August 12: STILL Holding on to Hope 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽

I spent the night with Mom last night so she wouldn’t be alone in the event that anything happened. It’s a heartbreaking thought to even have to consider. Some may call it foolishness, but I’m still holding tightly to faith and hope for a miracle—and I won’t stop believing until there’s no hope left to hold onto.

“But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” — Psalm 71:14 (NKJV) ❤️🙏🏽

That is where we are right now: still hoping, still believing, and still praising.

Mom had several visitors yesterday, and we welcome anyone who would like to come see her today. ❤️ Monday was the first time Simone said aloud that she feels like she herself is dying. Mom is her Jeopardy watching partner! I’ve been in a fog since speaking with the palliative care nurse yesterday—just moving through the day on autopilot. Mom is my out and about the town partner.

Leilani is heartbroken, and Craig had a panic attack when he saw Mom yesterday. That’s their Bibi—their constant for as long as they can remember, and even before that. The thought of losing her is almost inconceivable for all of us, even as we’ve watched the decline in her health over this past month.

Yesterday, we laughed. We cried. We hugged. We shared memories. We did everything in between with the people who came to love on Mom.

It is EXTREMELY difficult to see her like this, but her nurses continue to remind me that hearing is often the last sense to go—so we’re going to keep talking to her, loving on her, praying over her, and reminding her how deeply she is loved.

And laughter really is the best medicine. We’re praying it’s medicine for Mom, too. ❤️

To Mom’s village: thank you! As we continue supporting Mom while she remains in the hospital, we’re so grateful for every prayer, every visit, every message, every tear, every laugh, and every act of love and support. We are carrying all of it with us. If you’d like to help in a tangible way, you can do so through this SupportNow page:

https://www.supportnow.org/barbara-gibbs-hodge-s-family

Please continue to keep Mom—and all of us—in your prayers. We are still holding on to hope, still believing God for a miracle, and still praising Him through it all. 🙏🏽❤️