Strength and Weakness

Dearest Ones,

Darla reports that Deb has continued to draw close to Jesus in her suffering and weakness. She rests much, continues to have extreme nausea and, consequently, difficulty eating and keeping fluids down. Please pray for her comfort:

Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
May those who fear You see me and be glad,
Because I wait for Your word.
...
O may Your Lovingkindness comfort me,
According to Your word to Your servant.
May Your compassion come to me that I may live..
...
My soul languishes for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.
My eyes fail with longing for Your word,
While I say, "When will you comfort me?"
(Ps 119: 73-74, 76-77, 81-82, NASB)

Deb enjoyed the Grands this past weekend ... photos, too!

Hal, the kids and I spent last weekend with mom. We had all been looking forward to it since the kids hadn't seen 'Grandma' since June. As you can see from the photos, they spent most of their time sitting on Grandma's lap, coloring with her, or watching TV with her (Spongebob is a favorite).




Mom's medicines have enabled her to move around the first floor of her house slowly for a few hours a day, although she still deals with nausea. Her Hospice nurses take care of medical details and Dad continues to take good care of her while working his farm and managing Farraway Farms.

She truly appreciates the love and support from her friends across the globe.

Thanks again, Charity

Deb had a tough day Thursday, August 2, 2007

Deb had a tough day today (August 2, 2007). The nausea is back with a vengeance. Dr. changed his mind about letting her come home tomorrow. Pray against the nausea. Thanks.

In Christ,

tom

Deb is home

Nellie reported today that our dear sister Deb is home from the hospital. But it seems the morphine drip line came out or got pinched sometime Tuesday night. A visiting nurse had to stop by today to get things straightened out.

Thank you to all who are offering advice and information on nausea relief during cancer treatments.

Nellie has been trying to help Charity with the kids. With the 4 kids and Charity running back & forth to the hospital they could use some meals and other assistance. If live in the Cincinnati area and you are able to help with meals, please e-mail Loving Deb Smith, or let Charity or Nellie know directly (see the left side bar for their contact information).

In fact, if you like to do the meal thing and you would like to help Deb and Tom in this way, surely that would be great as well. Their contact information is also in the left side bar.

Please continue to keep them all in your prayers, expecting God to Love.

Recent news -- Deb has asked for specific prayer

I just spoke with my mom and she asked me (for the first time!) to blog about her recent situation.

On Saturday, she was readmitted to Mercy St. John's Hospital in St. Louis. Her nausea was completely out of control. She asks for prayer for her vision again. She doesn't want to go blind. She's not sure when she will be back home again.

Thanks, Charity
-----------------------

Dear Ones,

Deb's nearly constant nausea at this time appears to be related to a change (increase) in the morphine dosage she is receiving through the morphine pump. Please pray without ceasing (1Thess 5:16) that God will relieve her discomfort and draw Deb very close to Him, assuring her of His Boundless Love and Mercy.

If any readers of Loving Deb Smith are able to offer practical help on the morphine related nausea, please e-mail a note to Loving Deb Smith. Thank you.

As noted elsewhere in Loving Deb Smith, Deb's vision is under attack by cancer effecting her retina. Your fervent prayers that God will restore her vision are most needed at this time.

Be Thou my Vision
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Dal­lan For­gaill, 8th Cen­tu­ry (Rob tu mo bhoile, a Com­di cri­de );
trans­lat­ed from an­cient Ir­ish to Eng­lish by Ma­ry E. Byrne, in
"Eriú," Jour­nal of the School of Ir­ish Learn­ing, 1905, and versed by El­ea­nor H. Hull, 1912, alt.