[Believe51]

Ed and I just received an update on her arthritis saga. She has both types and they are spreading at an alarming rate, her future time here looks grim. When getting the results of her X-rays you cannot even see bones, just cloudy 'snow' and does not reflect an X-ray at all.

This is a woman who is about 5' tall and about 100lbs, 73 years old. The first time I met her I was introduced to her as, "Marie, this is my Mom", my reply was, "Hello Mom" and I have been calling her that for over 16 years.

For the entire time I have known her she has 'given life' back. She always had animals from monkeys to piglets, horses to chickens, cats and dogs, oh and do not forget the de-scented skunks (really cute) and the salt water fish tank. She loved to grow things and her home and garden was always full of life. Joan could make things grow in cement where others could not sprout in soil.

Old furniture, yes she gave life back to even that. You could always find her in the back yard staining and reviving treasured antiques. Her home always looked like it won awards in Better Homes and Gardens. She was fussy and clean, a tough and determined person that never complained.

Please pray for this wonderous soul, I love her so much and cannot beat the thoughts of her not being here with us anymore. She has little time left and I feel lost already. I only wish that I could give some of that life back to her.

Without trying to ramble I must add that her greatest joys besides life and living was seeing her son marry me. She constantly thanks me for being such a positive and loving Daughter-in-Law. She praises me for taking care of him so well. The answer is, I LOVE HIM and our vows are sacred. She tells me she loves me all the time and that she could not have chosen a better person to love her son and her. Same answer, I LOVE YOU, MA!


So here I sit feeling a little lost and sad and she is right here. Her quality of life is awful and this is so damn unfair. Please pray that we can control some of this pain and that she can enjoy the time she has left. Poor little thing, she cannot take anything strong for pain, especially narcotics.

Please keep her in your prayers, I really appreciate it. Not to mention it is all we can do to help right now. Glad I was able to share what a glorious person she is to all the important people in my life. Love to All>>Believe51

PS: As for The Mighty Oak.....well the 'acorn' does not fall far from the tree. These two souls are the finest people I could ever chose to share my life with!