Prayer for my Mother

During today's afternoon physical therapy, my mother collapsed at the rehab center. She was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. Her physician, who also happens to be my physician, telephoned me and urged me to come to the hospital. My two sons and I drove the the fifty miles or so from Louisville to Elizabethtown as fast as possible.

When we arrived, Mom was still in the emergency room. What had initially been diagnosed as a heart attack had been determined to be blood clots in her lungs-"the largest I've ever seen," said her physician. By the time we got to the hospital, Mom was two hours in to treatment with a blood thinning medication. The physician has told my sister that, if Mom made it through the first four hours of the treatment, the prognosis was good.

Mom was in surprisingly good spirits. She told me that, when she thought she was dying, she had prayed that God would forgive any "bad things" she had done to people during her life and had calmly awaited death.

We stayed at the hospital for approximately seven hours. Mom's only surviving brother, his wife and one of his daughters also came from Louisville. By the time we left the hospital (my sister is remaining in Mom's hospital room) Mom was well into the treatment, had eaten, and was ready for sleep. The crisis, however, is not yet over.

Loving and merciful God,
grant the assurance to my mother than you are with her now.
Give the gift of quiet and rest;
pour forth the renewal of strength;
give the refreshment of sleep and relief from suffering.
Comfort those of us who wait,
that when this is all past,
we may praise your glorious name;
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

(adapted from Book of Worship: United Church of Christ)