Lord Give Me Strength

I received a call earlier from my sister-in-law asking if our niece posted a medical update on Facebook about my mother-in-law. I haven't paid attention to Facebook lately other than a quick scan of status updates occassionly. After weeding through tons of game updates there isn't much left on Facebook.

A few days ago when the Dr was speaking to my Mother-in-Law before her discharge from the hospital our niece was there and overheard a possible diagnosis. My Mother-in-Law asked her grand daughter (our niece) not to post anything on Facebook about her before she has a chance to speak to her Doctors and her kids.

My Mother-in-law has had a spot on her lung for several years, it has never changed or grew until now. The Dr suspects it's lung cancer. Because of her advanced Emphysema and COPD she is a poor surgical candidate to do a biopsy and would not be able to be put to sleep with anesthesia. So if it is cancer nothing can be done to help her. She has approximately 17-18% of her lung capacity left. It's heartwrenching knowing and keeping silent to not alarm my husband before she has had a chance to confirm the diagnosis.

A plan of care is being put in place to allow better observation when she's feeling the worst. My Mother-In-Law will be spending time at her Daughter's house. My Sister-In-Law has worked in healthcare and will be able to monitor her vital signs. The chihuahua collection (yes living breathing Chihuahua)  at my mother-in-law's home will be thinned out. From 12 to 5, especially if she goes on hospice care. A few are known to bite.

My Mother-in-Law wants to spend as much time with her children as possible. I'm going to pray that God gives me the strength to comfort my husband during this time of not knowing without alarming him before she knows for sure. I've never withheld anything from him for 22 years. We've always been honest with eachother. Honesty, Love and Trust has been the strength of our marriage, so I am torn.  Do I tell him or respect her wishes to wait until the diagnosis is confirmed?