Family

[Lindsey]

I have a lot going on in my family right now. My great-aunt is in the hospital with the human form of mad cow disease. From what I've heard, one day she just couldn't see and she couldn't speak. She was taken to the hospital and it took them a while to figure out what was going on. There is a one in a million chance of getting this disease and right now there are two cases in the hospital here. It can be dormant for years before the physical symptoms start to show so there is no telling where she might have contracted it. It could be from a bad cut of meat with some spinal cord from an infected animal, or it could be from medical equipment used on someone previously who may have had it because it can't be killed with sterilizing processes. She is an amazing woman and has fostered children for years. After her husband passed away, she met a man in Mexico and married him. I actually went down for her wedding. He lives up here now and he is so wonderful, but he hardly speaks English. She also has a 10 year old adopted son who was with her in foster care for years before she decided to adopt him and raise him herself. I don't know how they will get along without her. There is no cure and no treatment. She can only get worse.

My mom called last night and said my grandma is also in hospital with liver problems. She was in the hospital since last Tuesday and nobody called my mom to tell her until last night!!! So my parents are coming up tomorrow and Ronan and I will go visit her in the hospital. She has not met Ronan yet (she lives quite far away) and he was born on her birthday. I think she is 91 years old now.

Anyways, some prayers for my family members would be greatly appreciated!

[JJJ]

Positive thoughts and energy for your whole family Lindsey. Bad news always seem to come one after another. Keep your spirits up, everything works out.

[Lindsey]

Thanks! My grandma was in great spirits when we visited yesterday and she loved Ronan. There were about 10 people visiting at the same time so it was hard to really get to visit. But she did get to see Ronan and she touched his foot and he gave her smiles! It was hard to see her like that, but she is doing well and will be released. The doctors want to let her go tomorrow but my mom and aunts want her in a little longer because she really has nobody to take care of her at home.

My dad visited my aunt today and said you wouldn't even recognize her. Her skin is grey, her false teeth are out, she is strapped down because she can't control her limbs anymore and they jolt all over the place. She did not wake up at all today. She is going downhill very fast. Her grown daughter and her husband will be adopting her son. We don't know what her husband will do. Maybe go back to his family in Mexico Another uncle (her half-brother) told us tonight she MIGHT have another week or two to live. Some people can live a year or more, but he is sure she is not one of them with how quickly she has gone downhill. Every day she is much worse. It is too sad to even think about.

[JJJ]

What a wonderful daughter she has.

I'm sure it's very hard for ya'll to hear that type of news. Such a tragedy for a good hearted women. Hopefully she turns around and gets better.

Is your grandma not able to stay with a family member? I think it's very risky for her to stay alone for most of the time. I know she probably doesn't want to leave her house.

[Lindsey]

Two of my uncles actually live with her and she takes care of them! One has MS quite badly and can't move much anymore, and the other, well I don't even know why he is there. He has lived with her for years and he doesn't work or do anything. There is no way my grandma will stay in bed and rest if she goes home. From the minute she left home for the hospital she was concerned about taking care of her garden! My cousin who is a nurse said she will take her back to her house instead for a week or so but my grandma is very stubborn and would probably fight that to get home instead.

[Shada]

Prayers for you and your family. So horrible for you all... I wish I had words to comfort you. But know that I care. [HUGS]