DAY 12: Supporters

The last couple of days have been bad. I didn't feel like writing yesterday because I was drained.

Mom's having trouble breathing. She's not getting enough oxygen and is in the early stages of pneumonia and ARDS, adult respiratory distress syndrome. The doctors say that it's very bad and that her situation is tenuous.

In addition, they found an abscess in her abdomen, which they had to drain by piercing her left lung, entering the abscess, withdrawing the fluid, then retracting the needle back through her lung. That cross-infected her lung, so now she's on additional antibiotics at a time when we thought she would be ramping down.

I called Uncle Pat with the news and he agreed that it's "not good." He told me to call him with any new information, but to use his cell phone number tomorrow because he'd be at Universal Studios celebrating Andrew's birthday.

Aunt Terri calls sometimes and emails to ask how Mom's doing. She always assures me that we're in her prayers and that we "shouldn't hesitate to ask" if we need anything.

The mountain community loves Mom. They've donated gas money, food, rides for the boys, flowers, notes, and cards. Chris Moody and his wife drove to the hospital to drop off a duffel bag filled with snacks and to offer their phone numbers for anything else we might need. Sue Barosh drove down to show me her house located near the hospital where we could stay at any time. She lent me a key and her library card, and gave her phone numbers for anything we need. Kevin's coworkers sent flowers. Peggy Mills and others brought food and money to the house. Peggy Donahue wrote a lovely note and asked that we read it to Mom even if we think she can't understand it.