Summer 2011

After watching her health seriously deteriorate in two months' time, my mom was diagnosed yesterday with Lyme Disease. I was shocked when I saw how thin and frail she looked when I traveled home for a family wedding last month.  "Your mom weighed 100 pounds last week," my dad had warned me upon my arrival at the bus station, but when I saw Mom back at home, I knew she now weighed even less than that.  And it has been stressful for us all to wonder what was going on with her. 

After a winter and spring of other stressors, this summer has been one of stories of her ER visits and dizzy spells and reports on blood work and mentions of hands-going-numb-while-driving and of weakness-too-great-to-be-able-to-get-out-of-the-car. While the stress and other health concerns continue, at least now we know that Lyme Disease is a big part of what's happening.

This year, while not as laughter-filled as others, has been one of extra care packages, phone calls, and cards for my mom, and I am grateful for all the love and prayers sent her way. Mom is now on meds to help battle the Lyme, she is at the hospital again today for more tests, and my dad and brothers and their families are right there to help out. I can make another visit home to Mom soon, bring her Daisies wrapped in gingham tissue paper, bake her some chocolate chip cookies, and settle her into a nest of blankets on the couch for a movie marathon. Hopefully, too, we can share another good long laugh. It's been too long.

♥