Day 103: Enjoying the Fresh Air

Duplicated on our CaringBridge site for permanent record here.

February 28, 2021, written by Mama

103 days in the hospital: 63 in PICU, 28 in the Oncology ward, 12 at In-Patient Rehab!

I felt restored and strengthened after a weekend at home and the house is ever more ready for Thomas. So much of it is neat and clean, but then I have to laugh at some corners of the house that are still buried. One of my projects this weekend was to put away all the decorations dumped in the corner of the dining room: decorations from Chris' 50th birthday party in October, decorations from Thanksgiving in November, and straggler decorations from Christmas in December. A few trips to the attic and I'm still not done. 

I relieved Chris by Sunday noon and got to hang out with my boy who was on a six-hour break from TPN and J-tube feedings. Freedom! We left the fourth floor for probably the first time in a week. The gorgeous weather had spring zephyrs in the air, so we first sat outside on the hospital patio. I loved seeing Thomas wheel himself around the patio to see what he wanted to see, as he had been too sick and puny to maneuver his wheelchair anywhere most of this past week.

Then we went to the third floor cafeteria just to enjoy the novelty of buying a few snacks of Thomas's choosing. I could see how much he appreciated making choices when his life these last few months has involved almost no choices. 

While at the cafeteria, we ran into not one but two of my favorite PICU nurses, not even walking along together! Getting to catch up with C--- and J---- was a sweet treat from God to lift my spirits.

Thomas asked me tonight to start reading to him from a children's catechism, so we got in several sessions in which he was in rapt attention. At one point, Thomas interrupted my reading and said, "Mama, Jesus is the Passover Lamb," which certainly struck me coming from a five-year-old. Surely he has received many graces receiving his First Holy Communion and Confirmation early.

Thomas's drain continues to output at a higher rate, but clinically he looks pretty good and the pectin is working wonders, so we have cause for hope going into a new week of therapy. 

Novena

Source of St. Jude Novena prayer: https://catholicnovenaapp.com/novenas/st-jude-novena/#st-jude-novena

Day 4 Prayer

Intro Prayer

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of.

Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.

Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly:

for Thomas to experience a complete and obvious self-sealing of his pancreatic leak without needing any surgical intervention. 

and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen.

Concluding Prayer

May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen.

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity.

(Our Father, Hail Mary)