Julie’s Story

Site created on October 18, 2020

As we are starting this caring bridge site to keep our loved ones informed, some may not know the history of how mom has gotten to where she is currently,  we will do our best to give a brief update. 

Mom started getting sick with COVID symptoms right around her birthday on September 15th. We assumed it was COVID as multiple members of the family had also been sick. It was confirmed that she also was at the point of pneumonia. Once a chest x-ray was done  they started medications and an inhaler to help get her over the hump. Mom continued to be more and more tired and weak and it was getting concerning. We brought her back into the ER  and they admitted her to Hegg Health Center on September 28th. In the meantime her oxygen needs began to increase and she was transferred to Mckennan’s ICU in Sioux Falls on September 28th on BiPAP. After being in the ICU for a little while she had seemed to be ready to move to the pulmonary floor on October 3rd. Once on the pulmonary floor she was on a Bipap, cpap, and a nasal cannula trying to figure out her needs for oxygen and different medications to keep her steady. During this time Mom had seemed to be confused and disoriented but this went up and down. She was incredibly weak. Due to COVID restrictions this time was challenging as we hadn’t been able to see her or talk to her often and we were unsure where mom was at compared to her baseline self. On October 8th they had called us early in the morning to let us know that mom had declined during the night and was intubated and on a ventilator back in the ICU. Our biggest concern was that she had a pulmonary embolism, which is the blood clot in her lungs, as we had found multiple clots in her legs and one in her arm. This is being managed by a blood thinning drip to prevent more clots from forming. It had been very touch and go since then, and continues to be. We decided this was the easiest way to keep everyone informed and to make sure mom had as many people as possible praying for her. 


Newest Update

November 3, 2020

Journal entry by Audra Ten Haken —

John 14:1-4 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020. The day our beloved Wife and Mom met Jesus face to face and was brought to the place the Lord has prepared for her.

 “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” 

As we mourn the loss of our wife, mother, sister, and friend we rejoice knowing she is with the Lord. We rejoice in knowing Mom is pain free and her body restored fully. The journey of Mom’s life has been so perfectly planned and detailed by our Lord, and it has been felt and made known to our family. We imagine our Mom being joyful today, reunited with many loved ones who were awaiting her arrival.

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you”

Isaiah 43:2

We will miss our wife, mom, sister, and friend deeply. We will cherish the short time we had with her and remember when we are reunited we will have eternity. We will hold tight to each other and the Lord knowing that  He does not leave us to drown in the waters, but that he is here with us holding and guiding us.

We thank each and every one of you for constant prayers and support. We continue to ask for prayers as we learn to navigate life without mom. We would not have been able to make it through this journey without our prayer warriors. We are forever grateful to all of you.

 
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