A death in our family

About one hour ago, Steve's father died. He has been struggling with his health over the past few years, however things have gotten much worse over the past month. He has had a series of strokes over a number of years and has been struggling with symptoms of parkinson's. But in the end, I think that his heart became weaker than the rest of him and stopped working. He has been very weak over the past month, struggling to get and stay out of bed for any length of time, and not really eating, so he was becoming weaker and weaker. His mom is also not in the best of health, struggling with her own health issues, so it was really hard for Steve to watch his mom be determined to have him home (he was in the hospital and was due to transfer to a residential facility and his mom decided to bring him home to be comfortable) and then struggle to help him. But now it is over.

Steve is the youngest of six and his oldest brother is around 15 years older, so this is the course of life when your parents are elderly, but even though it is "expected" it is still a little shocking and sad.

We need prayers, prayers for his father to find peace and forgiveness and join God in the light and glory of heaven. Peace and strength for his mom, that her heart and her pain may find some lifting with God's love. And prayers for all of the "boys" to be able to move through this phase of life with grace and strength.

And while we are prayer, one of Steve's prayers is really sick and in the hospital pending a very serious surgery, please pray for him most intently.

May God bless you.

kendra