Girl, you are sick!

    I must start off today's blog saying that Whatever you are going through, there is someone else out there whose storm is much bigger than yours. I know that whatever my family is going through right now that God will bring us through it because he said in Hebrews 13:5 that he will never leave you nor forsake us. I am asking for prayer for the Jackson family. One of my mother's neighbors that lives a couple of blocks over buried her husband on March 25, 2010 and in the wee hours of the morning on April 6, 2010 she lost her son in a violent robbery. As a mother and wife; I don't know if I could handle burying my husband one week and preparing to bury my child the next; but inspite of all she is going through I am praying for her and hoping that she knows God is still in control and that although her heart may be heavy laden, God is still Good! So to my family and friends, please keep this family in your prayers.

     Today, was a very long day for my family. The morning started out with my nephew, A.D. (scilla's son) having surgery on his eye at 6:30 a.m. The surgery went well and he is recovering in the hospital with an overnight stay, he will be discharged around lunch on Wednesday. Scilla was able to get into her chair and her friend, Carolyn wheeled her over to be with A.D before his surgery.

    After returning to her room from visiting A.D, the nurses took her vitals and her oxygen levels were very low and had been the last couple of times they checked. A CT Scan was ordered. LeeLee went over to the hospital to accompany her to the scan around 10 a.m. I arrived at the hospital around noon and went over to visit A.D before visiting Scilla. While visiting with Scilla, she was in good spirits and enjoying Mimi's company until the doctor came in. The doctor walked into the room and said "Girl you are sick", Scilla had a look of horror on her face and she began to cry and my heart sank to the floor, for we had no idea what the doctor was going to say. The doctor went on to tell us these things:

1. Scilla has a blood clot that has traveled to her right lung from her legs.
2. She also has fluid in her right lung.
3. The fluid in her lung is what led to the pain in her abdomen that I wrote about last week and also what was causing the breathing problem and her waking up in the middle of night feeling as though she was choking.
4. She will need to have a Vena cava filter put in to trap any future blood clots. She will also need a 6 month treatment of Coumadin, a blood thinner.
5. She will need a Thoracentesis or tap on right lung to remove the fluid.

After giving us the above information the doctor put Scilla on bed rest for the rest of the day. She had the Vena cava filter put in around 4:30 Tuesday afternoon by a vascular surgeon. A Vena cava filter is a metallic, umbrella-shaped device that catches blood clots to prevent them from traveling to the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism.

Above is a picture of a Vena cava filter

    The Thoracentesis will occur around 8 a.m on Wednesday morning and I am praying that after we tackle this that we will have nothing but upward progress from this point forward.

     I feel as though I have been catapulted from next to the baby to the big sister. Anyone who knows me is aware that by nature I am a nurturer and although I am next to the baby, I have always tried to act like the "momma" to everyone else, including my 2 older sisters! With Scilla's accident, I am definitely feeling the stress of being the "big sister".  She called me when she needed someone to go with her to have the CT Scan this morning and of course because of the short notification, I called and made arrangements for LeeLee to get to the hospital within the next 15 minutes. I was the only one there when they gave the news about her lungs today and it took a lot to remain strong. I arrived at work late, only to be called by Scilla who was upset and in tears at about 4 and had to leave early (thank you to my supervisor for being understanding). Once at the hospital; I was the one, along with her husband who went to have the filter put in. She has since called me around 10:30 tonight to make sure that I will be at the hospital around 8 a.m for her lung tap. I am not a morning person, but I know if I am not there, she will be calling to see where I am at. Also in taking on the "big sister" role, Scilla has given me a lot responsibilty; I am helping her with insurance, the kids, and so much more. Who knew being the "big sister" was so much work, I can only imagine how my mom and her husband feel!

   Prissy is such a fighter. Her faith in God continues to sustain her and she is relying on him to bring her through. I ask that everyone who knows God, continue to pray for her. I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but not everyone has your best interest in mind and we know that people talk and they say things and spread rumors that are not true. We do not want anyone who is not praying for healing, restoration, or her well being speaking negativity or false reports into her life. So to my wonderful family and friends continue praying for her.

"walking in faith..."