This Christmas will be one Christmas that I will never forget, one full of miracles. On Dec. 11th, my Mom called me to tell us that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I was devastated and full of anxiety and stress. I cried on the phone with her, "It's not fair". I told her as the tears ran down my face. After a session at the Fresno temple on Fri. the 12th, I had peace and a stillness in my heart and I knew she was going to be ok.. The kids and I flew to Salt Lake City on Dec. 18th (via Southwest Airlines, southwest airlines--we love you!). After a long day of traveling I met up with my family members and Mom and Dad at Zupas (yummy place to eat). My parents were at peace. That evening we gathered around for a priesthood blessing that was given to my Mother, there once again was a feeling of peace and answers to prayers. That evening my brother and Dad joined my Mother for a hair shaving ritual. Again my Mom accepted this trial with grace and a sense of humor as she smiled when she saw all her hair fall to the ground. On Friday, Dec. 19th my Mom entered the OR at 2:25 pm.. My awesome and wonderful sister, see her blog at www.wickhamfamily.blogspot.com watched my kids so I could go to the hospital to be with my Dad. I got to the hospital around 5:30 pm. Around 7:00 pm the wonderful and awesome Dr. Cook, came looking for us in the hospital cafeteria. He sat down and talked to us like he didn't have anything else to do that evening. He used the words miracle and mystery quite a few times as he described her four hour surgery. My Dad and I sat on the edges of our chairs as we listened intently to his description of how he rescued Grizelda, (for more on Grizelda, http://www.sherriejohnson.blogspot.com/). The words coming from his mouth were words of magic and a miracle. Grizelda was not cancerous, she would not require chemo or radiation. And the amazing Dr. Cook was able to remove the tumor, he called it a lymhangioma. Granted, they are still waiting for a full pathology report, but everything looks good! And another blessed miracle is that my Mother was able to recover with full eyesight without any visual impairment! Grizelda was resting on Mom's optical nerve. Dr. Cook was amazed that she wasn't blind already. My Dad and I embraced and cried, yes, right there in the hospital cafeteria--of all places. My Dad and I found the hospital chapel and knelt down and gave a prayer of thanks and thanks and thanks, we cried some more! Then we started making THE PHONE CALLS--close to a hundred or so. We called the sisters, brother, grandma, aunts, and friends. Everyone rejoiced with us as we told them the good news. The neurosurgeon then came to find us and he also told us that his part was finished, putting the skull back together. He said everything went well and he was pleased with the outcome and how well she was doing. They took my Mom to ICU and my Dad and I followed her up there. At this point I agian offered another prayer of thanks, I was so grateful to my Heavenly Father for helping me get through nursing school. I could read the monitors and I KNEW she was ok. I made sure she was comfortable and my Dad and I left the hospital around 10:30 PM. My Mom spent two days in ICU and then another day on the regular floor. The night she was on the surgical floor I was able to spend the night with her. I loved it, I loved being in the hospital right next to my Mother. I was able to take care of her and everything she needed. It was an experience I will never forget! Monday afternoon my Mom was discharged and was able to go home. She is doing very well and each day she gets stronger and stronger. The kids and I flew home on Tues. the 23rd, again another miracle, we came home without a hitch in the traveling plans. Oh, we did have another small miracle on the way home, we were about ten miles away from our house and the gas gauge was blinking red and it was on EMPTY! The numbers said I had 3 miles to go. Again my wonderful kids offered some prayers that we would get there safely, and we coasted into the gas station right by our house. YES, another miracle and prayers answered. We anxiuosly came home to an excited Dad and husband. This Christmas season has definitely been one of answered prayers, diligent faith, hope and peace!
