I'm experiencing high stress.
Breath Prayer helps me to cope during emergency situation of husband's surgery.
He has aggressive brain cancer.
Breath Prayer will sustain me through role transitions.
My husband is in surgery to remove a glioblastoma from the left side of his brain.
His symptoms came on suddenly and developed rapidly during the last six weeks.
At first he was searching for words.
Ah, we thought, "senior moments," but each day it worsened.
Pretty soon he didn't know the names for things, then he had difficulty putting sentences together, and then he could no longer spell.
David's doctor took quick action, resulting in David being in surgery today.
Five am, the guest phone rings.
The first order of business is helping David locate his clothes and discerning what he means because he can't find the words, and he also does word substitution.
There is no time to stop and do Morning Prayer.
It is a matter of one step at a time.
I can tell that I am stressed because I'm not tracking well.
Family is here which helps a great deal.
Our son goes with his dad to the pre-surgery area, I 'm able to wait in the large waiting area.
I take out my knitting.
It takes a great effort to focus and to count stitches.
This effort helps me to cope.
I continue to be stressed.
I go to find breakfast, and locate the cafeteria.
It helps to find oatmeal, my usual breakfast.
I go to Starbucks upstairs and purchase a blueberry scone and a small decaf coffee with cream.
Sitting at a table and listening to the music while I enjoy my coffee and scone is comforting.
Back with my family, I pickup my knitting.
Counting stitches, not remembering the pattern, rip it out and try three times, I figure the pattern and where I am to decrease.
Finally, I succeed.
My son recommends that we return to our guest rooms so that he and my granddaughter may have their breakfast.
This is good to get away.
My son starts up my new laptop, and I begin to write this article.
This, too, helps me cope.
My attention turns to focusing spiritually.
A Breath Prayer would be helpful.
These words come to me, "Spirit of Love, help me.
" A nurse practitioner calls my son on his cell phone.
She wants to meet with us at 10:30.
We return to the waiting room.
While we're waiting, I return to writing this article.
The news is not good.
My husband has an aggressive form of glioblastoma.
He will require six to seven weeks of radiation five days per week along with chemotherapy.
Then a month after the radiation is completed, he will start another course of chemotherapy.
Treatment will last 14 months or so.
My Breath Prayer is sustaining me, wrapping its gentleness around me.
Role reshuffling is occurring; I will be taking over all the tasks that were David's.
I am confident that I will be able to cope and to make the transitions needed.
I am thankful that we are well cared for by our Loving Creator.
Coping during emergency situations: Spiritual practice - Breath Prayer; Maintain as much of your routine as possible; One step at a time; all in your support - family, friends, others; Focus on something - reading, creative activity; Take a break from the situation; Listen to music; Go for walk; Take a nap.
Breath Prayer helps me to cope during emergency situation of husband's surgery.
He has aggressive brain cancer.
Breath Prayer will sustain me through role transitions.
My husband is in surgery to remove a glioblastoma from the left side of his brain.
His symptoms came on suddenly and developed rapidly during the last six weeks.
At first he was searching for words.
Ah, we thought, "senior moments," but each day it worsened.
Pretty soon he didn't know the names for things, then he had difficulty putting sentences together, and then he could no longer spell.
David's doctor took quick action, resulting in David being in surgery today.
Five am, the guest phone rings.
The first order of business is helping David locate his clothes and discerning what he means because he can't find the words, and he also does word substitution.
There is no time to stop and do Morning Prayer.
It is a matter of one step at a time.
I can tell that I am stressed because I'm not tracking well.
Family is here which helps a great deal.
Our son goes with his dad to the pre-surgery area, I 'm able to wait in the large waiting area.
I take out my knitting.
It takes a great effort to focus and to count stitches.
This effort helps me to cope.
I continue to be stressed.
I go to find breakfast, and locate the cafeteria.
It helps to find oatmeal, my usual breakfast.
I go to Starbucks upstairs and purchase a blueberry scone and a small decaf coffee with cream.
Sitting at a table and listening to the music while I enjoy my coffee and scone is comforting.
Back with my family, I pickup my knitting.
Counting stitches, not remembering the pattern, rip it out and try three times, I figure the pattern and where I am to decrease.
Finally, I succeed.
My son recommends that we return to our guest rooms so that he and my granddaughter may have their breakfast.
This is good to get away.
My son starts up my new laptop, and I begin to write this article.
This, too, helps me cope.
My attention turns to focusing spiritually.
A Breath Prayer would be helpful.
These words come to me, "Spirit of Love, help me.
" A nurse practitioner calls my son on his cell phone.
She wants to meet with us at 10:30.
We return to the waiting room.
While we're waiting, I return to writing this article.
The news is not good.
My husband has an aggressive form of glioblastoma.
He will require six to seven weeks of radiation five days per week along with chemotherapy.
Then a month after the radiation is completed, he will start another course of chemotherapy.
Treatment will last 14 months or so.
My Breath Prayer is sustaining me, wrapping its gentleness around me.
Role reshuffling is occurring; I will be taking over all the tasks that were David's.
I am confident that I will be able to cope and to make the transitions needed.
I am thankful that we are well cared for by our Loving Creator.
Coping during emergency situations: Spiritual practice - Breath Prayer; Maintain as much of your routine as possible; One step at a time; all in your support - family, friends, others; Focus on something - reading, creative activity; Take a break from the situation; Listen to music; Go for walk; Take a nap.