Oswaldo and Amanda Martinez- my Abuelos

Sunday my Abuelos celebrated 57 years of marriage!!!



The last couple months have been very difficult for my family because my abuelos (who are 83) have had many physical problems.

My Papi (grandfather) has diabetes and depression and recently had been prescribed almost 20 different meds by the doctors at the Leon Clinics (do not send anyone you care about there). Once my Mom and my Aunt figured out what was going on, he was taken gradually off all the meds (under the supervision of another doctor) but two which has left him having severe drug withdrawals and other health issues.

Then, my abuela had major brain surgery in August to remove a large tumor that was causing her to go blind in one eye and had already taken away her sense of smell. The surgery was a success. However, she has now been diagnosed with dementia which is very similar to alzheimers. She has been doing and saying some pretty bizarre things especially at night. Needless to say, they both require 24 hour care.

This week both of them were particularly bad, especially for Papi, and both had to be admittted to the hospital. The only problem was the hospital put them in separate rooms. Boy, did they behave really badly the first night. Both of them tore off their IVs and wanted to wander the halls. By the end of the night, the hospital staff was ready to pay us to take them home. Finally, they got the bright idea to put them in a room together. And guess what? They have behaved and listened and obeyed their nurses and caretakers. Their room now has become known as the "honeymoon suite" lol.

You read this about my grandparents and you wonder what kind of crazy family do I come from? My grandparents have always been very interesting characters and both are about the funniest people you'll meet (they don't even know it). Not to mention they have very STRONG personalities. But the most amazing thing about them is their LEGACY for God. They met in Bible school in Cuba and came from Cuba in 1950 to work as missionaries to Mexican migrants in South Texas. They also started churches in Tampa, FL and here in Miami. In the 1960s the worked tirelessly to help the Cubans coming to the US find jobs throughout the city and country. They would feed and clothe them and many, many times keep them in their house.

When my Papi retired in the early 90s, he became a world-traveling evangelist. He preached in Russia, Greece, and all over South and Central America. Many times my Abuela would accompany him and serve as a translator for medical missions. I can't tell you how many people they have touched. We constantly meet people who know my grandparents and whose lives were forever changed for the kingdom because of them.

Yes, it is REALLY, REALLY hard to see them so ill, but how awesome that they surrendered their lives to the the calling the Lord had on their lives. Please pray for my Mom and her sisters, Anna and Debbie as they have to make difficult decisions now on how to care for them.

I want to end this blog with the verses my Papi had my Mom read last night:
Psalm 13
1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

2How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me

2 Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.