Prayer Request

I know a lot of you are getting ready for "She Speaks" and may not see this, but I wanted to go ahead and share it for those who might. I'd like to ask for prayer for my Mother-in-law, Millie. (This is she and my Father-in-law, Bob.)


We just learned she has a major blockage in the main artery in her leg (when I say major, I mean from her hip to her knee). She will need bypass surgery. At present, they are trying to get it scheduled with the surgeon.

Sometime in mid-late May, she hurt her shin. Not sure if it started as a cut or bruise. It continued to get worse rather than healing. She finally agreed to see the doctor. He sent her to a wound specialist, which was very unpleasant, and it still was getting no better. Finally, they requested an MRI. That's how they discovered the blockage. The wound isn't healing because the blood flow to her lower leg has been stopped.

She has enjoyed great health for years. I was never certain of her real age until now...she's 88. Up until last fall, she wasn't on any medication of any kind for anything! In the past three years, she has had three different surgical procedures and her recoveries have been long and hard on her. She does not want to have this procedure, but she really has no choice. Her doctor said the alternatives are heart attack, blood clot, stoke or gangrene (from her wound). Not very good alternatives.

Part of our concern is for her spiritual well-being. She has always been disinterested in things of faith. Tom's Dad is a devout Catholic, so she agreed they would raise their kids that way, but she had no active role in the family's spiritual development, and rarely attended mass with them. As adults, Tom and one of his sisters have really grown in their faith and embraced Christianity as a way of life. Over the years, they've both tried talking with her, Tom's Dad has tried talking to her, I've tried talking with her...all with seemingly minimal (if any) results. Even when several of her close friends found Christ, she wanted nothing to do with it. She doesn't believe she's a sinner. When you try and tell her the Bible says we're all sinners, she simply ignores the authority of the Bible. She has attended many of our church's productions for Easter and Christmas where they always share the plan of salvation and pray the sinner's prayer. It is our prayer that on one of those occasions, she has prayed silently along with our Pastor and just maybe hasn't shared it with any of us, because of pride. If she hasn't, maybe having this procedure will be enough to finally convince her of her need for Christ. It's hard to think about not seeing someone you love in eternity.

Again, I would so appreciate your prayers. I'll keep you posted.
**UPDATE (6/20): I spoke to Millie earlier tonight and learned they have an appointment with the surgeon for one week from today 6/27. I don't believe this is the surgery date...but rather a pre-surgery appointment. (I was a bit surprised they aren't operating right away.) Instead, she's resting at home. A nurse comes to their house each day to check and re-dress the wound. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.**