The Gift (continued XI)

I snuck back to my Mom's room and snuggled into my pajamas as soon as dinner was over. Bed time couldn't come early enough that night.

That next overcast morning we got up, ate a simple breakfast, showered and slid on over to Ogden Regional. We wanted to be there by 9am, knowing that this was about the time the Dr. would be checking in on Mer, so if we could, we would send someone back to listen in again.

Today was the first day Mom had made it to the hospital and she really wanted to see her baby girl bad! Now my Mom was 82 at the time and she is one tough bird, but at the same time fragile and gets very tired easily, so we knew as soon as she was done that someone would have to take her back home.

We met up in the larger ICU waiting room which was right across the hall from the one we were in the day before. It was decorated just as nice except no TV. Yeah! The TV bugged me, all it did was flicker at us from the background. No one ever watched it.

On this morning we gathered together with Glory, Karen, Cortney, her brother Asab, his girlfriend Michelle and their baby Merryck. Our oldest brother Bill and his wife Gaylia had driven in the night before and were sitting on the couch across from us.
Now all the Siblings were there. Amazing, since we all hadn't been together for about 12 or so years, at my Mom's 70th I think.

When it was my turn to visit Mer I went in with Ace. Same routine, call from the red phone, tell the voice on the other end of the phone how you are related to Mer, sanitize your hands and wait to be buzzed in.

In most ICU units, as it was at Ogden Regional, they only allow parents, siblings and the patients children above the age of 14 or so. But some how the day before Auduria and Debra got back to see Mer long enough to lay on hands and pray for her, before they got the third degree. They told the nurse that they were Mer's nieces and were just as close to her as her siblings. They had literally grown up with her. I don't think the nurse was impressed one iota. She firmly told them that rules are rules.

When Ace and I got back there Mer was in a chipper mood and wanted Ace, who has some very nice pipes, to serenade her. He acted embarrassed but said, "OK Momma what do you want me to sing?" Hey don't ask me what she told him, remember I can't read Mer's lips worth beans. Ace broke into a beautiful acapella. This brought a smile to Mer's face that couldn't be measured. As soon as Ace was done Mer would quickly mouth, "Again! Again!" He repeated it. What a truly awesome thing for me to watch, this mother being so sweetly comforted by her grown son's endearing gift of music.

We then talked to her, me about our crazy trip to get to Utah and Ace about being on his off week, so he could be there for Mom as much as needed.

We were then shuffled out until the next haunting hour.

I think it was Glory who listened in on the staff meeting that day and shared with the rest of us the plans for Mer's day at the hospital. Mer was graduating from ICU. Hallelujah! She would be placed in the one on one nurseing unit, just down the hall and around the corner. They were now ready to completely detox her system and start fresh on the drugs Mer actually needed. Mer's dosages had gotten out of hand, especially the pain killers.

We were very excited, but also nervous. Detox? Hum? Mer was headed down a long difficult tunnel that would weigh very heavy on each and everyone of us emotionally.

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Genesis 28:15

Love You Mer