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10/08/2008

Wordless Wednesday - but wordy

 
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The couple you see above are my In-Laws. John and his wife, Jeanette. Actually, it was Juan. Juan Vicente Valdes. The picture was taken in May of last year. At a gathering at his oldest son's home. Juan died in December. He had a massive stroke. He died with all of us around him.

Today, Jeanette had a Pontine Hemmorhage. I don't know, yet, how large it was. If it was large, as those of you who are Nurses likely know, she will more than likely die within 48 hours of the time she had the stroke. Statistics. If it was small, and occurred in the right area, she could recover completely. We don't know. She is in Arizona. We are here in Illinois. Waiting. There are children of hers, adult children of hers, who live within a few hours of her. They are with her now.

I had a post in mind for today. It will wait. It concerned voices. A friend; a dear and loving friend, pointed out to me that there are two voices we hear, one of Doubt and one of Strength. And it's up to you which you let guide you. And I was going to speak to that, and how it affects me; and affected me. But it doesn't seem so important at the moment. There's another voice in my head right now. And it's speaking of the profound regret I feel that all of the people we know and love, everyone we've ever met and interacted with, came to admire, came to depend on, learned about, cared about - all of these people will meet the same and common fate. We will all die. The cruelest part of this fate is that we must, for the most part, die one at a time, leaving the rest of us behind to grieve over the loss. Try to make some sense of it. Try to learn some life lesson from it.

I hope her stroke was small. But I don't think it was. But I hope it was.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm hoping it was the small kind, too. Hugs, Lou.

Myst_72 said...

Oh Lou - thinking of you all.
I'm hoping it was small too.

G
xx

Jientje said...

How sad.
Big, big hugs Lou!

If the worst happens, I'm convinced they are going to be together again,
maybe that is a comfort?

Shadow said...

you and jeanette and your family are in my prayers. hugs to you!!!

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear this. I'll be praying.

Keep us posted as best you can.

Christy said...
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Christy said...
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Christy said...
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Christy said...

Good luck to her, and you and Annie.

Patsy said...

My prayer is that it is small. I pray for peace for your and Annie and the rest of Jeanette's family. It must be very hard for Annie to be waiting and so far away. I can't imagine ---- but I will be there before I'm ready.

Michael said...

Death I reckon is rebirth into a new world beyongd our imagination, and I think earth is where we come to learn and in order to do this we need to not know about the fact death is a gateway.
Its what I believe anyway

Melissa said...

I'll be praying for you and your family as well. Keep us posted.

Nan Sheppard said...

Death is okay, Lou, but I hope Jeanette doesn't go there till she's good and ready. Prayers and hugs....

Ndinombethe said...

It's the one thing we all have in common Lou - death. I hope Jeanette recovers for the sake of all those who love her.

Tight hugs for you. Much love to Annie.

The world unfolds as it should Lou.
xoxo

Expat No. 3699 said...

I hope it was the small kind, but if it's not at least she'll be with Juan again. My prayers are with you all.

Joyce-Anne said...

I also hope it was the small kind of stroke. However, if it wasn't at least she won't have to suffer and she will be with Juan again. Death is always hardest on the people who survive. We miss our loved ones and have to continue living our lives without them nearby (or a phone call away). My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Take Care.

witchypoo said...

Hugs to Annie, and your family. While it's true that none of us makes it out of here alive, it is still so hard on those left behind for the time being.
You are in my heart.

hockeychic said...

My thoughts are with you and your family today.

Unknown said...

No thing I could say would change things, but wanted you to know I have you and your family in my thoughts today.

Anonymous said...

Ash hugs coming your way...
*hugs*

Trac said...

That's so sad.

You have a way with words Lou.

Eve Grey said...

That to me is what makes humans so remarkable. That we have the knowledge that every single person we know and love will die, yet we still go on, and are productive, and love, and make changes. It's what unites us too.
Hold on to each other for sure.

Momisodes said...

I am so sorry Lou. Jeannette is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope it was localized and small. *hugs* to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

I went through something very similar when my paternal grandmother- one of my favorite people on earth- had a stroke. The didn't know how bad it was, and I got my hopes up when she woke up and answered a couple of questions- but she dies 6 days later. I was here in Utah, she in California with most of my dad's side of the family.

It was a tough time for all of us- she was well loved. But it also brought us together in ways that healed some of the bitter things in the past. We miss her, but now- as she was known for her laugh and her welcoming smile- she is our guardian angel of laughter, and we'll always have her.

Wishing you and yours the best.

Unknown said...

Oh Lou. I am so sorry. I am sorry for you and for Annie and for all the kids and grandkids. This is so hard on the family.

I'll pray that it's a small stroke.

Great big HUGS to you and Annie.

Holly said...

Holding out good thoughts for you, your family and especially Jeannette.

Honeybell said...

Thoughts and prayers for your family.

Bama Cheryl said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Annie and your family.

Jennifer said...

I'm sorry to hear about Jeanette. It seems every day I've been hearing so sort of bad news. I hope and pray that this will end with good news, that it was localized and small. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. ;) May Juan be watching over her and keep her safe.

XOXOX lots of HUGS to you and Annie and your families!!

Unknown said...

Maggies Mind: Thanks, Maggie. We're hoping.

Myst_72: Thank you, Gina.

Jientje: Thanks, Jientje. A comfort, I guess.

Shadow: Thank you, ma'am.

Rebecca: Thank you, Reba. I will.

Christy (x4) Thank you, Christy.

Patsy: Thank you, Darlin'. You're not goin' anywhere.

Michael: Thanks, Michael, for sharing.

Melissa: Thank you, Melissa. I will.

Nan: Thank you, Nan. We all have to go there. And yes, it's O.K. Just unexpected.

Tash: Thank you, Tash. Words of comfort.

Employee: Thank you, Linda. You're sweet.

Joyce-Anne: Thank you. And yes, it's we who survive that deal with all this.

Witchypoo: Thank you, Darlin'.

Hockeychic: Thank you, ma'am. You're very kind.

Karen: Thank you, Karen. Very Much.

Ash: Thanks. I felt that one.

Trac: Thank you. I owe a vist to your planet.

Eve Grey: Hold on to each other. For sure, darlin'. For sure.

Momisodes: Thank you, Sandy. It was bigger than we hoped. But she will recover. Not fully.

Loraine: Thank you, Loraine. She will be one, if she gets the chance. (Guardian Angel) I'm not so sure I want her watching, though. That's just creepy.

Hyphen Mama: Thank you, Jenn.

Holly ATOM: Thank you, Holly.

Honeybell: Thank you, Honey. Don't be gone too long, 'K?

Bama Cheryl: Thank you, Bama. So much.

Jennifer: Thank you, Jennifer. And lots of hugs right back.

Zoeyjane said...

I'm thinking of her and your families. I'm sorry, either way, big or small.

Crimzen Creative said...

My thoughts are with you and the family hoping for the best. Take care of them.

Theresa said...

Your family is in my prayers.

KG said...

She's lovely and, as I just said on your other post, I hope she improves quickly.

www.ayewonder.com said...

I have been catching up as I was in the hospital on an emergency basis too. Hope things on your end are improving.