Update on Caden and Judy

[Guest guest]

My friends,

It is almost 2 in the morning and again I cannot sleep so I thought I

might do an update. I have tried a couple of times, but never got through it.

Today I feel a little stronger, so maybe I can this time.

For the new ones, my name is Judy and I am a pastors wife in HOuston and

we have been pastoring the same church for soon will be 34 years. Two years

ago my daughter had a son and his name is Caden. When he was three weeks he

turned yellow and to make a long story short, he was diagnoised with Biliary

Atresia. That happens to be a liver disease. He ended up going through 2

surgeries and then when all that didnt work he had to have a transplant. He

has been in the hospital more than he has been out. To top it off, my

daughter has 2 more kids and the father of Caden decided he didnt want him and

so he

left the scene not to be seen again. So my daughter has carried the load.

Last April 15th my grandson received his liver transplant. He has been

a very rough and hard road, but right now he is doing okay. Three weeks ago

they finally were able to take the last tube out of his chest. The only bad

part is this week the transplant hospital called and told my daughter he now

has tested positive for the mono virus. So that is not good. It can cause

many problems with balancing his meds for rejection. We are so thankful for

all that God has done for him and also my daughter and her children. She went

from a working mother, to taking care of a cronically sick child. Caden is

a joy and a miracle. So we will go forth with prayers and continue to

believe God daily for his care.

Also this past year I have been flying back to Tennessee to help take

care of my father that has been very sick. He fell almost two years ago and

had

another stroke and almost died. This time we made the decision to take him

home so he and mom could be together. The re-hab hospital thought we were

crazy because it took two to do anything with him. I have four sisters, so we

all did what we could. I would go and stay 6-8 weeks at a time because I

lived so far away. My husband and church were so wonderful and understanding.

God helped dad to be able to walk again with a walker, but he and mom could

no longer live alone. So one of my sisters spent the night every night until

someone relieved her. So for almost 2 years my life has been rough between

my grandson and my dad.

My father pastored for over 50 years and loved the Word of God. He

taught me to be a missionary to Mexico when I was a young girl in El Paso. So

much of who I am today is because of the relationship I had with dad and his

relationship with the Lord. I have always been daddys baby even though I was

the first born.

All my life since being a little girl, my worst fear was what I would

ever do without my dad. He was my hero. He and my husband have been the rocks

in my life. On June 28th the day I had dreaded all my life took place. My

father left this world with two of my sisters at his head and mom on one side

and me with my head laid on his chest over his heart. He left with us

telling him how wonderful he was and to wait by the eastern Gate and we would

someday be there with him.

I have never felt such pain and sadness in my entire life. I can't

sleep and it seems like I am only walking through this life by going through

the

motions. I have been a supervisor in our Christian school for 25 years and I

am there, but not there. I have lost interest in the computer and sewing

and other things I have always loved. I go to church and pray and sing and

play the piano, but I feel so empty. I have gained so much weight from eating

and not sleeping. We have had to sell my parents home and now my mom is

having to live with one of my sisters that is also a pastors wife. My parents

were married almost 62 years and my mom never drove a car. Dad was retired for

almost 10 years and so they have spent 24/7 together. My mom is lost and

devistated.

I wonder if the pain and hurt and sadness with ever stop. Some people

say get a grip and get over it already. It has only been 12 weeks and it seems

like an eternity. I miss him more than words can ever express. The house

sold and the last weekend of this month all of my sisters and mom have to go

back to the house and pack up everything and get rid of it all. I dread going

back and putting what has been a lifetime of my father out for others to

take. Please pray for me. My father has an awesome library of books and that

is what he loved. I am praying God will help us find some preachers or

college that will benefit from them. My dad was a special man with more love

than

anyone I have ever known. Missions was his heart and he gave sacrifically.

I know this is long and rambling. If you have read this far please pray hard

for me because I am so sad and my heart hurts. I try to stay busy, but it

doesnt help much. I still can't imagine spending the rest of my life here

without my precious dad. I thank God daily for the wonderful relationship that

he allowed me to have. It has always been easy for me to think of God as our

heavenly father because I had such a wonderful one as an example. Another

thing that bothers me. I have not dreaded of my dad since he has been gone.

I would love to dream of him when he wasnt so sick. Thank you for all of

your prayers for Caden and also for my family and I as we walk this hard

journey.

Judy