Sometimes it seems as though one strange disease process leads to another.

My mom had already been diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope (which caused her to pass out if she stood too long) and normal pressure hydrocephalus (which caused fluid to build up in her brain and affect her memory, speech, and mobility). Now she was throwing up after every meal. What next?

We soon learned she had gastroparesis, a condition in which the sphincter between her stomach and small intestine was not allowing stomach contents to pass through as they should. Typically, this condition occurs in people with diabetes (which she did not have) or who have had a stroke. I can only assume that her neurological issues led to this condition, too.

Mom’s stomach only held so much, so she could eat very little without vomiting. The GI doctor tried several medications to no avail. When she lost weight, I began researching other solutions. Thankfully, I found several options. We were blessed to have a doctor who was willing to experiment with unusual treatments, and at one point, he injected Botox® into her pyloric sphincter. But nothing seemed to help, and she continued to lose weight, getting down to 80 pounds at one point.

Then suddenly that summer, the vomiting stopped.

Mom was able to eat more and gained weight. I was so relieved and looked forward to a good Christmas. Our respite lasted five months. In early December, she began throwing up again. We started all over.

What I learned from our experience was how important advocacy and my involvement was. But no matter how much I researched or what a great doctor we had, God was the one who provided healing. Or not.

We really have no control over some things, and we’ll drive ourselves to distraction thinking we do. So enjoy the good moments, do your best for your loved one, and let the rest go.

Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither:
the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job 1:21 KJV

Tracy Crump dispenses hope in her award-winning book, Health, Healing, and Wholeness: Devotions of Hope in the Midst of Illness (CrossLink Publishing, 2021). A former intensive care nurse, she cared for her parents and her mother-in-law and understands both the burdens and joys of caregiving. Her devotions have been featured in Guideposts books, The Upper Room, and many other publications, and she has contributed 22 stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul® books. She also conducts writing workshops, freelance edits, and proofreads for Farmers’ Almanac. But her most important job is Grandma to five completely unspoiled grandchildren.