Angie found a bat flying around her apartment a couple nights ago. Although a rather scary situation to be in, there’s very little to do except: get the bat out off the house. Although the story is also funny, the following family email conversations regarding said bat were far more interesting. Here’s how it all went down:

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The family is celebrating both mine and my step-father’s birthday’s this weekend. This is the first time we’ve been together as a family since my mother’s, Mary Albers, funeral. We’ve been going through Mom’s jewelry and got a real kick out of the items she had stuffed in her Korean-style jewelry cabinet.

And now for a trip down Memory Lane…

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Monday night at 8:23pm, in the Palliative Care section of the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, my mother, Mary Albers, slipped quietly from our world and into God’s hands. It is difficult to moment to describe, but was certainly the weirdest, yet most awe inspiring moment I have ever witnessed…and one will never forget.

Mom waged a long battle with congestive heart disease, following a bout of Rheumatic Fever brought on by an untreated case of strep-throat back in the late 1950′s. Rheumatic Fever is responsible for many of the cases of damaged heart-valves worldwide, of which the late Lou Costello was also a victim. Mom had elected for open-heart surgery nearly six weeks ago, but her physical strength was not enough to allow her the opportunity to recuperate. She was simply too weak.

This will be a difficult time for surviving family. Although we have always lived our lives with Mom’s serious health issues hanging above our heads, we had all (including Mom) chosen to do so to the fullest regardless. Her absence will be sorely missed, yet will be a continuing testament to those who refuse to sit on the sidelines and allow life to pass them by. I pray that we all have the opportunity to be that strong in our faith.

NOTE: Funeral arrangements have been finalized for Mary with visitation set from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone and the Funeral at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne at 3:00 p.m on Friday, July 25th.  The Committal Service will be at the Keystone Cemetery after the Church Service and a lunch will be provided back at the Church following the Committal Service.  Further information may be found on Phillips Funeral Home web site!  Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

We thank all of you for your continued support

Got this message from my step-father, Larry Albers:

Mary is still in Surgical ICU at University Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City in Bay#2, Bed#6. I have been reluctant to write due to things changing from day to day with what I write today being incorrect tomorrow!She is approx. 9 days past surgery with her blood pressure sometimes going down when they remove the heart medication completely and her oxygenation being too low to breathe on her own at times. She has had the breathing tube inserted a 2nd time, which is now out again as of Tuesday afternoon. However, she has had to have breathing help during times of sleep with a forced face mask and has a small air mask at other times for assistance.

Her kidney functions have been slightly above average since surgery but are not alarming at this point. Her liver functions were in the normal range several days ago but have been elevated some the past two days. The good news is that she has sat in a chair several times for periods of 2 hours at a time. She is extremely weak and is being fed with a nasal tube only.

Please continue your thoughts and prayers for her recovery. At best, I would guess that she will not get out of the ICU area for at least several more days, providing her breathing can be done without forced aid. Thanks again to all for everything!!

Larry Albers

Mom did have a few rough days immediately after heart surgery. Her breathing became rather labored and her heart-rate was racing like a jack-rabbit. Although she struggled through it, she is still plugging away. I’m sure there were a few days after surgery that she wondered why she chose to have surgery in the first place. How a person recovers from surgery can be awfully difficult to predict. We are glad she’s managed to do as well as she has. Please keep Mom in your hearts and prayers. The entire Albers/Lambing clan will gladly appreciate it.

Well, now it’s known across that land that Eastern Iowa is in a world of hurt. It simply won’t stop raining and the land has been saturated since Spring began. Many of the farmers in the area haven’t been able to plant, as the fields have been too sloppy. Those that have planted are having to plant again. No wonder corn and bean prices are going through the roof.

The kids and I are here in Iowa City and what we’ve been watching around the Iowa River area has been awe inspiring. I just started work in Cedar Rapids and now I can’t even get to work. Not only is I-380 a mess, but the downtown area is under 2 to 3 feet of water. Since my mother went into surgery here at the University of Iowa Hospitals, my sister, Michele, and step-sister, Beth, have been in Iowa City. But, they can’t stay here forever. So, they both plan on leaving Iowa City Friday morning, but as of now, Beth can’t get back to Chicago on I-80 because it’s closed just West of Iowa City. Larry, as well as the rest of the family in Benton County, will also have a difficult trek to Iowa City, as they might close I-380 if the flooding gets worse.

Jared and I have spent a couple days at the IMU on the University of Iowa campus filling sandbags. I’m sure we’ll be shoveling sand for a couple days until this all resolves.

I found a link to a story on the current Eastern Iowa flood here.

Agent Peeps posted some pictures of her building’s evacuation in Cedar Rapids here.

More to come as the week progresses.

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Just received this mass email from from my step-father, Larry, this evening.

Welcome to the Albers Family roller coaster ride! Mary was admitted at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City on May 27th as scheduled. However, several days later, she started having kidney issues, probably due to the dye from her cathiterzation the previous week and her liver was still not getting rid of the toxins as needed. They placed a cathiter in the right side of her neck on Thursday evening to monitor her heart output on both sides. She was moved to the CVICU Unit, which gave her constant care.

Last Friday evening, I was told by the CVICU Cardiologist, who is also a Heart Failure Specialist, that surgery was probably not an alternative and that she had a limited time to live. I contacted all family members and a conference call was held on Saturday morning with a decision that we all meet with this Specialist on Sunday evening at the Hospital. At that meeting, she was asked specifically if surgery was at all possible and her answer was NO. She then informed Mary about not having surgery and the family was going to work on other solutions such as hospice, etc. This was started during the day yesterday with several conferences involving family members. We contacted Oldorf Hospice House in Cedar Rapids and arranged a meeting involving Mary in her room this morning.

However, I encountered the Surgeon, Dr. Helman, in the corridor last evening and he asked why the Heart Failure Cardiologist aborted the surgery and I gave him multiple reasons including over 50% failure possibility along with other bad case scenarios, even if the actual surgery is a success! He stated that we should possibly re-visit surgery as he had a somewhat different view of her situation. She had gotten better than she was on Friday evening due to adjustment of medication. But he also stated that it would be very, very difficult due to her complicated overall condition.

This morning, Oldorf Hospice House in Cedar Rapids visited with Mary about going that route, but later in the morning, a Social Worker asked her about having surgery, if it was possible. She opted for surgery immediately, so we arranged another meeting with the current Heart Failure Specialist on duty this evening to explain directly to Mary and the family members again as to what future problems she may face, even if she makes it thru surgery and recovery.

She again is steadfast in wanting surgery against very great odds so is being transferred tomorrow morning to the pre-surgery unit. I will let everyone know when the surgery is scheduled, unless something else gets in the way beforehand! I hope this clears up some of the confusion that has been stated around the community the past several days, but ultimately, possible surgery or no surgery is Mary’s decision.

Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts as she is in need of as much spiritual help as possible.

~Larry Albers