I feel the Spirit close, and am very grateful for the tender mercies that have rolled into our home and life the last couple of weeks.
A couple of events are deeply recognized as coming from Father in Heaven.
My own Dad, who I adore and love deeply, has been having kidney problems. I've been very unaware of the progressing disease, called Renal Disease. I had been aware he had been seeing the kidney doctors the last couple of years. He had mentioned to my mom he may need dialysis someday, about three months ago.
I had a nice talk with my Dad on the phone about a month ago. His Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) was 30 then. It was then that I started to study kidney disease once again. I hadn't done it since nursing school. He was already at the Stage 4 of 5. But he sounded like it was ok, and his doctor hadn't said anything about dialysis yet.
Last week, my mother called and said that my Dad's GFR was 15 and that the Kidney Institute in Pocatello had called him to invite him to come and tour the facility this past Thursday. Of course, my mom and I assumed this meant we were touring, then getting a fistula in his arm next week, and starting dialysis at the center soon.
That was fairly earth changing to me. I found out there are 5 stages to kidney disease. My Dad is in the final stage, 5. Most of the research says that once you start hemo dialysis, you live about 5 years. My Dad is 74. I just felt like he was too young.
I decided to go to the tour with my parents. At first, my Dad didn't want me to come, he said it was too hard for me to take off work, and leave my family. I knew, though, that I needed and wanted to go. They needed support.
So, I had Blaine give me a blessing of comfort before I left Thursday morning, because I had been broken hearted all week. Blaine gave me a beautiful blessing, like he always does, that helped me a lot.
A tender mercy is that once we got to the tour, and as I had a chance to ask my Dad some really simple questions about his kidney health, we all discovered it was just a two-hour class. Yes, it was serious material, but his doctor had just referred him to take the class, because dialysis is coming for him, but not this week, and we don't know when. The doctors will watch his blood tests and his symptoms and advise him each 3 weeks, at his appointment.
I couldn't figure out how he got to a GFR of 18, (not 15 like I thought) without him having any other symptoms. But as I rode in the front seat, I tenderly and softly asked some questions and discovered that my Dad has had high blood pressure since he was a young married person! He's had it his whole life. He also has swelling in both his legs! He said he's had that several years. And he has a family tendency in his mom,s Wiseman line. Well, gee, so, he has been slowly working from Stage 1 to Stage 5. Oh, and he has had tiredness.
All three of us felt relieved, after the class. I felt like a weight was lifted off me. Yes, he is still in kidney failure. Yes, he is going to have to begin dialysis at some point, probably within a year. But it's not as acute and terrible as I thought.
We learned about several choices for dialysis. I had studied them before I came, but it was good to reiview it and to be able to see the equipment. The medical world has developed so much. They have "at a facility" hemodialysis, at home hemodialysis, home peritoneal dialysis, which is the one we all liked best. You get a port in your abdomen, You hook up at night, when you go to bed. It cycles through the night while you sleep! Yes, it's not the nicest thing to do, but it's so much better than I pictures. You can take the small machine with you anywhere!
My sweet Dad took us to eat at the Red Lobster, after the class! He knows I love that restaurant. I rarely eat there, usually once a year in Boise, when I go for the Infection Control Conference.
He also made me breakfast, an omelette, ham and hashbrowns. He took my keys and went out in the rain and parked my car with the end to the garage, so I could take my things out easily.
They both thanked me many times. I was so glad I had gone to support and be with them. I love my parents.
Derek and Breanna continue to date. We recognize her as his eternal companion. We have since the beginning. They are so sweet to watch. They are such a match. She is kind and treats him very well. He does the same for her.
They are coming here on Sunday for dinner and then to go to Nikole's Seminary Graduation. We get to eat dinner here first at 5, then go together. We are so excited for Nikole and happy to have Breanna in our home.
Carl had a fabulous violin recital at the Tetonia church last night. He played a long, complicated Concerto. Oh, it was sooooo wonderful. There he was, this young 12 year old. He stood up in front, with no music -all memorized, and played it like he was a college level student! I can't express how good it was. The middle school orchestra teacher was there. She didn't even know Carl knew how to play! He wasn't in the new orchestra this school year, because the band teacher and Melanie thought he would be bored. But he wants to do it this fall, he wants to play a different instrument, like a viola.
Mrs. Schindler looked like her mouth was watering, after she heard Carl : ) She asked if he was coming to her this fall for orchestra. We said yes. She was so excited. Many adults came up to him and told him how wonderful he was. It was just inspiring and beautiuful We recognize the gift from Heavenly Father and we adore Carl's teacher, Melanie Moulton, who also has the gift, but unlocked it in Carl.
Elizabeth had a beautiful Varisity andAmbiance Choir concert during the week. We are grateful for her. She sings the low women's alto part. We feel like Elizabeth has had many tender mercies in her sports this school year, as she's pressed forward, despite many obstacles.
Carl also had a band/choir concert last week. Miss Christensen is outstanding. The concert was great.
Nikole is getting ready for Seminary Graduation tomorrow night, and then gets to go on her Senior Sneak this next weekend. She will graduate June 3. She is really excited about living at the Ivy in Rexburg next fall. She's getting ready to register for fall classes. We drove to Rexburg on Monday and met with an adviser, who helped us plan her classes, so they will transfer to Utah State. Nikole is thinking she wants to major or minor in Statistics, but BYU-I doesn't have that program.
Sister Terri Furniss passed away last week. She battled cancer. I loved her a lot. It was a tender mercy for me to know her. Blaine and I had gone to her home about two weeks ago. So glad we did. It was fun for me to hear what she was like, when she was young, and to see how pretty she was, when she was young. They had pictures of she and Mike. She looked like her dauhgter, Kelly, and her sister, Connie Letham, in those younger pictures. She was a painter, a hunter, fisher, and she loved family.
I have Fridays off. Terri had passed on Wednesday or Thursday. I had gotten up Friday, put a chicken tacos dish in the crock pot and was ready to make strawberry pie, when I received a text, asking if I would be willing to take dinner into Furnisses. I could! I count it as tender mercy that I was off, so I had time.
Kristy Pehrson and I have been friends since I moved here. We were talking on the phone about a humanitarian project she's in charge of. At the end of the conversation, she told me that we shouldn't have favorites, but that she and President Pehrson love me and my family, and we are their favorites. She went on and told the things she loves about us. I told her right back, that we adore them, and love them, count on them, look to their example. Tender mercy.
So many tender mercies happen in our lives, every day, if we are looking.
Heather and Brandon ran in a half marathon this morning, in Lexington, KY. It is horse head quarters.
Derek had a very enjoyable, successful, fun visit to Layton, UT, where Breanna lives last week-end. They went to her sister's birthday party and out boating on Saturday. Derek received points, because he could back the boat trailer up : ) Her family seems wonderful. She's the oldest. The little four year old brother liked Derek. He snuggled up to him when they were going to watch a movie. When Breanna asked him where she was supposed to sit, he pointed to the floor : )
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