Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Miss Debby

I'm quiet this week because I'm waiting for someone I love to die. It's so painful to even type that, let alone think it. Miss Debby has been fighting cancer for a long time, and is now being made comfortable. It could be a few weeks, but they don't know. We went to visit last night. She's out of the ICU, which is good.  There's a waiting room adjacent to her room, and it was full of visitors waiting for her to wake. The pain relievers make her drift in and out.
She told a friend that she wanted a 'parade of visitors' so she could say her goodbyes. When she was lucid for a few minutes last night, Tom told her that we were her parade, the line of us around her bed. She said she wanted a real parade, with a firetruck. She asked where the boys were. We didn't bring them because we thought she was still in the ICU, and could only sneak A in there. (age limit is 14 & up, but the nurse said she would look the other way) I want to take them up to see her, but don't know if I have another visit in me today. Maybe tomorrow. I don't know.
Miss Debby is the heart and soul of our old church. You will never meet anyone who is a better listener, with a bigger heart, than Debby. She has run the day care and youth ministries for as long as I've known her, and she loves those kids. And they love her.
I don't know if you should pray for a miracle when someone is this close to death, but I know I want to. I know if it were me, I wouldn't want to be in pain anymore, and the desire to be with Jesus would be overwhelming. I couldn't sleep last night, laying awake thinking of all the memories I have of her. She was my first boss, back when I was a drunk & a horrible employee.  She loved me and prayed for me anyway. Years later, she wrote me an amazing letter when I was on the Walk to Emmaus. I tried to read it today and just fell apart over her kind & loving words. Oh God please get us through this. I love her so much.

4 comments:

Tiffany Spronk said...

My heart breaks for you, Shay....and the tears in my eyes prove it! I'm happy to watch the boys if/when you go visit Debby again. Seriously, take me up on the offer. I remember the last visit to my brother-in-law and think of it often. I love you lots and will be praying for you in this rough time.

Shay said...

Thank you Tiffany! She is still hanging in but it seems like it won't be much longer. If I get the chance to visit again, I will definitely take you up on your offer. ♥

Julie said...

It's so hard to watch someone you love slip away. I'll be praying for you Shay<3

BeLoVed AiMeE said...

:( love you Shay