Hope, Healing, and Small Steps Forward ✨
Well, to say the past few weeks have been stressful and exhausting in every possible way would be an understatement.
My mom’s hospitalization—twice—her stay in the ICU, endless tests, procedures, blood work, new medications to figure out what works best for her, and multiple IVs… all on top of everything else that makes up daily life—work, errands, cleaning, driving, picking up prescriptions, cooking—has been nothing short of a miracle. Through it all, I know we haven’t been walking alone.
Yesterday, after one of my mom’s tests that will help guide her next steps, I came home feeling a bit defeated. I stopped by the house to pick up her special blanket (the one Bella gave her when she was in the ICU) and her rosary. Before heading back to the hospital, I made myself something to eat, and just then, a dear friend called to check in on us. After chatting for a while, she said something that truly lifted me:
“When you feel you’ve reached the darkest corner of your soul, remember—it’s there, in the deepest night, that the first light begins to rise.”
And in that moment, I knew—it could only get better from here.
My mother’s faith is so strong, so unshakable, that it strengthens everyone around her. She walks hand in hand with the angels every day through the way she lives her life. I’ve witnessed that faith my whole life, but these past few weeks have been a powerful testimony to it. My mom has endured more than most could imagine—truly, a lot—but she remains faithful, joyful, and encouraging.
During her hospital stays—on different floors and with different teams—we were constantly amazed by the compassion and dedication of the medical staff. My mom, despite being legally blind and only able to see shadows, has an extraordinary memory and an even sharper sense of hearing. Every time a nurse, tech, or staff member entered her room, she greeted them by name with pure joy:
“Teresa! I missed you!”
“Irma, it’s so good to see you!”
“Jenelle, thank you!”
And the list goes on and on. So many staff members told me how much my mom brightened their day and how she made their job easier. Every single person left her room wrapped in her blessings—every… single… time. 🥰
This afternoon, my mom was finally discharged from the hospital (praying, knocking on wood, fingers crossed—hoping this is the last time!). Eight hours later, the home “shift” just ended.
It’s been a full day—refilling pill boxes with new prescriptions, doing laundry, changing sheets, helping her shower, and getting her settled for the night—but I am so happy she’s home. And somehow, even after such a long day, I don’t feel nearly as tired as before. Amazing what a little less stress can do to the body.
This morning, two dear friends texted to say they wanted to send a meal to our home. They asked what we’d like and what time to have it delivered. My mom is now on a very strict heart-healthy diet (more on that later), and the meal they sent was perfect for her first night home. As we sat down to eat, I told my mom, “What a wonderful coincidence that today, of all days—when we’re so tired and overwhelmed—they reached out with such kindness.”
My mom smiled and said, “It’s not a coincidence—it’s God. And you’re blessed with amazing friends.”
And, of course, she’s right.
Tired? Yes.
Grateful? Absolutely.
There’s so much more I could share, and maybe writing it all down will become part of my reflection and healing. But for now, this is enough.
We are so deeply blessed with incredible people in our lives, and I don’t take a single one for granted. Their presence—each of them—is no coincidence. 💛
