Jonathan's Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 27 "Nothing else we can do ..."Our fostering journey with a severely disabled boy
26 total reviews
Comment from kahpot
" Another thing which pleased me was the way Jonathan always turned to me when I arrived at his bedside. Despite his poor vision he knew I was with him. He did not need to verbalise his love - that was how he showed it. He seemed to find comfort and reassurance from my being there."
Loved this paragraph, to know love is shown and accepted without words,
and about time someone respected your years of caring and knowing to invite you on board for help, I like this read, as it is filled with hope, thank you for sharing and keeping us informed****kahpot
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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" Another thing which pleased me was the way Jonathan always turned to me when I arrived at his bedside. Despite his poor vision he knew I was with him. He did not need to verbalise his love - that was how he showed it. He seemed to find comfort and reassurance from my being there."
Loved this paragraph, to know love is shown and accepted without words,
and about time someone respected your years of caring and knowing to invite you on board for help, I like this read, as it is filled with hope, thank you for sharing and keeping us informed****kahpot
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Thank you very much Kahpot. Such a lovely review, and I very much appreciate it.
Wendy
Comment from karenina
Wendy! I held my own breath as I read this... Jonathan endured so much in his life and here he was, fighting the battle of his life!
Certainly draining the fluid from his lungs must have been an agonizing decision for you...and yet your lifetime of loving him guided you and God saw him through!
I've no doubt your entire family willed him to live, and he, as part of that family rallied once again!
What a chapter!
Karenina
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Wendy! I held my own breath as I read this... Jonathan endured so much in his life and here he was, fighting the battle of his life!
Certainly draining the fluid from his lungs must have been an agonizing decision for you...and yet your lifetime of loving him guided you and God saw him through!
I've no doubt your entire family willed him to live, and he, as part of that family rallied once again!
What a chapter!
Karenina
Comment Written 06-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 06-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much Karenina. Yes, poor chap, it was the battle of his life - and my son knew how very painful it was, so we all felt for J having to have it done for both lungs. J couldn't do the rehab exercises either. It was hard to decide whether to put him through this, knowing the pain and also the risk, but in the end the surgeon made the decision to try. We are very thankful to him. Thank you for your amazing support throughout this venture, and for this lovely review. I am honoured by the six stars, and very appreciative!
Wendy
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Jonathan's love is touching many hearts! Thank you for sharing your family story!
Comment from BethShelby
This had to be a scary time for you. He could have died so easily during those times. I wonder how much he understood about what coul happen to him. This is journey few people would be willing to make the the behalf of another. You have a very caring family.
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2024
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This had to be a scary time for you. He could have died so easily during those times. I wonder how much he understood about what coul happen to him. This is journey few people would be willing to make the the behalf of another. You have a very caring family.
Comment Written 05-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2024
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Thank you very much Beth. A very caring review. Yes, it was a difficult time. I don?t know how much he really understood. I think he was too ill to be very aware.
Wendy
Comment from Pearl Edwards
This procedure of draining Jonathon's lungs brought back memories for me of when Tony had that procedure done. Very hard to watch someone you love go through so much, but thankfully this team of medicos were not only good at what they do but compassionate as well. Well written Wendy,
cheers,
valda
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2024
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This procedure of draining Jonathon's lungs brought back memories for me of when Tony had that procedure done. Very hard to watch someone you love go through so much, but thankfully this team of medicos were not only good at what they do but compassionate as well. Well written Wendy,
cheers,
valda
Comment Written 05-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 05-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much for reviewing, Valda. You understand perfectly. Yes, they were compassionate, and I think that doing it twice on someone as disabled as Jonathan was very daunting.
I appreciate your review.
Wendy
Comment from Spitfire
How wonderful that Jonathan had so many caring people to visit him and boost his morale. I could feel the intensity of your love for him as I read this fantastic post. You relate the story of his surgeries so well I had to hold my breath while reading. As I said before this would make one tear jerking of a movie.
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2024
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How wonderful that Jonathan had so many caring people to visit him and boost his morale. I could feel the intensity of your love for him as I read this fantastic post. You relate the story of his surgeries so well I had to hold my breath while reading. As I said before this would make one tear jerking of a movie.
Comment Written 04-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 04-Apr-2024
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Thank you very much Shari for your lovely review and great encouragement, and also for the six beautiful stars.
At present I am struggling to find someone to just publish it!
Wendy
Comment from lyenochka
That says so much about your family that everyone made the effort to visit regularly even your daughter who lived so far away. But your other children visited despite having families of their own to care for daily as well as work. Amazing! It's this love that really bears testimony to the staff. I'm so glad that these surgeons also respected you and involved you in the procedures.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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That says so much about your family that everyone made the effort to visit regularly even your daughter who lived so far away. But your other children visited despite having families of their own to care for daily as well as work. Amazing! It's this love that really bears testimony to the staff. I'm so glad that these surgeons also respected you and involved you in the procedures.
Comment Written 03-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much for this very caring review as well. Yes, you will perhaps remember some of the next chapter too, although I have written it from a different time frame, and then comes the finale.
Wendy
Comment from Mrs. KT
One of your most moving chapters yet, Wendy.
I, too, felt Jonathan's pain and struggle.
So intense to read of the procedures to drain Jonathan's lungs: such courage on his part and yours as well...
To read,
"I asked the surgeon later if draining his lungs was Jonathan's last chance. "Yes," he affirmed. It was a sobering thought. They had nothing else to try."
Sobering, indeed...
Thank you for sharing!
Fondly,
diane
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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One of your most moving chapters yet, Wendy.
I, too, felt Jonathan's pain and struggle.
So intense to read of the procedures to drain Jonathan's lungs: such courage on his part and yours as well...
To read,
"I asked the surgeon later if draining his lungs was Jonathan's last chance. "Yes," he affirmed. It was a sobering thought. They had nothing else to try."
Sobering, indeed...
Thank you for sharing!
Fondly,
diane
Comment Written 03-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much, Diane. So very caring and compassionate. I appreciate very much your lovely review, particularly knowing the present situation for you. Only two more chapters.
Wendy
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
The nurses liked him because he never moaned or complained. Yet they had to be reminded to turn him every two hours. One does not go with the other. I'm not saying this in regards to your writing, I'm saying it to point out how little the staff was willing to do without being pushed to do so.
The sentence "Yet all the staff all showed him respect . . ." I think you could delete the second use of all (the staff all) as it is redundant and a little confusing when first read.
The procedure was risky, and not doing the procedure was risky. What a terrible predicament for the medical staff, your family, and Jonathan.
This is such a beautiful love story, Wendy. He turned to you and reached for your hand . . . how heartwarming is that. I think that's why he reacted so well to the draining procedure, as you spoke to him throughout and played music on your phone. He trusted you!
The fact that you mention your children, their own lives with their own children, the careers, their physical distance with your one daughter . . . all this is a reminder of how much time has passed since you began your journey with Jonathan. What a unique and uplifting story you have here, Wendy.
I had thought I would not be able to follow this by reading every chapter, but I find that I look forward to it with each post. It is quite a story.
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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The nurses liked him because he never moaned or complained. Yet they had to be reminded to turn him every two hours. One does not go with the other. I'm not saying this in regards to your writing, I'm saying it to point out how little the staff was willing to do without being pushed to do so.
The sentence "Yet all the staff all showed him respect . . ." I think you could delete the second use of all (the staff all) as it is redundant and a little confusing when first read.
The procedure was risky, and not doing the procedure was risky. What a terrible predicament for the medical staff, your family, and Jonathan.
This is such a beautiful love story, Wendy. He turned to you and reached for your hand . . . how heartwarming is that. I think that's why he reacted so well to the draining procedure, as you spoke to him throughout and played music on your phone. He trusted you!
The fact that you mention your children, their own lives with their own children, the careers, their physical distance with your one daughter . . . all this is a reminder of how much time has passed since you began your journey with Jonathan. What a unique and uplifting story you have here, Wendy.
I had thought I would not be able to follow this by reading every chapter, but I find that I look forward to it with each post. It is quite a story.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 03-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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Thank you Pam. I appreciate your beautiful review, and also the most encouraging six stars.
Yes, it was a bit inconsistent of the nurses, but they were busy and the other people in the ward did not need help to turn over, so it was something they weren't accustomed to doing, but were very happy to do it - just needed occasional reminding. Yes, it was a real predicament, whether to chance doing the procedures or not. I am glad you have become involved with his story. Only a couple more chapters now. A hard write, but I am glad I have done it. Thank you again.
Wendy
Comment from Paul McFarland
That must have been very trying experience. Jonathan was very lucky to have family that thought that much of him. It would have been so easy to pull the plug, but your conscience would have tortured you.
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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That must have been very trying experience. Jonathan was very lucky to have family that thought that much of him. It would have been so easy to pull the plug, but your conscience would have tortured you.
Comment Written 02-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much, Paul. Great review. And you are right!
Wendy
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
What a difficult life you led as a family. I hope you were able to rest and recover, even though I know that is difficult. So much grief and sorrow to cope with... I hope writing about it gives you ease. kay
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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What a difficult life you led as a family. I hope you were able to rest and recover, even though I know that is difficult. So much grief and sorrow to cope with... I hope writing about it gives you ease. kay
Comment Written 02-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 03-Apr-2024
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Thank you Kay. It has been very difficult to write many of these chapters, but I think it is good to process it all, and it will bring closure. During the first twenty-five or so chapters I was teaching as well. These recent events now brought the whole thirty-two years to a climax. So yes, I think it will bring ease.
Wendy