Perhaps your Momma is having a beautiful discusiion with my Mom. We lost her May 10th of this last year.
I understand some of waht you and your dad are going thru...as my family is going thru it as well.
Ajisuun, rest when you are able,cry when you need to...The Lord knows the heart and the loss.And laugh when sweet and fun memories come as well. It really helps!
Will keep you in heart and prayers!
Love from Silverwolf
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
ajisuun
I'm so glad you were able to spend time with your mom before she passed on. I think she heard every word of your stories.
Thank you for sharing another of God's miracles with us.
I'm sorry for your loss and will pray for your dad to make a smooth transition. God has called your mom home.
I hope you have a comfortable trip back to Gambia and that the time in flight goes by quickly. -p
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