He Has a Plan

Sometimes in my busyness and responsibility of caring for my Dad, I can forget to trust that God has a plan, far better than my own.

This week I received a surprising phone call from my Dad’s new home health nurse. She told me that she felt it was time to put Dad in hospice care.

My dad is 99-years-old, and I know he won’t live forever, but he doesn’t have a lot of health issues. I can tell that he is slowing down, but I didn’t expect a discussion of hospice yet.

The nurse explained, “I’m not thinking his death is imminent, but because of his age and the number of infections he has had in the last 6 months, I think hospice could offer more help than

home health can give.”

Since my head was spinning a bit, I asked that she give me some time to discuss it with my family. I prefer not to make these decisions without their input. Although my family lives far away, we reasoned together, that hospice would offer more support for Dad and me.

The next day, I felt peaceful about the decision and called the home health nurse back.

During our conversation, she told me she sent a request to Dad’s doctor, and would contact

hospice. I was pleased with our conversation and let her know how glad I was that she was my

Dad’s nurse.

That’s when the first shoe dropped.

I didn’t realize that going on hospice meant dropping home health. That was a hard pill to swallow. I finally had a home health nurse that was communicative and responded quickly to my calls. She was kind and thorough in her care of my Dad.

I wondered, “Do I really need to switch to hospice?”

I started doubting the very plan that earlier brought me peace.

I decided my next step was to talk to Sequoia Springs. I figured I could get the staff’s opinions.

I first approached one of the office personnel. Since Sequoia is an assisted living facility, I wasn’t sure they allowed hospice care. They assured me that they welcomed hospice as long as you went through the process of enrollment. They stated that they were surprised my Dad was needing hospice.

Next, I talked to the med-techs and caregivers. They too were surprised! They weren’t sure that

my Dad even qualified.

I began to think...

Are we rushing things?

If there was a third shoe, it was about to drop.

The next morning, after first being surprised at the idea of my Dad being on hospice, the Sequoia team did a complete turn and agreed my Dad needed it.

I felt like I was spinning.

My peace was gone, and confusion flooded my thoughts.

Do I stick with the home health nurse that I trust?

What if the hospice nurse isn’t as helpful?

What is best for my Dad?

Then, as I went to join my Dad in the dining room, I heard the staff talking about how great my

home health nurse was. They said, “It’s too bad she is a traveling nurse and leaves in a week.”

Right then I felt the Lord tell me, “I’m preparing the way Kerry, trust me.”

I could have made a mess of it by rushing ahead trying to “fix” things.

In my emotional state, I was about to cancel the hospice application, and stick with my home health nurse. The one that I now learned was leaving.

That would have put my Dad in a bad place of having no care. And, without that care, he could

not continue to live at Sequoia.

I should know better. Confusion is not from God.

Why do I do that? I know this is an emotionally charged situation. I had peace about my decision, until I let doubt and fear creep in. Now the peace returned and hospice is onboard.

I know that I will have to face many more decisions related to my Dad.

But as I pray and seek the Lord, I know that’s where I will find peace.

I am so thankful the Lord calmed me down and helped me make the best decision for my Dad.