Thanksgiving Blessings

[Following post written by Ashley's husband, Mark Bonnema]

Yesterday Ashley was admitted to Sanford for low blood oxygen levels and continued lung function decline.  That afternoon, with the guidance and advice of her CF team at Sanford, she was transferred to the CF team at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for continued care.  We are so very grateful for her team both at Sanford and at U of M.  

There is a deafening silence about our room on the 7^th floor of University of Minnesota Fairview East Bank Hospital this afternoon. Ashley sleeps with fervor, as though it is her body’s one true desire and the only worthy way to spend her time and energy. Disrupting the grunts and groans of labored, heavy breathing is the occasional grind and hum of the IV pump, slowly turning her blood into a toxic solution – toxic to both bacteria and her usual vitality. 

Days may pass this way. Will the antibiotics and treatments be effective? Will the breath and spirit of life once more course through Ashley? Only time will tell. We must trust the situation to the hands and minds of those with expertise, her fearless and ever encouraging physicians, nurses, and hospital staff. We certainly are thankful for them today. True lifesavers.

A room with a view

And then there are all of you… ever positive, ever encouraging, ever concerned, ever loving. We feel surrounded by a cloud of your prayers, engulfed by the presence of the peace you have so diligently sent our way. Thank you to each and every one of you. We are ever thankful for each of you as well, knowing full well there is no way to ever repay your kindness, yet grateful for it in each of the many ways you have found to express it.

The plan is to continue with several forms of antibiotic and antifungal medications throughout today and tonight. Nebulizer/vest treatments also continue at regular intervals. Tomorrow Ashley will have a lung function test to see what, if any, progress is being made. The plan will adapt from there: different antibiotics, medications, etc.  For the first time ever, however, the words “lung transplant” and preparing ourselves for making that decision in the future was mentioned.  I don’t think anyone is ever ready to hear those words, nor did Ashley or I ever really think we’d ever have to hear them.   Right now, we are going to focus on fighting the battle at hand and getting Ashley well and back home, all the while cherishing each other and the fact that we can be together in this battle.

A Thanksgiving Day Blessing for my wife and for each of you this day:

May many a family and friend never cease to surround you

May you feel content and safe in your body and home

May peace seal your heart in times of unrest

May joy fill your mind and endow you with wonder

May gratitude be your nature, no matter the circumstance

May the breath of life always move you in a blessed direction

May love abound in every way, and never be far from your door