Tim Samoff // Weblog (old)

December 06, 2003

Blessings...

So, I hit you all with a ton of bricks last week (though, possibly, slightly less weighty than the bricks that we were slammed with). Then I neglected to follow up. I admit that my tenor towards nonaccount was intentional, but after looking back on a week — that really seems more like four — I begn to accept that our life may actually be worthy of writing about for more than just my own sake.

My father-in-law is fairing poorly. He is in a lot of pain and he is not getting better. Julianna has been a saint — her strength, love, and patience are an inspiration. This has not been an easy week for the two of them, but their journey was met with God’s grace and mercy. While I was safely tucked away in my office, benignly trying to design things that have no eternal value, Julianna and her dad were suffering through hours of governmental bureaucracy, reams of paperwork, and persons who took more time to guide my loved ones to another desk than it would have taken for them to help out themselves.

I am grateful for Julianna’s dilligence and stamina. Her dad is not the easiest man while he is healthy. In his current state he is nearly impossible. His attitude has been acceptable, considering his situation, but cancer is weakness in its purest form. It was enough that it took three hours to get through Social Security, without having to deal with lazy federal employees. (Though, later we were told that three hours at the Social Security office is only half of the usual cessation.)

But I am dwelling and that is not what this post is about.

This week was long. To think that Thanksgiving was only last Thursday is unfathomable. But I don’t know if I’ve ever lived a week in which I saw so much grace.

Social Security and Medicaid is applied for and should come through soon (close to $1000 per month). The Oncology doctor at TMC reviewed the charts that were sent up from Florida and authorized the prescription for new pain medication (we also found out that some other, very expensive, meds will be paid for by the cancer program even though they are not specifically for the cancer). Kansas City Hospice agreed to implement care (they will come at least twice a week). Foodstamps were granted ($141 per month). Julianna even told me that most of the people who they actually ended up working with were honestly concerned about helping and treated them very well.

Our friend Julie’s graciousness continues and she seems unaffected by our constant invasion of her home. Others have given us spiritual and mental support as well as food and supplies. Family members and other friends are planning trips to come visit.

This week could have been disappointing. It wasn’t. It was long, but we made it. The Lord has blessed us with amazing family and friends and a surprising lack of red tape.

I expect that there will be plenty more weeks like this to come, but I think I can also expect a lot more of God’s love and provision. It is comforting.

Posted at 09:48 am

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