Where I've been and I need all of your help !

[Barbzeee]

In case any of you have thought I disappeared...I haven't... I've been very down in the dumps.. My friend and neighbor is dying.

I've been very close to both she and her husband.. Clancy works for me as my Gardener and his wife Elsie is my buddy in the needle crafts that we do together in a group on Thursdays.....Last summer Elsie was having back pain and we (the group) kept after her about getting to a doctor to find out what's going on... She did..and from the Xray and Scan they did..they could find nothing... So she wound up going to pain management and then from that a Chirocpractor..and then a Masseuse and still no relief.

I left for home the first week of August and I urged her to go to a Diagnostic Doctor...as she was to the point where she could no longer come to our meetings on Thursday and could barely sit without having pillows and some kind of pain meds..Well, just prior to me coming down to Florida in Oct ..Elsie took ill, she had developed pneumonia and went into congestive heart failure...she was taken to the hopsital... Tubes in her lung as it collapsed and then her kidneys started to fail .. they put a tube into the kidney... It was like a horror story... then last but not least they did a PET Scan .

Clancy was told that Elsie had Cancer... It was in her liver, breasts and pancreaus... they needed to know where it branched off from...she was so weak they said they could not start Chemo...until they built her strength... a few days later they came back and said... "there was nothing they could do...that it started from the pancreaus..and that it was a matter of time "...

She came home the day before Thanksgiving and was able to have her family there...and she has Hospice 24 hours...Now she's developed blood clots in her leg and is given heprin... Her only quest is that she be here for Christmas... The family has put the tree up and the lights look beautiful..When I go and sit with Elsie I see her just looking at the peaceful colors...sometimes she's not aware of what's happening ...I've asked her "how are you doing" and her reply to me is "BarbZeee, the nurses are wonderful..The nurses try to keep me from hurting...and she smiles and drifts.. The priest was in the other day and she received communion..

If any of you have followed my blog you would have read about Elsie... What I'm asking is that would you all please pray that Elsie gets her wish..

It breaks my heart that all the doctors she went to no one picked this up sooner... I pray that something will come of this that will open up a door to wake up calls of things not being able to be caught early.. Please pay attention to things happening to you...and if you don't get the results go further...

Thanks for letting me bend your ears and eyes...

God Bless

Zeee

[VickieP]

Zeee, I've been keeping up with your blog and I know this is rough on you and making your heart heavy. I will definitely keep Elsie in my prayers, it'll be easy to remember because that was my Momma's name.

[Echo]

Barbz! Have been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers so will add Elsie right in there along side of you. Will pray hard that she sees her Christmas and that she has an easy passing.

Love ya Lady

[BirdbyBird]

Strength to all of you......So glad that Hospice has allowed her to return home and remain comfortable......

[avalen]

you have my help for sure Barbz, you have mentioned Elsie to me before
and I know it weighs heavy on your heart. Will pray she gets her Christmas
wish.

[AlmostThere]

What a wonderful friend you are to Elsie and her husband. Praying for continued strength as you minister to this loving couple at this sad time in their lives.

[mitch5252]

I'll keep you in my prayers tonight, Zeeeee.
Stay strong for your friends.

..

[retiredhappy]

You and Elsie are both in my prayers.

[rvgrammy1953]

Zee, I, too, have been following your blog....I feel your pain for your dear friend....and will keep her in my prayers that she gets her Christmas Wish....

[Bethers]

She and her family and her wishes will be in my thoughts and prayers.

On another note - there is something you can all do. IF she is starting to slide and her memory starts going, please, there is nothing wrong with celebrating an early Christmas. About 10 years ago I organized one for the neighbor of a friend of mine's son. They wanted him to make it to one more Christmas, but as December approached, they knew he wouldn't - so we had a super Christams just a few weeks early for him. Santa, the tree, all the presents etc - and the entire family celebrated their Christmas then, also. That little boy had the biggest smiles. And when the actually Christmas came without him - the family had the knowledge that they'd given him his wish and were thankful they could do so -

Take care, Zeee - my thoughts and prayers are with you, too, you know, my friend.

[Liz]

On another note - there is something you can all do. IF she is starting to slide and her memory starts going, please, there is nothing wrong with celebrating an early Christmas.

That's what I was thinking too. I just saw a movie on TV where a whole town came together and celebrated early Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for a little girl they thought might not make it through the holidays.

I read in your blog that you've been visiting Elsie, and it's been weighing on your mind...prayers are continuing. Hang in there..you're a good friend.

[flick4411]

Sending prayers and virtual hugs for you and Elsie and her husband. Please do consider the early Christmas idea; would bring much joy to a lady who will benefit from a big infusion of joy. And you'd be able to share that joy with her and her family. Thinking of you and hoping the fear and pain is not too much to bear.

[dpf]

Zeee....my prayers are with all of you. ((((HUGS))))

[Colliemom]

Zee, My prayers go out to you and your friends as well. I know how you feel. I lost my mom to ovarian cancer and despite getting regular pap smears every year and her chekups, it was not found till it was too late to do much. She did get chemo but it didn't help. She was lucky, she was able to come home to hospice. My aunt died of brain tumor, here again discovered too late and not operable. Now days they would go in after it, but back then no. So I had to watch two people I dearly loved go slowly away. And my best friend too. The one whom I shard a relationship like you and your friends. Got lung cancer and it spread till she too passed away. My neighbor got cancer and passed away just before her first grandchld was born. She wanted to see that baby born, but God had other plans.

But I can't say enough about Hospice. They are so good with them and help both the family and the patient go with dignity.

Every time I read a post like yours now, it brings tears to my eyes remembering how it was for me. And yes, I agree with the others. Give her an early Christmas if you have too. At least in your hearts you will know you did the right thing.

[kdmac]

Be assured that God hears our prayers and does not turn away; He will be in the midst of this situation. I will continue to keep you, Elsie and her family in my prayers. An early Christmas is a great idea.