Lois’s Story

Site created on March 21, 2021

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.  


Our mom, (Lois) suffered a heart attack on Tuesday night.  A major blockage was identified to be the cause of the heart attack but due to mom's age and how weak her heart is, the cardiologist was unable to clear the blockage.  On Friday morning her conditioned rapidly declined and we were informed that she only had hours to live.  This obviously was devastating news and we scrambled to make connections with loved ones so everyone would have a chance to tell her how much she was loved.  We also made the decision per her wishes  to only provide "comfort care"  and placed her on a DNR status.   As the day went on mom continued to improve and we were hopeful she would make it through the night.  To our surprise and delight, not only did she make it through another night, but she showed signs of gaining strength.  Within 24 hours we  went from  "hours to live" to her sitting up in a chair to eat and then taking her by wheelchair outside to a children's garden at the hospital.   After seeing such a marked improvement, and knowing our mother's strength and spunk we talked to the doctor this morning (Sunday) and moved her from "comfort care" to full treatment again with the goal of eventual discharge from the hospital to care at home via home health or hospice.  Mom is far from being out of the woods, but she is working hard to get better in order to spend whatever time she has left with her loved ones.  


Mom had been struggling with a few symptoms of dementia prior to her heart attack but the heart attack, lack of sleep, anesthesia and unfamiliar surroundings has rapidly accelerated some of those symptoms.  The first few days after the heart attack she was struggling with hallucinations and that was indeed heartbreaking to witness.  Each day she is beginning to be more "present" with us so our hope is that she can regain more lucidity with rest and continued strengthening.  The hospital has been so gracious in allowing us to stay with her at night so that we can comfort her when she wakes up confused as night time is when the hallucinations and agitation really seem to peak.  We are trying different medications to manage these symptoms as well. 


We have a long road ahead of us as we learn to manage her care but God has provided an incredible network of people around us to provide prayer support, a listening ear as well as vast amounts of knowledge for care options.  We are so grateful for each and every one of you!  Our prayer all through this has been that God will be merciful to her so that she would not suffer and He has been so faithful.  We have seen his provision in big and small ways.  We are so grateful to the hospital staff and their incredible care for mom as well as everyone who is supporting both near and far on this journey.  Prayers are definitely appreciated, specifically for God's will in all of this as He is the one that knows her length of time here on earth.  At this point each day is a blessing and we will treasure each and every moment we still have with her.  We will update this Caring Bridge site as things progress.  Much thanks, her children.

Newest Update

March 27, 2021

Journal entry by Kirsten Ober —

You may have heard a voice this evening saying, "Well done good and faithful servant".  

My sweet mama has made her heavenly flight.  She passed peacefully with us next to her, reading from the Psalms and singing Amazing Grace up to her last breath.  The song that keeps playing in my head is Sweet Beulah Land.  I'm not sure there are any better words to rejoice in as we rest knowing she is at peace and seeing Jesus face to face.

Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
And some day on thee I'll stand
There my home shall be eternal
Beulah Land - Sweet Beulah Land

I'm kind of homesick for a country
To which I've never been before
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
For time won't matter anymore

Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
And some day on thee I'll stand
There my home shall be eternal
Beulah Land - Sweet Beulah Land

I'm looking now across the river
Where my faith will end in sight
There's just a few more days to labor
Then I will take my heavenly flight

Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
And some day on thee I'll stand
There my home shall be eternal
Beulah Land - Sweet Beulah Land
Read More of the journal titled "March 27, 2021"
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