Hi, Dyan.

Thank you for always keeping us in your thoughts & prayers.

Sheila is really suffering with the injury to her sciatic nerve.

The puppy situation looks a bit "iffy" right now. Ladybug is no longer expecting. :(

And Brandi's puppies are all very dark-faced, and Sheila wants a tri-colored Biewer.

So, we are now waiting to see what Betsy Ross has on May 5th.

Weight of the puppy as an adult is now very important. Her DO is very concerned about the fragility of her spine.

Love & Hugs,
Rich & Sheila

Sheila and Rich, I am hoping that your sciatic nerve pain will lessen. I'm sorry to hear Ladybug is not expecting pups and hope that Betsy Ross has just the right little one for you! God Bless

Love and Hugs,
Dyan

Thank you, Dyan. Sheila has been following her DO's advice, and alternating between keeping her leg elevated, and doing some gentle stretching exercises.

If Betsy Ross doesn't have a puppy for Sheila-Dee said not to worry, she will be breeding again.

God bless you, Dyan for all your prayers.

Love & Hugs,
Rich & Sheila

Sheila will be returning to her Ministry-for a day. A very dear friend, whom we consider family, is in his final days. He has been battling pancreatic cancer.

She will serve at his funeral mass.

She said she prays for the strength to serve without breaking down in tears.

We are going up to the hospital this afternoon, to say our final "Good-Bye".

Rich

Sheila and Rich, I will be praying for your friend and for Sheila to have the strength to serve at his mass.

Love and Hugs,
Dyan

So sorry to hear of your friends passing. Sending prayers to all and strength to Shelia.

Sheila sounds like a toughie, joking with that neuro at the CC about something so serious but those with a little 'tude usually are great fighters. She probably will get her ministry back at some point with her will and determination to serve God and help others. She sounds like she'll take on just about anything - laundry and floors included - harder than anything for someone with weak thighs and legs - means her back takes more of the strain when she bends or lifts, poor thing. Hope that sciatic injury cools down soon - ice works wonders on acute sciatica for some.

I'm having my scope 5/16 and start my antibiotics 3 days before and prep 2 days before. Isn't it like Sheila with all her problems to remember my test s?!?! What a lady you have there, Rich!!! She's such a special, caring sweetheart - so are you. All prayers will be so very much appreciated. Of course, I'll keep up my prayers for you two - I have since I first heard about you here. Love you both, Jeanie

Hi, Dyan.

Thank you so much. We went to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, to say our final "Good-Bye's" and our very dear friend, John, was very alert, talking about coming home. He is not aware that he is dying, which, we feel is a blessing.

Thank you for praying for Sheila to have the strength to serve at his mass.

He and his wife, Kay, have been family to us, and she said, she has served some very difficult funeral masses, but this one, is going to be her hardest.

She prays each night, not to break down in tears.

Love & Hugs,
Rich & Sheila

Hi, Carolyn.

John has not passed yet, it is a matter of a few days, to possibly a week.
But thank you so much for your kind condolences.

And thank you for your prayers, esp. strength for Sheila. She prays each night, not to break down in tears as she serves at his funeral mass.

He & his wife, Kay have been family to us.

Rich

That whole situation is heartbreaking for you all and Kay. I know leaving him there in that bed for the last time had to be incredibly difficult, trying not to break down. Saying good-bye is one of life's hardest times. I pray God give you all, especially Sheila, the strength and peace to get you through these next days. Godspeed to John.

Hi, Janie.

Yes, my friend, Sheila is a little toughie. I believe, that and her deep faith, has gotten her this far.

But her DO has impacted upon her, that her spine is very fragile, and she has promised him that she will not over-due it on laundry again, and she won't get down on her hands & knees, to wash the floor.

Sadly, she will return to her Ministry very soon, but just for a day. Our dear friend, John, is in his final days of pancreatic cancer. He and his wife Kay, have been family to us, and she wants to serve at his funeral mass.

We went to the hospital on Wednesday, to say our final "Good-Bye's", but John was very alert, talking about coming home. It is a blessing, and we pray Our Lord is merciful, and calls him Home, peacefully in his sleep.

Then, we went to the nursing home, to see Kay. Her Alzheimer's has progressed severely, and for about 45 minutes she just stared, blankly. But as Sheila had said, "My Kay will know me", and after we were there, 45 minutes, Kay took Sheila's hand, and held it, and then, pulled her close and held Sheila, in that special way, she always held her, when she was so happy to see her.

Sheila sat and talked to Kay about all the things they had always done together, and several times, Kay smiled.

At one point, she finally spoke, and said to Sheila, "I love you", and Sheila told her, "Kay, I love you, too."

Now that Sheila is on oxy, she plans to visit Kay at least 3 days a week.

She is still in a great deal of pain, but she manages to hide it.

She said "Of course, I remember Jeanie is having the 'scope!"

She said she will be praying for you as you go through the prep, the 'scope on the 16th, and after.

I may be biased, but I agree, she is a special lady.

We appreciate your prayer so much, and you have been in ours from the day we "met" you here, in YT.

Love & Hugs,
Rich & Sheila

I found when visiting my late BIL who died of Alzheimer's, it took time for the recognition of my sister or me to take effect - to work its way through his brain and get to recognition. When we first arrived for a visit, he would often act like we were welcome strangers for the better part of an hour and then begin to interact, smile, kiss us and hold hands and very much "there", sometimes smiling or nodding when we'd mention people or things he knew about, etc., until his last 2 or 3 months of life.

It sounds as if these coming days are going to be very, very difficult times. I'll sure be praying for you both and thankful for your prayers for me. Love and prayers, Jeanie

Hi, Jeanie.

They transferred him back to the nursing home on Thursday. We will go back again. We just can't leave it at one "Good-Bye". Sheila reminded me that it is actually not "Good-Bye", but until we see each other gain in Heaven. He & Kay have been amazing blessings in our lives. And we know, that God brought them into our lives.

They are two of the most loving, kindest, most generous people we have ever known.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

Rich

Hi (again) Jeanie,

Alzheimer's is a terrible disease. Sheila & I are very sorry that you lost your brother-in-law, Bill, to Alzheimer's.

Sheila lost a great Aunt to it, and she was very close to her. She took Kia to see her, and it made her Aunt so happy.

Kay loved Kia, and Kia loved Kay. Sheila said she wishes, now, more than ever, Kia was still with us, because she knows seeing Kia would make Kay happy.

Sheila plans to visit Kay 3 days a week, during the week. She has many pictures of them together, and she is going to put together a photo album, and talk to Kay and tell her what they were doing together, in each photo.

Yes, the coming days will be difficult. Our hearts ache, not just for ourselves, but for their children, their grandchildren.

They have such a wonderful family!

Thank you for your prayers, you are always in ours.

Love & Prayers,
Rich & Sheila

Praying for Sheila, for strength and healing...