COPD and Heart Failure

It’s been so good to be here in Michigan with my mom (Kathy) and stepdad (Charlie). I’ve been able to hear first-hand from her medical team what is going on and that, coupled with my copious note taking, is freeing them up from having to keep track of all sorts of numbers and details and report back to other family members. In addition, while Charlie could head home and catch up on some much-needed sleep, I had the privilege of helping my mom through a shower, getting her tucked into clean clothes and linens, do her hair, etc. etc. So that’s great.

Overall, the immediate crisis seems to have passed. She did great during the transesophageal echocardiogram yesterday and they were able to bring her heart beat back into a normal sinus rythm with electrical cardioversion—so those are both two very positive answers to prayer. But her long-term outlook is very difficult to face. In addition to the beginning stages of congestive heart failure, she is now “officially” diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and the combination of those two things is not good. But add in her diabetes, high blood pressure, and Lupus? Well. We’re all hoping for the best re: improvements and/or keeping things at a stable level, but medicine and lifestyle changes can only do so much. And nothing can reverse COPD. Once the damage is done, it’s done.

So thank you for praying for us all. I was so happy to get to go through the “Romans Road” with my mom again this week. And we’re all doing the hard work of discussing ongoing care options and what the future might look like. But mostly I am so grateful that our hearts are knit together well and we are loving each other deeply.

You know, when Fred and I were courting, a big topic for us was understanding each other’s convictions re: honoring our mothers and fathers, especially when end of life decisions were needing to be made and sacrificial caregiving could be possible for us as a family. Thankfully, we were in lock step with one another re: our commitment to doing all we can to honor our parents and serve them well, even to our own detriment, should the need arise. Of course we’re limited by geography—we can only do so much long-distance, but we do try our best. And if any of our parents ever decided to relocated to the wilds of Montana, we would do our best in-person too.

So that’s the scoop for my day. Heading back to the hospital soon.

Thanks again and much love to you all–
 Tara B.

PS
One of my favorite photos of my mom … moments after she met little Sophia: