Please pray for Lori's grandma

I'm very sorry, Lori.  My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and your grandma.  

Lori, I'm so sorry to hear the health crisis your grandmother is facing.  It's such a heartbreak to watch our elderly loved ones struggle with bodies that are failing, while their minds are still strong.  When things start to get overwhelming with their physical problems, it ends up affecting their sense of hope and optimism, especially when it means giving up things like driving, independent activities, etc.
 
Three of my grandparents died before I was 2, so I only had one grandmother most of my life (she died about 4 years ago).  She was a fairly formal & cold person, so we "adopted" grandparents (the parents of one of my mother's oldest friends).  Nana died suddenly of a heart attack, but Pop had various conditions that meant he dealt with lots of hospital stays, surgeries, lifestyle changes, becoming almost entirely dependent on others.  We all did what we could to keep his spirits up.  He was hospitalized when we got married, but we went straight to the hospital after the reception (still in our wedding clothes), and he was thrilled.  He insisted on putting on a red sweater and his teeth!  The photos we took that day are sad, but I'm so glad we were there.  We cut our honeymoon short because he wasn't expected to leave the hospital.  He died a couple weeks later. 
 
I guess the best we can do is to try to spend as much time with them as possible so they focus on something other than themselves.  Pop used to get the biggest kick out of just listening to me and my friend go on and on about some crazy thing we'd been up to.  And you've got the best medicine in the world for her --- a gorgeous furry face to meet her gaze, a thick coat to lose her fingers in.  When we used to bring Tonka for pet visits at the hospital, the unit we visited had mostly elderly stroke and cardiac patients, and they lit up when they could see Tonka.  I hope Willow can be with your grandmother during her recovery from this. 
 
Sending all my good thoughts and prayers for all of you.  I'll ask Tonka to send his angel-vibes to her as well.  He'll be happy to do what he can for someone who is clearly a friend to animals. 

Thank you both!  My mom said an infection doctor will be seeing her tomorrow.  And, I'm going to call her. 

It's scaring me to even see it in print now.  She's been sick before many times.  But, for some reason my instincts are telling me this isn't good. 

Thanks again.
 
Other cool things about her--she used to take my brother and I out for dinner every Tuesday (her night off at the time), we'd go to KMart or anyone of those big open flea market type stores and I'd get whatever I wanted, my mom wouldn't let me pierce my ears, so she took me and THEN we told my mom (I was 12 then), we all took the train to Florida once and she spent the whole time in the lounge car playing cards with some people she met, I found a bird about six years ago and nursed it back to health and she kept it until it passed away, she says she can't understand Italian but I've heard her speak it many times when someone else is (my family never wanted people to think they didn't learn English and came here to mooch off the gov.) 
 
Sorry, the list could go on and on. . .[&:]

Oh Lori.  On a very personal level I know what you are going through.  Share this with Grandma and maybe it'll get her to WANT to keep fighting.
 
My Mom was sooooo confused and so out of it with her variety of meds that my sister was talking about assisted living for her.  Sis had NO life because she couldn't even go to the store without taking her cell phone.  She has, over the years, allowed Mom to become FAR too dependent on her, and with the second to last hospitilization, I was STANDING right in front of Mother's face but she still thot that SIS had to come back from where ever SHE was to take her to the ER.  I had to PROVE that I was perfectly capable of taking her to the ER, perfectly capable of sitting there with her for hours, and perfectly capable of "being Sis".  After the pacemaker was installed, after the meds got adjusted YET AGAIN, all of a sudden it was like the fog rolled back.  Mom is normal again.....acting like her self, going places, doing things, HAVING fun........she's 82 by the way, so even older than Grandma.
 
You tell Grandma that idog prayers are darned powerful and that they CAN help.  They helped not only my Mom, but my 26 year old nephew as well who has some sort of oddball condition that usually is diagnosed by AUTOPSY.  Jon is now the proud owner of a built in defibulator.  And how many lost dogs have we prayed back home? We are a POWERFUL group when we unite for a cause!
 
Grandma's got prayers coming from MI, and 6 gsds  with crossed paws pulling for her.

Lori, my heart is with you and your grandma.
Roger, my other half also has diabetes and I know how much of a terrible disease it is and all of the complications it causes. Any trauma takes it's toll on the body.
Callie was very helpful by giving Roger advise about his diabetes. Thanks to her, he is seeing a naturaopath and it is helping him keep on top of things. He was loosing sensation in his feet and lower legs( alot of tingling) and he is improving slowly. Really scary stuff.
I pray that your Grandma regains her strength and will to live so that she can fight this.
Candles burning for you and Grandma.
(((hugs)))

Lori - she sounds like a wonderful grandma and I can see why you've felt so close to her.  Only one of my grandparents was still alive when I was born, and it was my mom's mom.  I adored her and she was a lot like what you describe.  I wish I could've spent more time with her.

It sounds like she's been a strong woman, so if anyone can fight this off, she can.  I can understand your worries though and will say prayers that the Dr.'s can get a handle on the infections and surgery won't be necessary.  Hugs to you and your family.

{{{hugs to you Lori}}}
 
I hope your Grandma pulls through all this.  You both are in my thoughts.

More prayers coming for Grandma and her doctors...stay strong and cheerful for her.

many prayers for you from south dakota...

Thank you all.  I couldn't connect with her today, she was down for testing.  So, I'll have an update by tomorrow evening.

Prayers and positive energy for Grandma's recovery, Lori.

Lori, we will definitely keep your grandma in our prayers.  It's so nice having them around... I'm one of the fortunate people to have both grandmothers still with me (I normally say mamaw, one grandma will give me the evil eye if I say anything other than that!) One is 75 and the other will be 90 this year.  On the other hand, I never had the experience of having a grandpa as both passed away before I knew them. 
 
My mamaw (on mom's side) absolutely loved FeFe, always called to check on her, immediately put Fe on a prayer line after we found out she was sick, could pray the sweetest prayer that I know had to go straight to the Lord's ears, always asking me to bring her over, would have taken her from me if I didn't keep an eye on her (lol).  I LOVE the sneaky ways grandmas seem to have... whether it's getting our ears pierced or buying something our mothers did not want us to have or just their ways of making us feel special. 
 
Please keep us updated on what the doctors said.  My mamaw also has diabetes so I know how that can complicate everything.  I love that she's not afraid of Willow.  Seeing her probably lifts your grandma's spirits.  And you seeing your grandma lifts YOUR spirits... all one big circle of love [].

Lori, we will have your grandma in our thoughts and prayers, too.

Lori, my prayers are with you.  I know how hard it is to watch a loved one get old.  Treasure every second you have with her.  ((HUGS))