{Caardvarks} Lucky Number 7

Here is my card for yesterday's Lucky Number 7 {Caardvarks} 10 Day-10K Challenge. >I got it submitted in the nick of time last night after returning home from visiting Muriel in the hospital. The goal of this challenge was to make a good luck card. I started the card first thing yesterday morning, and finished it before I left for the hospital yesterday afternoon. I took a picture of it at about 1030p and then got it uploaded. I really want to finish out the 10 days of this challenge, but I am not sure that will happen.

This is why....Muriel has hospital staph. She contracted the staph infection in her surgical heart wound. Yesterday, they gave us the odds of her surviving this deadly infection. 50/50. If these were my odds for winning the lottery, I'd be ecstatic. But in this case, the odds don't seem so good. She is an elderly woman in ill health. My FIL asked if he should call in the family (sister Jayne is back home in VA), and the doctor said if this were his family, he would make the call. Doctors don't like playing the odds game, but in this case, they have no other choice. My FIL wants it straight. He doesn't like sugar coated explanations.

In a nutshell, hospital staph is resistant to almost every antibiotic known to man. Once it is in the blood (which it is), chances of survival are slim. They will be taking Muriel into surgery this afternoon at 530p (can you believe THAT? Why such a late surgery for a critical patient?) to vacuum out the wound (literally) and at the same time they will aspirate the fluid that's been hanging around in her lungs. They say we should know if she will survive within 24 hours after the surgery. We visited with Muriel last night. She is basically out of it due to the Vicadin she is taking for the pain. She knew who we were and we even got her to laugh a little. She knows she's having surgery, although I'm fairly certain she does NOT know her odds. There is no purpose in sharing that with her at this stage of the game.

My husband stayed with his dad last night at their house for support. My FIL is having a very difficult time accepting this is happening, although he is very clear on odds, etc. He's a realist. But Muriel is the love of his life. They have been married 50+ years. He's not ready to let her go yet. None of us are. It's totally surreal. If Muriel does pass, this will be the first of our parents to die. Both my parents are still living and they have also been married 50+ years. We were blessed to have such great role models for our own marriage. And we have been blessed to have them with us for so long.

Given the circumstances, I'm going to forgo going into detail on my Lucky 7 card. I just don't have it in me. I know you all understand and don't expect anything from me but honesty. And you know I will give you that. Whether it's good or bad. I promise I will be in touch either later today or tomorrow about Muriel. Your prayers for all of us are greatly appreciated.

Hugs,
Amy