Prayers for Sherry

I know Mom and Dad (and Dibby, of course) have e-mailed you all about my friend Sherry who is currently in the hospital. I ask that you all keep her in your prayers - she is my family and her family is my family when you guys aren't around.

Monday of this week she went in for a gall bladder removal surgery. She's had a stomach infection for the past few months, so we were excited for her to get this done as she has been in a lot of pain. After the surgery however, the infection got worse and they did another surgery on Wednesday afternoon and she was put in the ICU. Her mom texted me about it while I was at work, so I left early to go down to the American Fork Hospital to see her. She was conscious at the time and could hear you but couldn't talk. It was terrible to see her hooked up to so many machines with all kinds of tubes running in and out, someone my age especially shouldn't have to go through that. Well, they finally were able to give her some more pain medication after getting her blood pressure lowered, and nurses were coming and going this whole time, bringing in cooling blankets to get her temperature down and changing things. After a few hours, the surgeon came out into the hallway where I was with Laura Aguero, Sherry's mom. He began telling us that he believed she needed to be airlifted to the Utah Valley hospital in Provo where a kidney specialist was there who could keep an eye on her, that an ambulance would not be fast enough to transport her. He also said if they couldn't get her stabilized that she would not make it, and so they needed to prep her for transport immediately.

The next hour was very hard. There were some family friends there thank goodness, and the nurses were very understanding and helpful. We were all crying as we watched them get her ready, and then as they took her to the helicopter we all went out to the parking lot to go down to Provo. I took all of Sherry's belongings with me and as I was getting into my car, I watched as they put her into the helicopter and get ready for take-off.

When I arrived at the hospital, she was already in her room in the ICU. So many friends and family were in the waiting room, waiting to hear something as they were setting her up. Finally, her family was allowed to go in and see her. After another hour went by, her dad and brother came back to tell us that her kidneys were failing and that they could not put her on dialysis because now her blood pressure was too low, so they had to just watch her and take it hour by hour. We all kneeled together to pray for her, and we filled the entire waiting room - it was an amazing thing to see and to feel.

I went down after work again last night, even though only family is allowed to see her right now because she is in such critical condition. As of right now, her kidneys have gotten worse so she is on dialysis again, but overall she is getting better.

This whole experience has changed me, the way I look at things and the way I look at life. Anything can change in an instant, and while we all know this in saying, you don't know the reality until it actually DOES change in an instant. She and I went out dancing Saturday night like we usually do, and ended up at Denny's talking until four in the morning. She was happy and everything seemed fine, and not even a week later she is just hanging on...

I want you all to know how much I love you. I appreciate you, I am blessed to have you as my family. I am grateful to you, for your impact on me and my life and for the many, many things you do for me. My strengths are built upon the things you have taught me through your love and examples. I don't ever want to worry that I never let you all know that.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers, they are helping and working. While things are still rough, I know she is getting better and I know she will get better.


Love you all.