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!