Mom's Spine Fractures Again

As you know if you have been reading my blog for a while, in mid-2009, my mother suffered some osteoporosis-induced compression fractures to her spine.  Besides the tremendous pain of the fractured bones, this also caused severe (and painful) constipation.  In the last year and a half she has gradually recovered from that.  Her fractures healed and she learned ways to keep her bowels moving, albeit imperfectly. 

She has even been able to go to church regularly the last two months, something she had not done in over 12 years.  As recently as last week she was working to rebuild her stamina in walking, going about half a mile with the help of a walker.

This week those improvements evaporated as another compression fracture struck her spine.  This one seems to be in a worse location than the previous ones, because now sometimes even using her arms will throw her back into an excruciating spasm. The constipation too has returned with vigor.

Although her immediate situation is far from pleasant, perhaps the biggest battle right now is with the fears of what tomorrow may bring.  Barring a miracle, her osteoporosis won't improve. There are a lot of "what will we do if...?" issues, made more complex by her pre-existing environmental allergies.

Mom's attitude is remarkably strong, far more level-headed than I would be if I were in her shoes. 

We would be grateful if you will pray for her.  Here are three passages of Scripture you can pray over Mom (and all 3 of us):

And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come. (Psalm 71:18 NASB -- all of this chapter is good!)

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18, NASB)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." (Heb 12:1-6, ESV)

I will close with a friend's recent Facebook message that encouraged me:

God is good; therefore, life is hard.

Amen.