Louis Green

GREEN, Louis F. 82, of St. Petersburg, passed away Friday Jan. 29, 2010, at Hospice House Woodside Pinellas Park. A Florida native, he retired from Littrell Lumber Co. An Army veteran during the Korean Conflict, and a Charter member of the Faith Covenant Church in St. Petersburg. Louis is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Amaryllis; sons Brian, of St. Petersburg, Daryl of Cleveland, TN; grandson Matthew Louis Green; granddaughter Shea Thompson and great-granddaughter, Josie all of Cleveland, TN; sister, Ruth Lasher of Orlando. He was preceded by his daughter Diane. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at 2 pm, from the Faith Covenant Church, St. Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association , Suncoast Hospice or Faith Covenant Church. Beach Memorial Chapel 727-360-5577

Published in St. Petersburg Times on February 4, 2010

Bay Pines National Cemetery

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

Just for your information, The military service for Louis will be Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10 Am at Bay Pines. For those of you not familiar with the cemetery, the setting is outdoors, standing. There is a lovely smallish gazebo where the family stands and cars are parked all around the circle. It is a beautiful area. If any of you wish to attend, you are more than welcome, but there may not be room to get very close. Daryl and I were out there yesterday and a ceremony was taking place, which was very impressive.

I cannot tell you how much we have been lifted on a cloud of prayers through Louis' last days and my hospitalization. We sre sustained and lifted up with God's loving arms around us. Thank you so much!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

The end - and the beginning

A blog entry written by my son, Brian:

Dear Friends and Family,

Dad passed from this earthly life about 1:20 pm yeaterday.

I spent Thursday night with him since my brother spent Wednesday night. Dad's breathing became progressively more labored and shallow as time went on, until he drew his last breath.

This represents the end of Dad's earthly life but the beginning of his eternal life. He no longer has a mind fogged by Alzheimer's Disease or ears that can barely hear or legs that can barely carry him along. For the first time in years he understands clearly, hears everything said around him, and can walk easily. Most importantly, he is face to face with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mom, Daryl, and I will miss him, but we look forward to being with him when our time comes.

Arrangement's for Dad's memorial service are pending at this time; I'll send another email when they are finalized.

Meanwhile, Mom came down with a respiratory infection this week and fell in the bathroom Thursday night. Since Daryl is staying with her he was able to call 911. She wasn't injured seriously but is in the hospital recovering from dehydration and a urinary tract infection. The doctor discovered significant blockage in her carotid arteries as well and she will have surgery soon.

Daryl stayed with Mom Thursday night until Friday afternoon, when I came over from Hospice House to relieve him. I stayed with Mom last night and she is feeling better this morning. We expect her to be discharged tomorrow.

Thank you for your past and continued prayers. We appreciate them and can feel them.

Love,

Brian

Hospice move

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

Today we finally got Louis moved to Hospice, where he is very comfortable. I am so glad he is there and not in the nursing home. He has only a few days left before he moves again to his heavenly home, but he is in a good place for it.

My dear friend stayed with me after Brian left to go back to work, and tomorrow after her work day is finished, Mari will come to be with me. Daryl is driving down tomorrow to be with his Dad, so please pray for travel mercies for him.

I am either having a bad allergy attack or coming down with a cold, so please pray that I do not get sick this week. There are many decisions to make and papers to hunt up, so I need to be well,

God continues to be so good...Ryan was on the floor again and we exchanged a few laughs and greetings and hugs. He was by Louis at one point at he went by on a gurney and got to say goodby.

I am using the sleeping aids the doctor prescribed, so I usually get a good nights sleep, which is a blessing.

And so we wait...

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Small joys amid sorrow

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

Since we spent Jan. 20 in the ER, pretty much all day, Brian and I were together at Louis' bedside today just watching him sleep. As long as he is sleeping, I know he feels no pain. I washed his face and used the flavored sponges to moisten his mouth and lips, which caused him to close his mouth.

My dear friend, Mariagnes, wanted to take me to a belated birthday lunch, so after the Hospice nurse came, and all the papers were signed, Brian said to go ahead. Mari picked me up at the circle entrance and took me to Fresco's on the waterfront. We ate outside and it was a lovely break from the hospital walls. Due to a mix-up in my order, I received two lunches, on the house!, so had enough to take home for supper. God is good !

Another joy was seeing Ryan again, on the third floor this time, and I was happy to greet him, as he was to see me! The praying housekeeper, Malinda, was also back and i thanked her for her prayers for Louis.

Another answer to prayer..there will be a bed waiting for Louis at Hospice Woodside tomorrow...Magnolia 40. There is always a waiting list, so miracles still happen, (thanks, Russ).

Brian and I will go together to the hospital to wait for the papers to be signed and cleared, so Louis can be moved out in an ambulance which is paid for by Hospice.

And so another day comes to a close, but I am feeling more peace about the situation. The 23rd Psalm keeps running through my mind and I recited it on the way to the hospital yesterday. God's will be done.

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Decision made

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

Tomorrow I will tell the doctor to have Louis transfered to Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park, I have not toured it yet, but it looks like a lovely place from the virtual tour I took online.

I held his hand today and washed his face and he tried to speak to me, but couldn't get the words out. I am full of tears right now at the thought of my beloved husband of 61 years leaving me, but I know he will have a new body and will not be suffering any more.

Once more, other believers were visiting the man in the next bed and gave me a little encouragement. God is good!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis

Another day at Bayfront--more decisions

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners.

To those of you who have been praying for Louis and me, I thank you. When I think of all the germs I have encountered as I walked through and sat in the ER and throughout the hospital, I believe God must have a shield protecting me. While I feel tired and am not eating at regular times, I still am pretty healthy.

Louis was on his right side all day, and mostly slept. He had a sitter whose job was to just sit and watch over him and, I guess, the man in the other bed. Louis was awake at different times and when his eyes focused on me, he seemed to know me, but is not speaking much, just whispering. Joel, the nurse, told Brian that they have called in an ENT doctor to check on him, as they believe he has mastoiditis. I was not told this, and I was there over four hours.

The doctor wants to put in a feeding tube and I am not for it, so Brian and Daryl and I will consult with a hospice rep to find out more about it. At this point, I do not see Louis coming back to where he was before the infections and pneumonia invaded his body.

I am asking for prayers for divine guidance and wisdom as to the next step. I know Hospice takes wonderful care of patients, even when they are not dying, so we will see if that is an option.

God, in his goodness, sent a wonderful person in the cleaning lady who came in after the patient left this afternoon. She said her husband was in the hospital six months and the doctor said he would die. She said "My God did not tell me that" and her husband is now home, walking around the block and does everything but bathe himself. At the time, she was working and visiting him at the hospital twice a day...very hard on her, but she said, "God made your husband, and He will take care of him!" Amen

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis