Herself just got off the phone with her brother. Her father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It looks like he doesn't have long. we're loading the car for a trip to Sacramento now.
Praying Bro Rob...please let us know of any specific needs.
Due to the Stalinist famines in the 30s, Mama for many years has suffered from short term memory loss. With age the condition has increased in severity. So, she has difficulty understanding what is happening with Papa's illness. Her husband of over 60 years is no longer the man she remembers and she many times can't understand why.
That is sad when there is memory loss. My Grandma had dementia. I remember my Dad coming home many nights after visiting her and telling us that she had no idea who he was. I hope it never gets that bad, and for God's peace in your family during this time.
Sorry I missed your last post, Bro Rob. That was a crazy week for us. I am glad you are keeping us up to date periodically, keeping it before us. How is your father in law enduring?
Does your mother in law at times have a good grasp of things? I think that is most torturous...I saw it with my mom (86 yrs old) when at times she could not remember how my Dad died. She knew she should know, and even stayed up all night once trying to retrieve the details from the recesses of her mind. On that occasion, she finally did. In some ways, it is easier when they come to the point where there is no longer that struggle...although it is much more difficult for other family members who watch their loved one "disappear" before their very eyes.
Praying, with compassion.
Mama's memory has been fading for years now. Papa's getting stronger. If he dies tomorrow, it'll be from heart failure not cancer.
Georgi Pavlovitich Mistiuk went home yesterday afternoon due to respiratory failure as a complication of colon cancer.
Please pray for the family. Mama is not handling the situation well. Bronisalva and Georgi were married for over 60 years. "He was my breath."
Will be praying for Mama and your wife
Sorry to learn this.
"He was my breath."
How keenly we feel these losses. I will pray.
May God's grace, provision, comfort, and wisdom be given you and your family in abundance.
It looks like there'll be a service on Sunday with the funeral on Monday.
The weekend went as well as can be expected. At the Saturday night family viewing, cousin Yuli interviewed Uncle Victor, Papa's surviving brother. It was an oral history kind of thing. The memorial service at the Bryte EC-B House of Prayer was concurrent with the Sunday evening service. As the it was the first sunday of the month, the commemoration of the Lord's Supper was held before Papa's memorial. The Monday cemetery was interesting. About forty of his brothers and sisters in Christ were present. The forty were fellow Tashkenters who had also settled in Metro-Sacramento. The singing was outstanding. They sang songs of the faith in four part harmony from memory. The song leader lined out the songs as he lead them. I told my wife it reminded me of songs in the forest.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Rob
Papa's stabilized. He's able to sit up and take nourishment, He's also able to walk around a bit. though, he is still a hard headed Russian. So, it will take awhile for him to get used to being an invalid.
Hoping to shed more light than heat..