Update on Dad 3-28-10

Hi, Everybody,

I have some first-hand news this week because my brother John phoned me when he and his wife, Elaine, and their daughter Marie were visiting Dad this last week.

I was able to tell Dad about a sister missionary I met at the Washington DC Temple visitors' center. She's from Shanghai. Her parents came to the US fourteen years ago for her father to do some postdoctoral research. They encountered the Church, were baptized, and a year later were sealed in the Washington DC temple. Then they returned to China where they've lived the gospel without being able to meet with any other members for twelve years. Two years ago the Chinese government started allowing Chinese Church members to meet for Sunday services. The missionary says she feels she's in her second home being at the DC temple.

Of course, it's hard to know just how much Dad took in of what I said, but I was so excited to tell him because he's been so interested in the progress of the Church in China since he and Mom spent three years there.

Dad sounded interested and responsive--to that story and to another about Jeffrey, my grandson. (I can't remember now which story I told him--there are so many to choose from!)

John told me later that Dad was alert and responsive with him, Elaine and Marie also. His hospice nurse, Barbara, told me that he'd told her one of his stories (one that I've told her is one of his standards), but it's one she hasn't heard in a long time--I think since before he went to the care facility.

Barbara also had some good news/bad news to tell me. Because Dad's been doing so well, he's being taken off hospice. He has lost some weight and his upper arm circumference has gone down, but otherwise, he's stable and doing well.

This change means he'll no longer have his wonderful aide, Cris, who has come in to bathe and dress him five days a week. She knows him so well and is so loving to him! Now the aides at the care facility will bathe and dress him. I'm sure they will be kind and caring, but we'll miss having Cris to watch over him.

Being taken off hospice also means that Dad will no longer have his wonderful hospice nurse, Barbara, who checked on him weekly. We have so much appreciated her meticulous care of Dad! Now nurses at the facility will be in charge of his care.

The change won't mean much difference financially--it will mean that Dad will again be paying co-pays on his medicines, but his insurance will pay for most of the cost, and he's already paying for the care facility, so there won't be a change there. Martha informed me some weeks ago that Dad money is able to cover his expenses, so we don't have to worry about that.

It looks like Dad will be around longer than any of us expected! Thanks to all of you who read about Dad--and to all who let me know you're reading. I hope you all have a blessed and lovely Easter.