My Step-Father Steve (59), had a major stroke on October 12, 2006.  Since then he has endured two brain surgeries, about 14 days of a medically induced coma and daily attacks of the enemy in his thoughts.

Steve has been residing at a Rehab/Hospice center about 20 minutes away from our home in Brea, CA. My Mother, Deanna is very dedicated to being with him daily. She typically gets up about 8 am and is at the center about 9 am to start working with the nursing and physical therapy staff to recover what we can and "Get Steve Back" as she puts it.  It is amazing to watch how strong she can be and what she doesn't tolerate at the center. 

She and Steve had been attending a local church off and on since 2004 when they were married.  My mother has attended church when she feels she can get away from Steve to keep them updated on his progress or prayer needs.  The pastors have been very loving and caring and available to listen quite often.  They have even made random stops at the center to see Steve and possibly pray with him, at Steve's request.

This last Sunday was a hard one for me. I went to the Rehab facility after church and stayed for about 5 hours. We cried together, smiled a bit with each other and were even able to use a crane type lift to put Steve into a chair and roll him out on the patio for a nice outside visit.  He has been so drugged up on sleeping aids that he is not quite himself, who would be after what he has gone through over the last couple of months anyway?

That day there were many moments in which I know that he is trying to have a real conversation with me and then moments when the subject matter changed rapidly into something tragic or random.  It was a very emotional visit with many tears for both patient and visitor.   He apologized for not being behind my heart for Madagascar along with the regret of not supporting me financially. He even wanted me to know that he was ready to decorate this year with a nativity on the front lawn instead of santa clause, presents, snoopy and reindeer.  I did not have the heart to let him know that we had returned the new nativity set four days previous as we will need the money to care for him during his stay at rehab.  We aren't much into the decorating of the outdoors for the holidays as much as we are in getting our hearts and insides right with the Lord and with others. 

Steve seems very connected to the spiritual situation despite his condition.  About every ten to twenty minutes he said "we need to pray!"  In his hardly recognizable speech he would sometimes start out "Dear Lord" and other times he would be still as tears ran down his face.  All the while he would grab someones hand with his good hand (his left side is still not moving or feeling much) and draw it to either his heart or his mouth for kisses.  Many times he would mention that we are in a battle and Satan will not stop until he has won.  "We can't let him win."

That day I was blessed with the nick name of "prayer angel" as were a couple of others.  Steve is very aware of the spiritual battle going on in his head daily.  He thinks about if he will ever walk again, ever come back to his home, ever be able to sleep with his wife (my Mom) and Nightly there is this battle as well that goes on with whomever is visiting. Steve will say "Don't leave me here."  "unhook me and help me up, I will get into the car and we can go home."  Whomever is on watch at that time has to remind him that we can't care for him at our home, He will have to stay, try to get some sleep and that we will see him the next day.  

So, with all of the conversations and events of the last two months not only including time at the rehab center but on support discovery and adjusting to life back in California instead of Madagascar I have been on the ride of a lifetime Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually!  Last week when I was sharing with a group of believers that I used to work with I just broke down into tears and cried, sharing about this journey with them. They were precious to me and listened with some hugs at the end of my time with them. Much needed human contact for me at this bump in the road of life.  Good to know that others are there and that we are all a family! 

I am reminded of God's love for us as his children, the promises that God is behind, beside, and before us in everything and that HE knows all of our anxious thoughts.  It is hard to go through this Thanksgiving and Christmas season with a dear loved one in the condition that Steve is in but a good reminder and strong accountability to have my heart right with GOD every day.