Saturday afternoon report

Thank you for those who have kindly enquired.  I have postponed a post due to the lack of real information.  But this is what I know thus far.

• On Thursday I was unable to make contact with care team at hospital and Peter did not call to give me his ID number.
• On Friday I took the day off to take care of matters regarding Peter
• I compiled a document of his mental health history for the past 3 years and drove it to the hospital (about an hour away towards Atlanta).  
• The receptionist recognized me from my numerous calls on Thursday and made the effort to get someone to talk with me.
• Peter gave consent to the director of services to speak with me.  She thanked me for the information and gave vague information as to possible future steps.  Her answer to my question, what medication is he on, was for me to contact the nurse.  That was yesterday around noon.
• I have just finally today, about 3 PM been able to reach a nurse to learn that Peter is refusing medication. Here I had visions and concerns of him being all drugged from being on a wrong or ineffective medication.  Evidently I had the wrong concern. I should still be praying he will take it.  I know medication has negative side effects.  However what his past 3 years has shown me is that he has more potential of successfully functioning on medication, where without it he cannot maintain a job nor relationships.
• My discussion with the Apartment manager was not encouraging.  I find it interesting how kind and accommodating someone can be when they are selling you something but when you are asking for help, its like dealing with a different person.  Knowing if and how to intervene or who to consult is a big prayer request.

I am taking it easy - not putting to much pressure on myself to do anything.  Although I did just put my new garden cart together.  Having success with that and the bed frame, 2 weeks ago, I am considering getting a porch rocker and putting that together next!

Thanks for praying! - Honestly I am not sure what to ask you pray for.  I am going to leave it up to the Lord to guide you.  Thank you for your care and prayers.

Specific Prayer Request

 Yesterday:

• I spoke with Peter's Psychiatrist .  She is not able to be involved because he is not at our local facility but has been sent (due to bed availability) to another facility.
• She could see that they listed him as Schizophrenic - based on original diagnosis - but she clearly believes he is Bi Polar 1. medication tends to be the same for both but approach may vary.
• The current hospital does not have record of his past meds and treatments.
• I called hospital but without Peter giving me a contact code, I can not get or give information.  They can't even confirm he is there.
• Peter called and rambled for half an hour but in spite of my efforts, he did not give me the needed code.

Prayer Request

• Peter will give me the code that gives me access
• The hospital will reach out to me for information (I have been told - sometimes that happens)
• That I can communicate Peter's past so to help keep from their starting from scratch.
• That those doctors will be wise in treatment whether they have the correct information or not.

The answered prayer

 Sometimes answered prayer looks like crisis.  That is how I feel about this mornings 5 AM phone call  

I received a call from the NEGA medical center that Peter was in the emergency room and would be headed to a behavioral healthcare facility in Norcross. The fact that this was answered prayer tells you that things were not in a good place for Peter.  I had concluded yesterday that he needed to be in the hospital so that he could get help.  Over the past several days conversations with him revealed that he was not doing well.  He is in denial that he has a mental illness but he is the one who evidentially called the police and asked them to take him to the mental hospital. He must have made the call shortly after we had talked.  I had been on the phone with him for a couple of hours up until about 11 pm last night.  He had moved in and out of a lethargic conversation to swearing and raging.  My guess is that he took himself not because he is really aware that he needs help  and wants medication but because he doesn't want to work and wants to get on disability.  That probably sounds weird and doesn't fully convey the conversations that have been going on.  Bottom line is he is in the position of getting help. And it has come about without a public crisis event.  And for that I am grateful.

I attended the NAMI  (National Alliance on Mental Illness) group last night.  I told a friend there that if he ended up in the hospital, I felt a lot better equipped to know how to advocate and ask questions in effort to get needed  help.  So this leads to several specific prayer request.

• That Peter's current doctor is brought into the loop as soon as possible.
• That Peter will contact me with the security code so I can talk with doctors and be in the loop.
• That the medications he has been on and their success or lack of is clearly communicated to help determine where to start with medications.  
• Ultimately desire for the best medication combination that provides Peter with the ability to function and be his best self.
• For his safety and wellbeing.
• Wisdom in making decisions regarding his apartment (rent is due in 5 days and he does not have money for rent.) 
• The what next as far as where he goes.  If a temporary residential care program is an option, that would be known and available.  Does he return to his apartment or need to come back here. or  something else?
• Getting Peter on disability to help with his financial expenses .
• That I would have the know how and energy to advocate for him to get him what he needs.
• I have a big (and long) day at school on Thursday. That nothing will be required of me on Thursday regarding Peter that would hinder my being fully present at school.
• For a therapist that can work with Peter long term.  
• For Peter's salvation

Thank you for your continued support and care as we continue on this journey.

Peter mid April

Peter is working part time at the still undisclosed location.  He interviewed for another part time  last Friday job but I have not heard if anything has come from it.  I did see him for a few hours on Saturday and it was mostly positive.  He has decided eating out is not working with his budget so I took him to the grocery store and watched him maneuver with his shopping list and budget.  I was proud of him.

Prayer request for Peter continue in the same direction: Sound mind, people support, financial provisions, a second job or one sufficient full time job, ability to stay in his apartment or find affordable housing, as well as a therapist/counselor.  And of course for Peter to know and trust that Jesus is for him and is the way and the truth and the life.  Please pray that I will have wisdom in knowing what my role is in helping to facilitate any of these.

Refreshed

Some have inquired, so want to report that YES I did go  on my annual beach retreat to Sea View Inn the first full weekend in April.  And it did not disappoint!  It was cold and wet and windy most of the weekend but it doesn't even matter.  I got to watch a really cool sunrise Monday morning and took a few cold walks on the beach. My dear friend Helen came and spent a couple of days with me.  We ate, napped, read books and talked.  It was super refreshing.  And yes I have MY room, room number 10, the best room in the Inn reserved for 3 nights next year!  Already looking forward to it.

Upon returning home I found a deal on a single bed frame and mattress so that  I could create a guest room.  My friend Kim came with a rocker, some wall pictures, pillows and her knack for setting up a room.  Now I have a place for friends to come stay and hopefully experience some refreshment.  Let me know when you want to come visit!

 

April 1st has come and gone

 Some of you have asked, what happened with Peter regarding housing for April.  

One of God's saints paid Peter's rent for April to provide peace of mind for me and hopefully motivation for Peter. Alternative options weren't presenting themselves and Peter was not positive to taking medication in exchange for the couch at my house. Though willing if it would move Peter in the direction of medical help, I did not believe it was best for us if he moved back in. He is in the same apartment for this month.  It has provided motivation as he has been diligently looking for a job the past few days.  Although he would not disclose where (so that I would not stalk him he said) he was to have started some job today. Hopefully he can maintain employment so he can pay rent for the coming months.  It would be good if he could find a cheaper housing option and perhaps  one more centrally located than his current apartment.

With Peter settled in a safe bed for now, I have become  peaceful bout my trip to Pawley's Island this coming Friday.  I usually pack my bags the night before a trip well I got 75% packed this past Friday.  Needless to say I am excited and ready (almost.)

When Peter was first diagnosed with mental illness it was the beginning of the Covid 19 Pandemic.  So the local NAMI (National  Alliance on Mental Health) was meeting via zoom and I did not find it very appealing.  Then as they returned to meeting in person, Peter was "stable" and I wasn't really interested.  This time around multiple people have encouraged me to  go to the local NAMI monthly meeting.  Considering it meets in my church building and is lead bey a woman in my church I really didn't have an excuse.  It is the group I wanted to say I didn't belong in but found it's exactly where I needed to be.  I am grateful for the support this group offered me.  Actually I am sorry that it only meets once a month.  Along with a sense of not being alone, they did provide some information and resources that could be helpful.  The next step is for me to act upon this new knowledge.  Please pray that I will get some paperwork done for Peter this week as well as research this one resource regarding finding a therapist for Peter.  Peter wants a therapist and I think it could be key.  There are a lot of other things going on this week and those kind of task are not my favorite.  I can find a lot of  things I would rather to do instead of computer research, phone calls and shuffling papers.  

Mom IS ready to get her flowers planted.  We bought some over the weekend so hopefully we can get them in the ground this week before I leave. Her shoulder is still a bit limited from the pace maker surgery so she needs a digger and dirt mover (me.)

I can't say it enough - thank you for your prayers on our behalf.  Means more than words can express.