Saturday, April 11, 2009

Update on Dad

I’ve had a few people ask so I thought I would take a minute and do a Dad update.


He is doing as well as can be expected. He is still on oxygen 24/7 and gets fairly frustrated with tripping over the oxygen ropes, making sure the canister or machine is on, carrying around the oxygen tank, and having those ropes hanging around his ears! But if he goes any time without it the tip of his nose and tips of his ears start to turn purple and it goes quickly downhill from there.


They have started giving him MASSIVE injections of iron that have really given him a lot more energy and that in turn have really lifted his spirits. Enough so that he went to his beloved “Family History Center” for the past 2 weeks for a couple of hours! I am so glad----there for awhile I thought he was going to give up and wither away because he was so depressed.

We have started talking about getting the house ready to sell and moving them to assisted living or building onto their home and moving in to take care of them. Right now we live 25 minutes from their house and so for me just to “pop” over takes about 3 hours out of my day. I really want to be there for them but this is not working. Of course neither option is what they WANT to be considering—so hopefully we will be able to work that out soon.



This picture was taken in March. He just recently celebrated his 74th birthday! This quilt is what I gave him and it has a great story attached to it.



Soooo…. I am NOT a sewer.



NO.



REALLY.



NOT.







But, I really wanted one of these kind of quilts for my Dad to have when he has to sleep in his recliner at night or when he is the hospital—something that was super soft and cozy. It was a dilemma.



Then I remembered my friend T—mm—Trish—who has taught classes at our church on how to make these ragtime quilts-- so I called her—hoping she would guide me through the process.



This next part is a little emotional for me. I hope I can do it justice in words.



After I shared my dilemma, she was quiet for a minute and I thought, “Oh dear, this was too much to ask with her busy, busy schedule.”



Then she said, “Lisa, because I love you and your Dad, I want to make this quilt for you.”



It was the kind of sentence that just takes your breath away. Then makes the tears come, unbidden.



I argued and protested but she prevailed and eventually--- I gratefully accepted.



I went and bought some material and thread and dropped them by her house.



Around 2 weeks later her oldest daughter called and said I could come pick it up.(a history note: I taught all 4 of her children piano when they were growing up and actually loved them very much like my own.) Apparently the 2 oldest daughters helped make it and then another very dear friend embroidered on it. I don’t know if you can see it but it says:





To Dad
Craigrado 3-09




When I was very small my Dad use to ask me who I was and where I lived. I would say, “I’m Lisa Boyce Ann from Craigrado.” It was a little game we would play, over and over. My whole life, my nickname has been Craigrado. (I was actually Lisa Ann Boyce from Craig, Colorado)




When they handed me the quilt, I just held it and cried. That someone would sacrifice their time and talents to make something so beautiful for me was completely overwhelming. It is a debt I cannot repay. When I gave it to my Dad—I cried again.




He LOVES his blanket and carries it everywhere with him.





It has definitely been a---so dark you see the stars—kind of experience.





God bless us….every one…….
And Happy Easter too!

13 comments:

Little GrumpyAngel said...

Happy Easter, dear friend.

And thanks for sharing this beautiful story. I hope your Dad's spirit will continue to lift, and you will be able to do what needs to be done to take care of him.

nikkicrumpet said...

It takes a beautiful person to have such amazing friends. So it speaks highly of you and those lovely ladies who made the quilt. It just goes to show how many special people are out there. Happy Easter to your family from ours. And thanks for making me cry to start my day lol

Unknown said...

What a wonderful gesture. I agree; great people attract great people. I actually had been wondering about your dad, so I appreciate your sharing this experience with us. Someone did something for you that you couldn't do for yourself, all because she loved you. A perfect Easter message as ever there was.

Cynthia said...

It is so amazing to see beautiful service in action. I'm glad your Dad is improving and sorry you are at the point where you have to make that decision about living arrangements. I am not looking forward to that day for our family. I am sure you will all figure out the right thing to do.

There's no substitute for the joy that can be brought by a heart in the right place.

DesertHen said...

Happy Easter!

What a wonderful story and a beautiful quilt.

Glad to hear your dad is hanging in there and doing as well as can be expected. I feel the love between the two of you by just reading your words. (((HUGS))) to you both!

chelle said...

How Sweet. The quilt is wonderful and your dad is so cute. Still thinking and praying for you all. m

tammy said...

What a sweet friend you have.

Jan said...

That is the sweetest act of service I have seen in awhile. I am so happy for you to have such a dear of a friend in your life lisa. How special. I love it.

Thanks for the update as hard as it is to read. I just know how it all feels. I am hugging you girl.

Da Bergs said...

NOW THAT is what a call a WONDERFUL friend!!! HOW kind!!!

You daddy looks so cute!!! THANK YOU for sharing!!!

CB said...

What a beautiful gift of service.
What a wonderful friend.

Oh my, this brought tears to my eyes. I cannot even imagine the comfort that quilt now gives and how meaningful it is to all of you.

Thanks for sharing that beautiful act of kindness.

Nana said...

You will always treasure that blanket, one your friend made it, two your dad loves it.

I know your parents don't want to go to assisted living or have you move in, but here goes...

Assisted living is fantastic. My grandma was so mad when we put her in a place downtown, she ended up loving it!!!!!

We will be going that direction with my parents when the time comes.
There are fantastic places and the care is great and they meet so many people that become good friends.


Good luck on your decision.

imbeingheldhostage said...

Oh dear... I knew I should just go to bed and not try to read, but I saw it was a dad update and now you have me crying over the quilt too. There are angels among us!
God bless you. You must really be a special person to attract such loving people to you.

Susan Anderson said...

What a beautiful story, Lisa. And what a wonderful friend you have. (I would guess that it's your own goodness coming back to you...)

Just a hunch, of course.

=)

PS. Glad your dad's spirits are lifting a bit with the iron. That helps my mom quite a bit, too.