Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil

Last night I tried to prime Dad for getting up a littler earlier and going to church for the Easter service. He seemed acquiescent, if not enthusiastic. He asked, “What denomination?” When I responded, “Presbyterian,” he thought for a minute, then said, “We’re Methodists, United Methodists.”

OK, I thought. Though I have a preference for Presbyterians, if he would feel more comfortable in a Methodist church, I’m willing. But, I don’t really think it would matter to him either. He would most likely sleep through the service. I’m not being critical when I say that; it’s simply a fact of his life right now. Whether it’s the Parkinsons or the medications, he naps a lot.

I now understand why Mom always had excuses for not going to church, though she always said she wanted to go. Getting Dad ready to go anywhere on a schedule is a huge challenge. But now I believe that Mom, so concerned about appearances, probably also worried about what people would think if Dad slept through church.

As it turned out, we were at the hospital last night until about 7 p.m., which meant that we did not get home and finish dinner until 10 p.m., which meant that we were not ready for bed until midnight. So this morning, even though I got him up a little earlier than normal, ever hopeful that we could be ready to go to church, signs of sleep deprivation clearly indicated a nap.

Now, instead of church, we will go to the hospital to see Mom, who was moved back to the ICU late last night after she experienced more breathing difficulties. The doctor assured me that she would be better monitored and cared for in ICU and that they would study her various test reports to determine next steps. He said her heart is fine and, even with the trouble breathing, her pneumonia isn’t “that bad.”

Tomorrow, they will try taking her off the ventilator to see if her lungs are strong enough to work on their own.

Sue