Endure to the End - Aug 16th

The ups and downs of Beth health is sometimes difficult to handle. Beth had been doing better the last few days but today she struggled. She had a very hard time breathing as the cancer in her lungs must be progressing. It is getting increasingly more and more difficult for her to feel like she is getting enough oxygen. Up until today despite Beth feeling like she was not getting enough air, her blood oxygen levels had been good. Today my mom checked her pulse ox reading and it showed that it was 83.  Normal levels should be at 97-100. Anything below 90 is cause for concern.  My mom increased her air to 3. 5 liters per hour. When she first started on oxygen a few months ago she only needed 1 liter per hour.  

Beth says that she has to remember to breathe all throughout the day and when she is sleeping she stops breathing quite often (sleep apnea).  All of this causes her to be exhausted.

When we found out Beth’s cancer spread to other organs (liver and lungs) the doctors were very concerned with her liver because it was so involved. They needed to treat the cancer in her liver immediately and the cancer in her lungs was almost an afterthought.  Her doctor told us that it would be her liver that would ultimately be life threatening. However, her lungs have been causing the most problem and most worry over the last few weeks. We really need to start home hospice care.  We need some direction when Beth has days like she had today.

Several people have sent me this great article by Elder David A. Bednar, titled “Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing” - https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/08/accepting-the-lords-will-and-timing?lang=eng

“Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives—even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted.”

It is a great article and has been helpful through our trials. I am so thankful for our General Authorities that teach us, provide comfort and provide hope.  

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Lastly, even with Beth’s struggles we were able to have a very touching and symbolic thing that happened the other day. Beth’s Temple Recommend was set to expire at the end of the month. Our Bishop and Stake President dropped everything and made it a point to come over to her bedside to renew her temple recommend. I was able to sit next to Beth as the Bishop and Stake President interviewed her and it was very moving listening to her answer those questions of worthiness. I just kept thinking, “This is what enduring to the end is all about”. Beth wants to make one last trip to the Columbus Temple in a few weeks.

#BattleTogether