True confessions

Mom has enjoyed being able to put something in her mouth again. Although, we think she has gone a little bonkers. First it was the watermelon, because it had "water" in the name she figured it was ok. But, then came the Sun Chips, the Costco samples (which included a small portion of a Philly Steak Sandwich) and some Macadamia nuts to top it off. Now mind you, she only ate small portions, but STILL! Things stayed down pretty well, until she tried to sleep at night. As she laid down, she started to feel it. In the morning, she threw everything up! She then had to tell her doctor what she had done. After she had confessed all, Dr Ott (a bishop), said, "Well, I still think you're a good person. What you've done isn't really a "moral" sin." He then explained how the breads, even though they are soft are really hard to digest. He asked her to stay on an all liquid diet for a while. Before she can add solids, she needs to be able to have at least 6 cups of liquids a day. Right now she can only do 1 1/2 cups. She told Dr. Ott she would do better. After she hung up with him, she realized she had forgotten to tell him about the chest pains she had had the night before. So, she called him back. When he answered the phone, instead of saying hello, he said, "Do you have more to confess?". It's great to have a doctor with a bit of a sense of humor. :) When she told him about her symptoms he said he didn't think it was her heart. It was probably just the food she had eaten.
Mom didn't really want me to post this, but I do for two reasons. One is to show, she really is human. She has been absolutely perfect in following her doctor's orders until now. I'm not sure how she did it. This time, however, she felt much so much better than she had before. So, she did all of this with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, truly thinking she was totally healed and she would prove to everyone it was all fine. Second, to remind us all of what she has had to deal with. She has been having problems eating for close to a year now. Never knowing if the food she ate would stay down or come back up. And, for close to 2 months, she has not been able to put food in her mouth at all other than those few times where she could take a few sips of something here and there. Living in a society where eating is such a social thing... we eat when we get together with friends, when we celebrate, we give food to comfort those in mourning, to help those who are sick. When we want to help, the first think we ask is "what can I get you?" Although mom is not able to participate in any of those social norms, she doesn't let it keep her down. It can feel very lonely to be in a midst of people and not be able to participate yet she allows everyone else to live their lives without guilt. She has been stalwart in her attitude and her compassion to others in making them feel all is well. I admire her strength, courage and her dedication to get through this. Even though I gave her some very dirty looks about her eating activities this week, she is still my hero.