Tuesday
As louis Armstrong said "Hello Dolly" I'm saying "Hello people" to all of you who read this website. I have rehab today at 10:00. I know rehab is supposed to help and get me better or whatever, but I gotta tell you, I hate rehab. But supposedly, it's going to get me better. Rehab went okay today. We went to the grocery store and bought food that we will cook on Friday. We will be eating hamburgers, chessy broccoli and french fries that we will make from potatos and some vanilla pudding. I have to cook the hamburgers. Anyway, please keep me in your prayers because we all need prayers. Of course, don't worry. I pray for all the readers of this website every day.
I love my job at DTSi and I went and worked there today. I am going again tomorrow. I will work as many hours as I can.
I hope to go to Ave Maria sometime for college. I need to figure out what I'm going to major in and what kind of job I would like to do. Throw me some ideas please. Another very weird thing for me is that I don't really want to do music as my career. I don't have any idea what I could enjoy as much as i used to enjoy music. Maybe when my headaches aren't so bad I will like it again.
(From Rebecca - Paul has not gotten back to finishing this post, so I wanted to publish it before too much time passed.)
He has gone to work for the past 2 days for a a couple of hours each day. He will go today, Thursday and also on Friday. He went to Mass yesterday, then to work and was taken out to lunch by some of the men at DTSi, then went swimming at Mt. Park Pool. Jerry was with him and he said that the water was very cold and Paul was shivering, but he keep moving until he warmed up. He did not give up. He came home and we thought he would head straight to bed after his very long day. Instead, he put on the latest DVD of his favorite group, Dream Theater and watched it with Mike, Jon and Jerry while I fixed dinner. Jerry had purchased the DVD for Paul and Paul was very excited about it and put it in at the first opportunity. We were amazed at the fact that he hung in there for pretty much the whole day. He was able to rest for a little while in between work and swimming. He did go to bed around 8:30 PM and that was the end.
His newest trend is to play jokes on us. His humor has really kept us all laughing in the last few days. Sadly though, his headaches continue to plague him. He wants to lay down a lot, but will keep trying hard to keep up with the schedule we have each day. I am going to continue my research and calls to people who might have an answer for the issue of enlarged ventricles and no relief from the shunt. I can't believe there is no answer. We have not gotten any explanations why it is like this, only that this is as good as it gets. If the first shunt caused the ventricles to overdrain, why can't they get the ventricles to drain down to a normal size? No one has been able to answer that question yet. They just say there is nothing more they can do. Please keep praying for us to find someone who can solve this problem. While Paul is putting in a gallant effort to keep active, I know he is suffering with a lot of head pain. I pray that God will continue to give him the strength to bear up under his constant pain and not lose hope. He remains very prayerful about everything. On nights he has difficulty falling asleep, I have sat by him and prayed the rosary very softly and he will eventually sleep. I am at a loss sometimes as to what to do about the pain. He seems to watch the clock for the next time he can take his medicine. It relieves it to a point he can function, but the pain is almost always there.
As we head into the Fall season, we watch with great hope to Paul's future. In
2 1/2 months it will be a full year! It amazes me first of all, that everyone has remained with us in prayerfulness and support. You will never know who much you have done for this family. We talk about this blog and all of you so often. We open the site for Paul everyday so he can keep up. He remembers to mention 'all those people who are praying for me' when he says the rosary or even at the mealtime prayers. When he sees people, he always thanks them for their prayers and tells them to keep praying with this statement -"Because as you know everyone needs prayers."
Paul has come by my office a couple of times and walks around to the desks of people he knows. Everyone is amazed at how well he is getting around by himself these days and that he can carry on conversations with them. His dry wit is what is noticed most of all and his gentle nature. He hugs people very freely if he knows them, which is also noticed. He enjoys walking over to Bob's house evry day to say hello to him. Bob is retired and has a chair out front that he uses for resting in between all the jobs he does around his home during the day. Paul always stops to see if he is there so he can wave to him. If he has the time, he asks to go over there. Bob has put a couple extra chairs on his front porch so there is always a place for us to sit and visit. It is another example of how people are so ready to help Paul. We have had so many offers of help - getting him to Mass everyday or staying to watch him if need be. Jerry has been a gigantic help to us, as he is with Paul every Wednesday and Friday. He drives him to therapy and waits for him, takes him swimming, to DTSi and makes sure he gets his medicine on time. He won't accept anything in return. Again, I have to mention that these beautiful examples of giving have taught us to much. We thought we knew about charity before - but we know so much better now. The same with everyone who keeps up with our story - your being there for us is huge! Please know that if you are ever close by, you are so very welcome to come to our home. Come get a hug from Paul!
We are hoping to have a wonderful celebration for Paul's 22nd birthday in October. We will let you know the date and place soon because we plan on welcoming everyone who is aware of it! It will be our way of personally thanking you.
Psalm 145
"Every day will I bless you
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wonderous works.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice."
This is why we keep the blog going - it has been God's story all along and we want to share all that we have seen of His grace and mercy.
May His grace and love be with you throughout this day.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
Monday, August 28, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Summer Wind
Please be patient waiting for Paul to post a blog. He was never very disciplined about much except his music. He always heard the beat of a different drummer and did things when the mood struck him. I have tried to encourage him to do a blog with some regularity, but the only consistent thing has been his response...."I'll do it later, when my head doesn't hurt." Translation: when the mood strikes him. I want you to know though that he has really enjoyed reading the comments. He reread his blog and commented on all his mistakes. I had not done any editing, so it would be his blog completely. I was glad to see he knew some of it was grammatically incorrect. In fact, he has started to correct me when I say words that are wrong. For example, he will remind me I should have said 'correctly' 'badly' or 'well' instead of correct, bad or good. And he is 'correctamundo' - which is another Paul word. He is back to saying 'negative' or 'pass' when he doesn't want to do something. Or my favorite......'whoops-a-deho'. More and more often, he is using words that he normally used to say. It is wonderful to hear.
He has been in rehab for 2 weeks and he thinks it is "stupid." He told me after the first week that he doesn't know why he is going. I said that it will help him build strength and help figure out where he might need some extra help. He looked me straight in the eye and said "I am not stupid. I am not mentally retarded." I asked why he said that. His response was that the things they ask him to do are really dumb and they are not helping him at all. Like the day the one therapist asked him to organize all the dishes in the cupboard. She said that the janitor had not put them away very well and she asked if Paul could do that for her. Paul told me in a very cynical tone, "Great, now I get to do the janitor's job." I laughed so hard and explained that the therapist was just testing him to see how much he knew and if he had his organizational skill still intact. He said, "Then just ask me, and I will tell you." I explained that they are starting at ground level and would work their way up to see how well his brain had recovered, then they could plan out a schedule for Paul to work on areas that needed extra attention. He understood that, but still didn't think he needed to go to Emory to get that done. He asked why couldn't they just send home some lists for us to go through and he could work from home. What Paul doesn't understand is that if he is not forced to leave the house, he doesn't have much incentive to do anything. His first desire is to stay in bed and dwell on his headache. I told him he does a much better job on the days he has to get up and go somewhere. He said he will continue with rehab, but he is definitely not on board with the whole thing. He works hard for the therapists and he said that with the one person he is not so fond of, the one who has filled in a couple of times, he just doesn't say anthing to her and follows her instructions. I asked who he liked best and he said that he likes his occupational therapist most, even though she is the one who asked him to do the janitor's job. His side comment was that she was very pretty, and he didn't mind that. That is one thing he can look forward to each time.............smile.
Jerry has been a huge help to our family. He takes care of Paul on Wednesday and Friday's. The other days, Paul has stayed at the neighbor's house across the street. Michael gets home at 2:15 each day, so we have covered the times needed for caring for Paul. He gets to Mass at least 3 times a week. The next goal is to get him back to work as quickly as possible. He really does so much better when he has to be somewhere at a specific time. He will put out the effort when there is a planned event. I am hoping that with time, he will recreate better habits than the main desire to retreat to his bed.
We have an appointment with the plastic surgeon who did such good work on the young lady (Shea Hickok) who was with Paul at Shepherd Center. Shea also needed to have her orbital repaired and her family was very happy with the surgery performed by Dr. Nunn. We will see him on September 7. Our prayer is that they can fix Paul's eye so that he won't need to wear the patch or keep his eye lid taped down. His eye tears a lot these days, so he should be able to leave his eyelid up and keep working on getting his eyelid to blink. He can close his eyelid after only about 5 seconds, but he is still working hard to keep it down by itself. He does need to have the eye lined up evenly with his right eye. Paul's main prayers these days are for the recovery of his eyesight. When I prayed one day for a miracle cure, he stopped me and asked, "Are you saying it will take a miracle to heal my eye?" He looked shocked. I said I don't know exactly what is wrong, but if it will take a miracle, I am praying for one!! LIttle by little, the big reality of his impairments are starting to sink in. His desire to pray has increased with his increased knowledge. I know that Paul will need psychological help as time goes on since his life has changed so much and he will have new 'mountains' to climb. They will be assessing his needs in this area in rehab. I know that our family will all need to get some advice so that we can be of the greatest help to Paul as he learns to function in daily life again after all this time and with whatever limitations he may have.
Paul's humor is on the rise. He was playing cards with Michael yesterday and had him laughing. That is the first time in a long time that we heard those two joking around and laughing out loud. Mike has stayed very busy and was not around much this summer. He is only working on Friday afternoon and Saturdays now, so is home more. Just like James, he will get lots of practice in developing greater patience.
Paul talks alot about what he will do owith his future, but if we start to discuss it at any length, he says he doesn't want to talk about it anymore and ends it quickly. It is too big a chunk to deal with. I remind him to handle what is in his day, work at it really hard and let God present the future in His time. Paul finds comfort in that - that he will not be given more than he can handle.
Paul has been moved along this summer like a sailboat in the warm Summer Wind. At summer's end I look back and know that the wind in our sails has been the Holy Spirit. Paul has weathered some storms, but he is cruising on smooth waters right now. Your intercessory prayers have been our 'personal flotation devices!
May the Spirit of God move within your heart today and propel you to do all according to God's will.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
He has been in rehab for 2 weeks and he thinks it is "stupid." He told me after the first week that he doesn't know why he is going. I said that it will help him build strength and help figure out where he might need some extra help. He looked me straight in the eye and said "I am not stupid. I am not mentally retarded." I asked why he said that. His response was that the things they ask him to do are really dumb and they are not helping him at all. Like the day the one therapist asked him to organize all the dishes in the cupboard. She said that the janitor had not put them away very well and she asked if Paul could do that for her. Paul told me in a very cynical tone, "Great, now I get to do the janitor's job." I laughed so hard and explained that the therapist was just testing him to see how much he knew and if he had his organizational skill still intact. He said, "Then just ask me, and I will tell you." I explained that they are starting at ground level and would work their way up to see how well his brain had recovered, then they could plan out a schedule for Paul to work on areas that needed extra attention. He understood that, but still didn't think he needed to go to Emory to get that done. He asked why couldn't they just send home some lists for us to go through and he could work from home. What Paul doesn't understand is that if he is not forced to leave the house, he doesn't have much incentive to do anything. His first desire is to stay in bed and dwell on his headache. I told him he does a much better job on the days he has to get up and go somewhere. He said he will continue with rehab, but he is definitely not on board with the whole thing. He works hard for the therapists and he said that with the one person he is not so fond of, the one who has filled in a couple of times, he just doesn't say anthing to her and follows her instructions. I asked who he liked best and he said that he likes his occupational therapist most, even though she is the one who asked him to do the janitor's job. His side comment was that she was very pretty, and he didn't mind that. That is one thing he can look forward to each time.............smile.
Jerry has been a huge help to our family. He takes care of Paul on Wednesday and Friday's. The other days, Paul has stayed at the neighbor's house across the street. Michael gets home at 2:15 each day, so we have covered the times needed for caring for Paul. He gets to Mass at least 3 times a week. The next goal is to get him back to work as quickly as possible. He really does so much better when he has to be somewhere at a specific time. He will put out the effort when there is a planned event. I am hoping that with time, he will recreate better habits than the main desire to retreat to his bed.
We have an appointment with the plastic surgeon who did such good work on the young lady (Shea Hickok) who was with Paul at Shepherd Center. Shea also needed to have her orbital repaired and her family was very happy with the surgery performed by Dr. Nunn. We will see him on September 7. Our prayer is that they can fix Paul's eye so that he won't need to wear the patch or keep his eye lid taped down. His eye tears a lot these days, so he should be able to leave his eyelid up and keep working on getting his eyelid to blink. He can close his eyelid after only about 5 seconds, but he is still working hard to keep it down by itself. He does need to have the eye lined up evenly with his right eye. Paul's main prayers these days are for the recovery of his eyesight. When I prayed one day for a miracle cure, he stopped me and asked, "Are you saying it will take a miracle to heal my eye?" He looked shocked. I said I don't know exactly what is wrong, but if it will take a miracle, I am praying for one!! LIttle by little, the big reality of his impairments are starting to sink in. His desire to pray has increased with his increased knowledge. I know that Paul will need psychological help as time goes on since his life has changed so much and he will have new 'mountains' to climb. They will be assessing his needs in this area in rehab. I know that our family will all need to get some advice so that we can be of the greatest help to Paul as he learns to function in daily life again after all this time and with whatever limitations he may have.
Paul's humor is on the rise. He was playing cards with Michael yesterday and had him laughing. That is the first time in a long time that we heard those two joking around and laughing out loud. Mike has stayed very busy and was not around much this summer. He is only working on Friday afternoon and Saturdays now, so is home more. Just like James, he will get lots of practice in developing greater patience.
Paul talks alot about what he will do owith his future, but if we start to discuss it at any length, he says he doesn't want to talk about it anymore and ends it quickly. It is too big a chunk to deal with. I remind him to handle what is in his day, work at it really hard and let God present the future in His time. Paul finds comfort in that - that he will not be given more than he can handle.
Paul has been moved along this summer like a sailboat in the warm Summer Wind. At summer's end I look back and know that the wind in our sails has been the Holy Spirit. Paul has weathered some storms, but he is cruising on smooth waters right now. Your intercessory prayers have been our 'personal flotation devices!
May the Spirit of God move within your heart today and propel you to do all according to God's will.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
More Pictures
Michael, James and Paul at St. Monica's last Sunday
James, Mike, Fr. Jack, Paul and Anne (Marie's sister) after Mass last Sunday. 
Ann and James at the going away party for James before he left for Austria.
James, Mike, Ann and Paul 
James, Rebecca and Paul on the day James left for Austria
Paul, Jerry and James
Paul with his cousins Courtney and Becca at the going away party for James.
James Paul and their cousin Joseph. Joseph had just come home from Iraq. It was a going away party for James and a very happy hello on day one of Joseph's 2 week leave.
Miscellaneous pictures
James and Abby
Paul playing his guitar after a very long time.
Anne, Paul and Jon
James (the night before he left for Austria - he couldn't have a bigger smile!
Friday, August 25, 2006
I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane
When I opted to stay in Lilburn this summer, to help my mother attend to Paul, I could never have known the challenge that was ahead of me. If asked to describe what it was like in a single phrase, it would be “a true learning experience.” I learned more at home this summer than I did in a semester in college. Though the material was different, the quantity was the same, if not more. My core classes at home were 4 credits of Discipline, 4 credits of Patience, 4 credits Humility, and finally, 4 credits of Understanding. I had a full class load. Taking care of my brother Paul is probably the most challenging job I have ever had. But the reward was definitely worth the struggles.
In early May, when I came home from Florida, Paul’s head was shaved, due to surgery. This exposed all of the scars from his other surgeries. Paul was only 125lbs in May, was very weakened and he still suffered severely from headaches. Whether or not they originated before I arrived home to take care of him, is still uncertain! Let’s face it, I probably gave the guy headaches…I have that tendency apparently. Nonetheless, Paul has done an incredible job in dealing with the pain. They have decreased in intensity though and that is a relief to all our family.
Hospital appointment after hospital appointment, surgery after surgery, is what we had to live with during the first weeks of my return. In fact, I went to the hospital for the first 4 weekends I was home, including my birthday. However, my birthday could not have been better. Mike took me out to eat at the Westin, a restaurant on the 73rd floor of a skyscraper in Atlanta, and Shannon (my girlfriend) sent me cards and gifts from her whole family in Oregon, and it was the last surgery for Paul. So, May 26 was a good day all round.
Paul needed someone at his side for the majority of the summer. On walks, he placed his hand on my shoulder to steady his balance. He sat in the shower, and needed someone to manually control the shower head, in order that he was sufficiently bathed. He needed someone to feed him through the feeding tube in his stomach. He needed constant tending to his eye. Life for Paul was about as unbearable as anything I could imagine. At Summer’s end, Paul has come light years from that suffering, and only with the help of our Lord. He walks independently after only one week in rehab, showers by himself, dresses himself (picks out weird combinations of clothes at times) gets his breakfast and lunch (when mom, dad or Jerry aren’t around) and is now 148 lbs. The tube came out on August 11, marking the 9th month anniversary of Paul’s accident. No more tubes, means progress. Paul is practically self-sufficient, with a couple of kinks here and there.
He plays the piano often, is getting on the computer more, takes walks at least 3-4 times a day and walks over to visit our neighbor Bob. Bob and Barbara live across the street and if Bob is sitting outside, Paul will walk over to talk to him. Paul takes his dog Abby with him every time. (Talk about loyalty – Abby is the best!)
Prior to the accident, Paul was really good at a couple of things, one of them was the guitar, and the other was using the Fidero charm. Now, Paul prays. He prays all of the time and in everyplace. His devotion to Jesus and to Mary is comparable to most saints. Paul is handling his pain and suffering like a champ. He offers up the rest for the pain that Jesus suffered on the Cross. Paul is a new Paul, with some of the old Paul scattered about. He still has the Fidero charm…that didn’t go anywhere. We have entered into a period where Paul sings, as opposed to just speaking in conversation. He can make a song out of everything. He hasn’t gotten in touch with his passion for guitar, but he is slowly doing things that he used to do. Every couple of weeks there seems to be a new “Paul” phrase or mannerism that reveals itself.
My summer with Paul is one that I will never, ever, forget. I will use this summer as a basis of how I should be preparing for children, provided I am blest with any. Paul,in many respects, is a child, and thus, I know more than before. I also know definitely that I am not ready for little Fidero’s running around. I wouldn’t be a good father to them yet. I had no idea what it would take to manage Paul who is 21 years old, let alone 4 children like my parents had to. I love my parents for dealing with us, but now more than ever, because I experienced it first hand with Paul in the early parts of the summer. He was my path to sainthood. I love my family so much. I think that the love that I have for each member of my family…including my new sister Marie, is no different than the love they have for me. We have such a tight knit family, and that is what I love most…I am sure they would all agree.
I have to leave for Austria on Wednesday. My mother will undoubtedly be extremely sad to see me go, my father will probably bust out the finest wine…no, just kidding. He will be equally sad to see me go, as will Mike and Paul, but I want to leave the readers of the blog, as well as my family with one small piece of my thoughts. Life has its’ up’s and down’s, as you all know, but what I ask is why do we become so sad to see our loved one’s go? The reason is, “you never know what you have, until it’s gone.” I hate goodbyes…but that’s what makes me appreciate my loved ones so much more. So, live each moment as though it were you last.
In the Sign of Christ You Will Conquer,
James
In early May, when I came home from Florida, Paul’s head was shaved, due to surgery. This exposed all of the scars from his other surgeries. Paul was only 125lbs in May, was very weakened and he still suffered severely from headaches. Whether or not they originated before I arrived home to take care of him, is still uncertain! Let’s face it, I probably gave the guy headaches…I have that tendency apparently. Nonetheless, Paul has done an incredible job in dealing with the pain. They have decreased in intensity though and that is a relief to all our family.
Hospital appointment after hospital appointment, surgery after surgery, is what we had to live with during the first weeks of my return. In fact, I went to the hospital for the first 4 weekends I was home, including my birthday. However, my birthday could not have been better. Mike took me out to eat at the Westin, a restaurant on the 73rd floor of a skyscraper in Atlanta, and Shannon (my girlfriend) sent me cards and gifts from her whole family in Oregon, and it was the last surgery for Paul. So, May 26 was a good day all round.
Paul needed someone at his side for the majority of the summer. On walks, he placed his hand on my shoulder to steady his balance. He sat in the shower, and needed someone to manually control the shower head, in order that he was sufficiently bathed. He needed someone to feed him through the feeding tube in his stomach. He needed constant tending to his eye. Life for Paul was about as unbearable as anything I could imagine. At Summer’s end, Paul has come light years from that suffering, and only with the help of our Lord. He walks independently after only one week in rehab, showers by himself, dresses himself (picks out weird combinations of clothes at times) gets his breakfast and lunch (when mom, dad or Jerry aren’t around) and is now 148 lbs. The tube came out on August 11, marking the 9th month anniversary of Paul’s accident. No more tubes, means progress. Paul is practically self-sufficient, with a couple of kinks here and there.
He plays the piano often, is getting on the computer more, takes walks at least 3-4 times a day and walks over to visit our neighbor Bob. Bob and Barbara live across the street and if Bob is sitting outside, Paul will walk over to talk to him. Paul takes his dog Abby with him every time. (Talk about loyalty – Abby is the best!)
Prior to the accident, Paul was really good at a couple of things, one of them was the guitar, and the other was using the Fidero charm. Now, Paul prays. He prays all of the time and in everyplace. His devotion to Jesus and to Mary is comparable to most saints. Paul is handling his pain and suffering like a champ. He offers up the rest for the pain that Jesus suffered on the Cross. Paul is a new Paul, with some of the old Paul scattered about. He still has the Fidero charm…that didn’t go anywhere. We have entered into a period where Paul sings, as opposed to just speaking in conversation. He can make a song out of everything. He hasn’t gotten in touch with his passion for guitar, but he is slowly doing things that he used to do. Every couple of weeks there seems to be a new “Paul” phrase or mannerism that reveals itself.
My summer with Paul is one that I will never, ever, forget. I will use this summer as a basis of how I should be preparing for children, provided I am blest with any. Paul,in many respects, is a child, and thus, I know more than before. I also know definitely that I am not ready for little Fidero’s running around. I wouldn’t be a good father to them yet. I had no idea what it would take to manage Paul who is 21 years old, let alone 4 children like my parents had to. I love my parents for dealing with us, but now more than ever, because I experienced it first hand with Paul in the early parts of the summer. He was my path to sainthood. I love my family so much. I think that the love that I have for each member of my family…including my new sister Marie, is no different than the love they have for me. We have such a tight knit family, and that is what I love most…I am sure they would all agree.
I have to leave for Austria on Wednesday. My mother will undoubtedly be extremely sad to see me go, my father will probably bust out the finest wine…no, just kidding. He will be equally sad to see me go, as will Mike and Paul, but I want to leave the readers of the blog, as well as my family with one small piece of my thoughts. Life has its’ up’s and down’s, as you all know, but what I ask is why do we become so sad to see our loved one’s go? The reason is, “you never know what you have, until it’s gone.” I hate goodbyes…but that’s what makes me appreciate my loved ones so much more. So, live each moment as though it were you last.
In the Sign of Christ You Will Conquer,
James
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Paul Fidero said..................
First of all, all americans know it's called pine straw! END OF DEBATE!
The headaches are getting better which is good news. Im very interested in vegetables in pill form. Heck, whats one more pill?
I hope you are all doing well, and of course we pray for you. In fact, I'll pray for you all right now. I am getting better, but of course im a little impatient about it. I want to be better NOW! But I do know that this is one way I can show God my love for him and my trust in him. Ill be healed according to His will.
Today was a good day. I got to see one of my best friends, Nathan. Nathan is majoring in computer science at Georgia Tech. Nathan taught me a good bit about computers. He's also incredibly smart aside from computers. Ill probably go to him for help when i get back in college.
I will try to respond to postings on this blog more often to let you know I am reading your postings. Most days my head hurts while looking at a computer screen. But again, i will try to respond more often.
Also, please keep me in your prayers because of course we all know that on top of doctors etc. I NEED God's help.
God bless you all. Thank you for checking out this website and interacting with postings. Have a great day and night you all.
Paully
The headaches are getting better which is good news. Im very interested in vegetables in pill form. Heck, whats one more pill?
I hope you are all doing well, and of course we pray for you. In fact, I'll pray for you all right now. I am getting better, but of course im a little impatient about it. I want to be better NOW! But I do know that this is one way I can show God my love for him and my trust in him. Ill be healed according to His will.
Today was a good day. I got to see one of my best friends, Nathan. Nathan is majoring in computer science at Georgia Tech. Nathan taught me a good bit about computers. He's also incredibly smart aside from computers. Ill probably go to him for help when i get back in college.
I will try to respond to postings on this blog more often to let you know I am reading your postings. Most days my head hurts while looking at a computer screen. But again, i will try to respond more often.
Also, please keep me in your prayers because of course we all know that on top of doctors etc. I NEED God's help.
God bless you all. Thank you for checking out this website and interacting with postings. Have a great day and night you all.
Paully
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Walk Like An Egyptian
WARNING.............THIS WILL BE A LONG POSTING!
The activity level in our house these days has increased 10 fold! I have been blessed by God having so many family and friends coming by, just like it was 9 months ago. There truly has not been enough time in my day to fit everything in and I am just now finding a quiet moment to share all that has happened since I last entered a post. It is early morning and everyone has been sent off to work and school and I am enjoying the sounds of nature this morning. I have been able to gather gardenia and rose buds to fill my vases. As I was doing this, I thought about how Paul is really starting to 'bloom'! His energy level is much better, his headaches are only registering 4-5 on a scale of 1 to 10 and he seems so much more interested in the direction his life is heading. His activity level is way up also, thanks to rehab starting on Monday.
We had a wonderful weekend with Anne and Kathy Hennessy. I truly understood how Kathy felt when she left Ann here and flew back home on Sunday. As parents, we want so much for our children to grow up and be independent and happy. Saying goodbye is the toughest part. No matter how many of our children we send off, it never gets easier. Each one has their special place in our hearts. I can't tell you how happy we are to have Anne with us. We needed her fresh and happy face more than we realized. (I love passing her room each morning and knowing from the soft, sweet smell...........it is a girl's room!!!) During the weekend, Paul would go into her room and talk with her and Kathy without hesitation. After one such visit into her room, he came to me and said how nice she is and that he thinks he will get along with her a little bit easier than he did with Marie. He immediately qualified that statement with "of course, we aren't competing for Jon's attention". (Paul didn't let go of his older brother very easily and gave Marie a tough time. Michael wasn't much better at the time, much to my horror. It was also the first female other than their mother who was sharing the name Fidero! And what a wonderful blessing Marie is....there are no words I can write to express our love for her and how happy we are that Jon, using the wisdom supplied by God, chose her as his wife!) And so, another young Hennessy woman is sharing our life and we are thankful. Last night there was so much chaos in our house with family and friends visiting, I realized I had not been able to talk to Anne as she came in so late from work. I mentioned it to James after everyone had gone to bed and he said that Michael had been talking to her most of the evening. I was very happy to hear that, because it showed he must have 'lightened up'a bit after a particularly tough week. To quickly explain - we had all been very tense since Tuesday because we were waiting once again for the results of blood tests run to rule out anything really serious with Michael. In June, Michael brought to my attention the fact that he had enlarged lymph nodes on his neck. He must have done some research because he thought he might have lymphoma and so he talked to us about it. He has lost over 40 pounds since last Fall and has been tired more than usual. Put together, it caused us great concern. We had blood work done in June and then again Tuesday because added to the list was pain in his chest, but no associated coughing. The results are showing normal and the same as his first set of tests. The weight loss can be explained away by the trauma of Paul's accident, and then this summer, Mike has worked 10-12 hour days in the intense heat we have experienced in Atlanta. But the rest of his symptoms are still unexplained. We will continue to monitor his health very closely. He also was worried he would not get a parking space at school, but since he was a senior, he got priority over Juniors in a lottery and is basically a happy camper now that his test results are showing normal and he has a place to park his truck. And if Michael is happy...........we all benefit!
Like I mentioned, Paul started rehab on Monday and I went with him as they wanted his primary caregiver to be present on his first day. We started out with Physical Therapy (PT) and we had a woman who was filling in for the regular person. She asked Paul right away if he really loved his mom or did he need to have his hand on my shoulder to help him walk. He seemed to take offense at this approach and I could tell by his tone of voice. He said matter of factly, "Both." She said they would try a few things to see how bad his balance was. After he walked alone and did some stair climbing and then walked up and down a long incline, she said she noticed he wasn't moving his arms much or his head when he walked. She said that he seemed rather stiff and that possibly if he loosened up his arms and moved them as he walked, it would help him feel more confident. He had good balance and it was more out of habit than need, that he was using us for balance. She had demonstrated how our arms usually move back and forth and our heads turn and look at things as we walk. For whatever reason Paul had not 'connected' with this woman, he demonstrated his feelings by exaggerating these suggested movements when she asked him to walk again. He looked like a wind-up toy Egyptian. I could not contain my laugh, as I knew he was showing his feelings about all this. The therapist recognized 'attitude' also and laughed really hard. She had to go get something and after she walked away, Paul leaned over to me and said, "I don't like her very much." I asked why and he said something about her not being all that nice. I told him she was just a very direct person and that she is serious about getting the job done. She wants to see Paul walking independently, just as we do. He said he understood all that, but he just didn't think she was someone he wanted to work with. I reassured him she was only filling in for the day. Throughout the day, Paul would go into his 'Egyptian' walk when someone asked him how his PT went and what did he learn. We ate dinner at my sister's house on Monday night because my other sister Mary Beth is in town this week with her son James. Also, Bev's daughter Anna was in town from Colorado in the hopes of seeing her brother Joseph, who was supposed to be on leave from Iraq. He has been delayed for a week, so Anna missed seeing him, which was obviously a huge disappointment. Even Mary Beth will miss his visit home. Anyway, Paul put on a very funny display of his new 'method of staying balanced' and had us all laughing so hard. He was our entertainment that night.
Tuesday we went to Savannah for the follow up appointment with the neurosurgeon. The morning sky was amazing again........lots of rays of sun filtering through the clouds and there had to be at least 15 rays coming down across the sky. As we were driving I could not help but keep looking at this expanse of beauty before us. The rays seemed far ahead of us and we were in the shadow of clouds. I started to pray quietly to myself and I had no sooner finished my prayer for a miraculous recovery of the paralysis of Paul's face when I was bathed in the light of the sun. It actually startled me and I realized we were in one of those rays of light. The timing of this made me start to cry. After all this time I know prayers are answered according to God's will. To have this little bit of 'confirmation' was awesome indeed. It wasn't until later that that moment would be of great help to me. Our appointment was a huge and I mean huge disappointment to me. The doctor said that there is nothing more he can do. He was not going to adjust the shunt anymore and with Paul's headaches easing down to 4-5 levels of pain, he feels that that is as good as it is going to get. I was stunned. I asked him if this was it for Paul - what we have is all the relief he will get? The doctor said that maybe a neurologist can find the right mix of medicines to take the headache away. Paul may possibly be getting headaches from the shunt, but it would be very risky to take it out and he would have to be in the hospital for 3-5 days with a drain in his head as a way of monitoring whether he needs the shunt or not and that insurance would probably not pay for that. He feels that we should leave the shunt in and just find the medicines that will relieve Paul's headaches. He did not want to adjust the shunt either. Jon and I asked more questions so that we could try to understand why this doctor was telling us he can't do anything else. He said for our peace of mind he could see Paul in a few months just to check up on him. He would refer us to a neurologist though. I asked if another type shunt would not work better and he said he didn't think so. I had been told by the hydrocephalus association that there is a shunt that has worked better on a number of patients and this doctor said that maybe it was more of a psychological vs actual kind of relief for them. The doctor left the office and Jon and I looked at each other in disbelief. Tears filled my eyes and I said I could not believe this was as good as it was going to get. Jon said that he was not going to look at it that way. He said we set out to find an answer and God has let us know to just 'move on' and get other things fixed. We had prayed for an answer and this seemed like a definitive response that we needed to go forward with getting Paul's eye and ear fixed and God would handle the rest. We had seen 3 doctors, nothing else was going to be done and that was the answer for right now. Jon's words brought me comfort and reassurance and then I remembered very quickly the ray of light shining on us that morning. I chuckled to myself and told God I was so thankful He had given me that visible and definitive sign that He was traveling with us. He will get Paul to the recovery He has in mind. Paul was supposed to have the memory problems, but it appears I am the only one who is struggling with that!!! GOD IS WITH US. ALWAYS.
After the appointment we got in the car and Paul went to the very back seat in the van and laid down. I asked Jon if he wanted to maybe drive downtown to see Savannah, since it appeared we would not be back too soon. We were discussing what we might want to do, then both our phones rang. Paul had sent us a text message that he would really like to go home. It made us laugh and we looked back at Paul and he had his hat over his face. He really wasn't up for any sight seeing adventure! I didn't mind, since my sister was visiting and we would get back in time to visit with her for awhile that evening. Paul did not talk the whole way home, except when we stopped to eat. We came back to a really bad thunderstorm and he was still in the back. I thought he was sleeping but then my phone rang. He wanted to know if we were almost home. We were about 3 miles from the house. He got up and from that point on was very wide awake until we called it a night around 10 P.M. He was glad to be home!
On Wednesday, my sister Mary Beth took Paul to his rehab so I could get back to work. She has had a lot of experience with therapies, as her son James has needed them to overcome his inner ear problems and subsequent learning issues. He has progressed wonderfully over these past years. I was so glad she could go with Paul, as it would be a fresh set of eyes watching Paul. It turned out to be a real blessing. Paul did very well with his therapies, and had the new physical therapist laughing when he demonstrated his Egyptian walk. He articulated very well why he does not like to listen to music. He told the recreational therapist that when he listens to music, 'good music', he can't help but 'pick apart' (hear) all the different instruments and listen to them. He doesn't hear it as a whole. He can't help it, that is how his brain works when he listens to music. Because of this, he gets a headache more quickly. Another thing I asked Mary Beth to check on was if they could help Paul get back the volume in his voice. He talks rather quietly. When asked about it, Paul told the therapist to put one finger in her left ear. He told her to talk. He said that is how it sounds to him and that it hurts if he talks louder. I tried it and sure enough, it would make me want to talk softer than my regular tone. Mary Beth said that Paul did a lot of talking with his therapists and his conversations were appropriate and more mature than when he is at home. He still joked around like he does at home, but he answered questions with a serious manner and succinctly. She said it was great getting to watch him interact. He has exercises to do 2 times a day everyday. The long term goal they hope to reach in the next 4 weeks is to help Paul attain full independence. He should be able to be on his own, with someone checking on him only every once in awhile. He will work on doing things in the kitchen (they have a mock apartment set up), from doing dishes to preparing food. We are encouraged to have him do all this at home also. He has visible weakness in his left side, which they will concentrate on. They also determined that his balance issues are due to the inner ear and they will work on strengthening the vestibular ( I think that is the correct body part!) They said we definitely need to move forward with getting anything that can be repaired in his ear completed. It will go a long way in helping him have a better sense of balance, along with allowing him to be independent of holding on to our shoulders. They also recommended we get the eye fixed soon as those muscles need to be strengthened as well. This confirmed what Jon said in the doctor office on Tuesday. He took it as a sign that we needed to forget about the shunt for awhile and move on. We intend to.
Back in January,while Paul was still at Shepherd Center, we met a family whose daughter was there. Her name is Shea Hickok and she has a blogspot also. I had read that a month ago they had used a plastic surgeon for the rebuilding of the orbital and that the surgery had gone well. I had called her parents a week or so ago and left a voice message asking them to call us so we could ask them what they thought of this surgeon. I got the call yesterday and Mrs. Hickok said that they had found a surgeon who was terrific. We now have a place to start and I will be working to get an appointment with him. He is board certified in 3 areas, one also being the ear, nose and throat. Our hope is that he can fix Paul's orbital so that his eye will be able to rest correctly in the socket and also repair what can be repaired in his ear. Keep us in your prayers that we are led to the doctor who can help us.
Paul has progressed this week to taking a shower by himself, without the little chair he sat on. He is clearing the table after each meal, and he unloads the silverware. I think that he will keep progressing quickly and one major mental improvement that I noticed was when we had the feeding tube removed. He seems to act less like an invalid than before. I think that tube was a constant reminder that he had suffered a serious injury and he was stuck with 'playing the part'. It was a very freeing thing for all of us!
I will let you all get back to work or leisure at this time. Things are settling down around here, except for getting James ready to leave for Austria next Wednesday. That is our next 'scheduled' big event!
May God's light shine on you today, and help you walk forward confident in His love for you. Walk like an Egyptian!
Peace in Christ,
Jon and Rebecca
The activity level in our house these days has increased 10 fold! I have been blessed by God having so many family and friends coming by, just like it was 9 months ago. There truly has not been enough time in my day to fit everything in and I am just now finding a quiet moment to share all that has happened since I last entered a post. It is early morning and everyone has been sent off to work and school and I am enjoying the sounds of nature this morning. I have been able to gather gardenia and rose buds to fill my vases. As I was doing this, I thought about how Paul is really starting to 'bloom'! His energy level is much better, his headaches are only registering 4-5 on a scale of 1 to 10 and he seems so much more interested in the direction his life is heading. His activity level is way up also, thanks to rehab starting on Monday.
We had a wonderful weekend with Anne and Kathy Hennessy. I truly understood how Kathy felt when she left Ann here and flew back home on Sunday. As parents, we want so much for our children to grow up and be independent and happy. Saying goodbye is the toughest part. No matter how many of our children we send off, it never gets easier. Each one has their special place in our hearts. I can't tell you how happy we are to have Anne with us. We needed her fresh and happy face more than we realized. (I love passing her room each morning and knowing from the soft, sweet smell...........it is a girl's room!!!) During the weekend, Paul would go into her room and talk with her and Kathy without hesitation. After one such visit into her room, he came to me and said how nice she is and that he thinks he will get along with her a little bit easier than he did with Marie. He immediately qualified that statement with "of course, we aren't competing for Jon's attention". (Paul didn't let go of his older brother very easily and gave Marie a tough time. Michael wasn't much better at the time, much to my horror. It was also the first female other than their mother who was sharing the name Fidero! And what a wonderful blessing Marie is....there are no words I can write to express our love for her and how happy we are that Jon, using the wisdom supplied by God, chose her as his wife!) And so, another young Hennessy woman is sharing our life and we are thankful. Last night there was so much chaos in our house with family and friends visiting, I realized I had not been able to talk to Anne as she came in so late from work. I mentioned it to James after everyone had gone to bed and he said that Michael had been talking to her most of the evening. I was very happy to hear that, because it showed he must have 'lightened up'a bit after a particularly tough week. To quickly explain - we had all been very tense since Tuesday because we were waiting once again for the results of blood tests run to rule out anything really serious with Michael. In June, Michael brought to my attention the fact that he had enlarged lymph nodes on his neck. He must have done some research because he thought he might have lymphoma and so he talked to us about it. He has lost over 40 pounds since last Fall and has been tired more than usual. Put together, it caused us great concern. We had blood work done in June and then again Tuesday because added to the list was pain in his chest, but no associated coughing. The results are showing normal and the same as his first set of tests. The weight loss can be explained away by the trauma of Paul's accident, and then this summer, Mike has worked 10-12 hour days in the intense heat we have experienced in Atlanta. But the rest of his symptoms are still unexplained. We will continue to monitor his health very closely. He also was worried he would not get a parking space at school, but since he was a senior, he got priority over Juniors in a lottery and is basically a happy camper now that his test results are showing normal and he has a place to park his truck. And if Michael is happy...........we all benefit!
Like I mentioned, Paul started rehab on Monday and I went with him as they wanted his primary caregiver to be present on his first day. We started out with Physical Therapy (PT) and we had a woman who was filling in for the regular person. She asked Paul right away if he really loved his mom or did he need to have his hand on my shoulder to help him walk. He seemed to take offense at this approach and I could tell by his tone of voice. He said matter of factly, "Both." She said they would try a few things to see how bad his balance was. After he walked alone and did some stair climbing and then walked up and down a long incline, she said she noticed he wasn't moving his arms much or his head when he walked. She said that he seemed rather stiff and that possibly if he loosened up his arms and moved them as he walked, it would help him feel more confident. He had good balance and it was more out of habit than need, that he was using us for balance. She had demonstrated how our arms usually move back and forth and our heads turn and look at things as we walk. For whatever reason Paul had not 'connected' with this woman, he demonstrated his feelings by exaggerating these suggested movements when she asked him to walk again. He looked like a wind-up toy Egyptian. I could not contain my laugh, as I knew he was showing his feelings about all this. The therapist recognized 'attitude' also and laughed really hard. She had to go get something and after she walked away, Paul leaned over to me and said, "I don't like her very much." I asked why and he said something about her not being all that nice. I told him she was just a very direct person and that she is serious about getting the job done. She wants to see Paul walking independently, just as we do. He said he understood all that, but he just didn't think she was someone he wanted to work with. I reassured him she was only filling in for the day. Throughout the day, Paul would go into his 'Egyptian' walk when someone asked him how his PT went and what did he learn. We ate dinner at my sister's house on Monday night because my other sister Mary Beth is in town this week with her son James. Also, Bev's daughter Anna was in town from Colorado in the hopes of seeing her brother Joseph, who was supposed to be on leave from Iraq. He has been delayed for a week, so Anna missed seeing him, which was obviously a huge disappointment. Even Mary Beth will miss his visit home. Anyway, Paul put on a very funny display of his new 'method of staying balanced' and had us all laughing so hard. He was our entertainment that night.
Tuesday we went to Savannah for the follow up appointment with the neurosurgeon. The morning sky was amazing again........lots of rays of sun filtering through the clouds and there had to be at least 15 rays coming down across the sky. As we were driving I could not help but keep looking at this expanse of beauty before us. The rays seemed far ahead of us and we were in the shadow of clouds. I started to pray quietly to myself and I had no sooner finished my prayer for a miraculous recovery of the paralysis of Paul's face when I was bathed in the light of the sun. It actually startled me and I realized we were in one of those rays of light. The timing of this made me start to cry. After all this time I know prayers are answered according to God's will. To have this little bit of 'confirmation' was awesome indeed. It wasn't until later that that moment would be of great help to me. Our appointment was a huge and I mean huge disappointment to me. The doctor said that there is nothing more he can do. He was not going to adjust the shunt anymore and with Paul's headaches easing down to 4-5 levels of pain, he feels that that is as good as it is going to get. I was stunned. I asked him if this was it for Paul - what we have is all the relief he will get? The doctor said that maybe a neurologist can find the right mix of medicines to take the headache away. Paul may possibly be getting headaches from the shunt, but it would be very risky to take it out and he would have to be in the hospital for 3-5 days with a drain in his head as a way of monitoring whether he needs the shunt or not and that insurance would probably not pay for that. He feels that we should leave the shunt in and just find the medicines that will relieve Paul's headaches. He did not want to adjust the shunt either. Jon and I asked more questions so that we could try to understand why this doctor was telling us he can't do anything else. He said for our peace of mind he could see Paul in a few months just to check up on him. He would refer us to a neurologist though. I asked if another type shunt would not work better and he said he didn't think so. I had been told by the hydrocephalus association that there is a shunt that has worked better on a number of patients and this doctor said that maybe it was more of a psychological vs actual kind of relief for them. The doctor left the office and Jon and I looked at each other in disbelief. Tears filled my eyes and I said I could not believe this was as good as it was going to get. Jon said that he was not going to look at it that way. He said we set out to find an answer and God has let us know to just 'move on' and get other things fixed. We had prayed for an answer and this seemed like a definitive response that we needed to go forward with getting Paul's eye and ear fixed and God would handle the rest. We had seen 3 doctors, nothing else was going to be done and that was the answer for right now. Jon's words brought me comfort and reassurance and then I remembered very quickly the ray of light shining on us that morning. I chuckled to myself and told God I was so thankful He had given me that visible and definitive sign that He was traveling with us. He will get Paul to the recovery He has in mind. Paul was supposed to have the memory problems, but it appears I am the only one who is struggling with that!!! GOD IS WITH US. ALWAYS.
After the appointment we got in the car and Paul went to the very back seat in the van and laid down. I asked Jon if he wanted to maybe drive downtown to see Savannah, since it appeared we would not be back too soon. We were discussing what we might want to do, then both our phones rang. Paul had sent us a text message that he would really like to go home. It made us laugh and we looked back at Paul and he had his hat over his face. He really wasn't up for any sight seeing adventure! I didn't mind, since my sister was visiting and we would get back in time to visit with her for awhile that evening. Paul did not talk the whole way home, except when we stopped to eat. We came back to a really bad thunderstorm and he was still in the back. I thought he was sleeping but then my phone rang. He wanted to know if we were almost home. We were about 3 miles from the house. He got up and from that point on was very wide awake until we called it a night around 10 P.M. He was glad to be home!
On Wednesday, my sister Mary Beth took Paul to his rehab so I could get back to work. She has had a lot of experience with therapies, as her son James has needed them to overcome his inner ear problems and subsequent learning issues. He has progressed wonderfully over these past years. I was so glad she could go with Paul, as it would be a fresh set of eyes watching Paul. It turned out to be a real blessing. Paul did very well with his therapies, and had the new physical therapist laughing when he demonstrated his Egyptian walk. He articulated very well why he does not like to listen to music. He told the recreational therapist that when he listens to music, 'good music', he can't help but 'pick apart' (hear) all the different instruments and listen to them. He doesn't hear it as a whole. He can't help it, that is how his brain works when he listens to music. Because of this, he gets a headache more quickly. Another thing I asked Mary Beth to check on was if they could help Paul get back the volume in his voice. He talks rather quietly. When asked about it, Paul told the therapist to put one finger in her left ear. He told her to talk. He said that is how it sounds to him and that it hurts if he talks louder. I tried it and sure enough, it would make me want to talk softer than my regular tone. Mary Beth said that Paul did a lot of talking with his therapists and his conversations were appropriate and more mature than when he is at home. He still joked around like he does at home, but he answered questions with a serious manner and succinctly. She said it was great getting to watch him interact. He has exercises to do 2 times a day everyday. The long term goal they hope to reach in the next 4 weeks is to help Paul attain full independence. He should be able to be on his own, with someone checking on him only every once in awhile. He will work on doing things in the kitchen (they have a mock apartment set up), from doing dishes to preparing food. We are encouraged to have him do all this at home also. He has visible weakness in his left side, which they will concentrate on. They also determined that his balance issues are due to the inner ear and they will work on strengthening the vestibular ( I think that is the correct body part!) They said we definitely need to move forward with getting anything that can be repaired in his ear completed. It will go a long way in helping him have a better sense of balance, along with allowing him to be independent of holding on to our shoulders. They also recommended we get the eye fixed soon as those muscles need to be strengthened as well. This confirmed what Jon said in the doctor office on Tuesday. He took it as a sign that we needed to forget about the shunt for awhile and move on. We intend to.
Back in January,while Paul was still at Shepherd Center, we met a family whose daughter was there. Her name is Shea Hickok and she has a blogspot also. I had read that a month ago they had used a plastic surgeon for the rebuilding of the orbital and that the surgery had gone well. I had called her parents a week or so ago and left a voice message asking them to call us so we could ask them what they thought of this surgeon. I got the call yesterday and Mrs. Hickok said that they had found a surgeon who was terrific. We now have a place to start and I will be working to get an appointment with him. He is board certified in 3 areas, one also being the ear, nose and throat. Our hope is that he can fix Paul's orbital so that his eye will be able to rest correctly in the socket and also repair what can be repaired in his ear. Keep us in your prayers that we are led to the doctor who can help us.
Paul has progressed this week to taking a shower by himself, without the little chair he sat on. He is clearing the table after each meal, and he unloads the silverware. I think that he will keep progressing quickly and one major mental improvement that I noticed was when we had the feeding tube removed. He seems to act less like an invalid than before. I think that tube was a constant reminder that he had suffered a serious injury and he was stuck with 'playing the part'. It was a very freeing thing for all of us!
I will let you all get back to work or leisure at this time. Things are settling down around here, except for getting James ready to leave for Austria next Wednesday. That is our next 'scheduled' big event!
May God's light shine on you today, and help you walk forward confident in His love for you. Walk like an Egyptian!
Peace in Christ,
Jon and Rebecca
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the Music
Kathy and Ann Hennessy at dinner with us to celebrate Paul's feeding tube removed.
Michael, Jerry, Paul and Jon The days truly got away from me this week! I don't mean to keep everyone in suspense, or cause concern that we took a downward turn. We definitely did not do that this week!
Yesterday marked the 9th month since the accident - 8/11/2006. I had called to make an appointment this past week with the gastroenterologist. I wanted to see if they could remove Paul's feeding tube this next week. They asked if I could come in on Friday at 2 PM. I didn't expect to get in that early and gladly agreed to that date. It wasn't until mid morning on Friday that I realized it was 8/11 and that we were exactly 9 months away from 11/11/05. I had been told that it would hurt Paul when they took out the tube, as it is just pulled out. No anesthesia, no stitches, just pulled out. I didn't know how much I should warn Paul, and decided that too much information might cause him to be stressed. I told him that it would be a bit uncomfortable and left it at that. He woke up feeling very sluggish. Jerry came to the house to take James and Paul to the 9 AM Mass and he too noticed that Paul was not having a good day. I left for work and kept calling throughout the day to see if Paul had improved much and was told he didn't seem to have much energy. I debated about whether to change the appointment time to the following week. Then I remembered that he was starting rehab on Monday and felt that it would be better to let the hole left by the tube to have plenty of time to heal. I did not change the time. I came home to get Paul and did not let on how much I was dreading the appointment, anticipating having to watch Paul go through more pain. The feeding tube had been in a long time and I was concerned it would not come out easily after all this time. Jerry, James, Paul and I stood by the car before we left and prayed that all would go well and that there would be no problem. Paul was unusually quiet and I was not sure if it was because he was thinking about the appointment, or was just not feeling well. He said his head was hurting a lot and that was all that was wrong. James finished with a prayer to our Guardian Angels and then we left. We walked into the doctor's office and thanks be to God, the nurse was right there ready to take us back to the room. No time to sit and stew anymore about it! It would be done immediately. The doctor didn't come in for about 5 minutes, so I put my hand on Paul's shoulder and prayed quietly, then Paul took my hand and began to pray out loud. He said the Hail Mary and asked God to help him handle any pain. The doctor came in and explained to Paul that he was going to feel some discomfort and that he was going to just pull it out. It would only take a couple of seconds. Paul said, "Okay,go for it." In 2 seconds the tube was out and Paul barely winced. The doctor said, "There we go, it's done." Very calmly and simply, Paul said, "That was easy enough." I was stunned that it was over and there had been no pain experienced! The doctor put a bandaid on Paul's stomach, told us not to let him eat for a couple of hours and he would be fine. He could swim after a day or so and do what he wanted! Paul and I left and it felt like we were floating along on a cloud...........after all this time, no more feeding tube! I was so joyous and relieved to have a very visible sign of 'moving recovery forward'! We got outside and it seemed like the breeze was cooler than it had been, the clouds were brilliant and the sky was so blue. I held on tightly to my tears until I got into the car. I turned to Paul, and with tears flowing down my face I said, "Either we had a very good doctor or God's hand was holding you tightly! I was told it would hurt you, not for long, but would hurt kind of badly when the tube was pulled out and to be ready for it. That was a cake-walk!" Paul said, "It was probably a bit of both, but mostly God." I started to drive down the street and we passed Gwinnett Medical Center. I stopped at the stop sign and as I looked to my left it dawned on me that only 9 months ago, my sister Mary Beth, Michael, James (nephew) and I were coming from that direction with terror in our hearts as we raced to the hospital, fearing the worst kind of news once we got to the emergency room. 9 months later, almost to the hour, I was heading away from the hospital, looking down that same street, with Paul at my side and the very last of the 8 tubes that had been in him to save his life, had been withdrawn. He was on his own, with God so visibly leading the way! I could not drive because of the tears of joy and thankfulness filling my eyes. I could not see clearly to go on. Paul patted my shoulder and he thought that I was upset and said everything would be fine. I explained that I was so happy in comparison to how I felt 9 months earlier, coming down that street towards the hospital. It was too much for me to bear in that moment how awesome God had been to our family and how much has happened in so short a time. I then realized that there might be cars behind me waiting to make their turns and gratefully saw I had not held up traffic! We continued on home and Paul called his brother Jon to let him know he was done with his feeding tube, then he called his dad. I had Paul dial my sister Mary Beth to let her know, since she had been with me on the ride to the hospital. She needed to share in the complete joy I was feeling - she had earned that after sharing the complete fear and sadness 9 months earlier!! I mentioned to Paul that after 9 months..........he had delivered a tube! He laughed and said it was a 'male tube'.
We went out to dinner with Jerry and also Kathy Hennessy and Ann Hennessy to celebrate this milestone. Now to explain the wonderful timing of God and why the Hennessy's were here.
A couple of weeks ago, when Jon and Marie were here, we had Fr. Jack to dinner while all the California Fids were visiting. Fr. Jack mentioned that he was interviewing people for the position of Director of Religious Education at his new parish, St. Monica's. Marie said that her younger sister, Ann, had just graduated from Magdalen College and was looking for a job. Her background and experience might be a good match with the position that had to be filled. Fr. Jack called Ann and she was hired. She and her mother drove down this week and arrived on Thursday. Ann will live at our house until she gets her bearings and finds a permanent residence. We are so happy she will be with us. I had so much fun getting her room ready, as I was able to let my 'feminine side flow!" She is as cheery and wonderful as her sister Marie! Kathy and I have had a great time visiting - we haven't really talked since the wedding in January, so there has been plenty to talk about. I was so thankful to God that they were here for Paul's celebration. I know also that Paul will benefit greatly having Ann here. She is very knowledgeable about our Catholic faith and can lead Paul along in his every growing spirituality. (Michael may actually benefit more!)
This morning, as I was trying to get the posting done before Kathy, Ann and I left for a women's prayer breakfast (The Atlanta chapter of Magnificat), Paul came down at 8:11 and he was dressed very nicely. I was shocked that he had gotten up and dressed by himself without the usual prodding. I asked what he was doing and he said, "I'm going to Mass." I commented on how great he looked and he did a few dance moves and asked if I noticed his flat stomach. I said I surely had! I sat thinking for a moment about how different Paul seemed in that moment. I believe that his having the feeding tube added to the overall mindset that Paul was somewhat of an invalid. I think he must have felt like one, having to depend on that tube. His dance demonstrated the feelings of freedom I was already feeling! He has done great with drinking all that he needs today and is staying active. When we got home from the breakfast, Paul was playing the piano and asked if I got his text message while I was gone. I had not. I looked at my phone and he had sent me a message that said, "Dearest Mother, God bless you and the Hennessies. Have fun with them. Also, thank you tons for teaching me about God. Let's stay holy ;) Love Paully" You can count on that Paul, since that has been a constant prayer of mine.
From Proverbs 23:18 - "You will surely have a future, and your hope will not be cut off."
Looking to the future with faith, hope and love,
Jon and Rebecca
Monday, August 07, 2006
We All Shine On
Monday, August 7
I spent some time looking at all the pictures that have been taken since Paul's accident. It helps me see the larger picture. We have come a long way in some respects, but in others, we have not come very far. This week, we will set about finding a doctor who can possibly help Paul regain any amount of his hearing. Looking at his ear, it appears that the opening is partially blocked. I don't remember it being blocked in this way before and hopefully, with surgery, any blockage can be corrected. Paul can hear voices in a very muffled sort of way, but cannot distinguish the words.
We also are trying to find a very good plastic surgeon who can do the necessary rebuilding of the orbital bone and facial bones, so that Paul's eye can be set correctly. We feel it is time to move forward with some of these other issues, as we wait for the Neurosurgeon to find answers about Paul's hydrocephalus. So much time has gone by as we have searched for answers to that complication and we will direct our attention to the other areas that should not be as difficult to solve. I have read more material about hydrocephalus and it is a really difficult issue to solve in some cases. We appear to fit that 'difficult' category. Big Sigh! So we will move on in some of the other aspects of the overall recovery mission!
We hope to get Paul registered in rehabilitation this week. I don't know if he can actually handle a 6-7 hour program yet, but he can do a 3-4 hour day. He needs the stimulation, as seen by his response to the visit from his aunts, uncle and cousins. He puts forth a much better effort if there is something planned outside of the home. If we have a doctor appointment, he manages to handle all that that entails. If we are at home and try to get him active, he shows a lot more resistance and says his head hurts too much. This past weekend was pretty much a non-event. He managed to take his walks and he went to church, but that is about all he did. He got a lot of rest and so should be ready to start out this week! James and I are going to put together a daily schedule that will include more physical and mental stimulation until he gets into a rehab program. James found some things on the internet to stimulate him mentally and has started some excercises that are more difficult. I had noticed that Paul still walks a bit stiffly. I mentioned that he might benefit from doing 'squats' or something. I was talking to James about this and Paul, who was in the kitchen with us, put down the bowl he was holding and said, "What do you mean? I can do those already" and did some for me right then and there. He actually sounded offended! He does need a more thorough regime physically though, and it is our hope that the rehab program will include that.
We are going to make an appointment to have the feeding tube removed after his appointment in Savannah next Tuesday. It will be the last of all the tubes Paul had in him since the accident! We have monitored the amount of liquids that Paul can now take in orally and he is doing very well. On Friday, I was putting some of the homemade juice that I had concocted into his tube. (I have to admit, these mixes can sometimes have weird colors.) I was talking to him about the fact that he is almost at the point where he doesn't need his feeding tube to get his hyrdation each day. He then asked, "Am I going to have to actually drink that stuff then?" I know that he has watched with a wary eye some of the things that we have made and he will ask each time if he has to drink it or if we can just put it in the feeding tube. He never was terribly fond of vegetables and the feeding tube has been a great way to get all the nutritional needs into him, without any time being spent 'encouraging' him to eat it. He even asked if there were any 'vegetable pills' he could just swallow! We may have a tough ride ahead of us once the tube is gone....sigh. I wonder how much spinach and liver powder I can sneak into a fruit smoothie without it being detected? I'll let you know after I finish my experimenting. For those who actually WANT to know, that is.
Sunday was the Transfiguration of the Lord and I found myself inadvertently reflecting on its meaning this morning. I woke up at 4 AM and could not sleep again. I came downstairs and sat in the dark. I was 'stewing' about how much we still need to get done for Paul and how the time is slipping away so quickly. I don't have as much time as I would like to devote to all of his needs. These thoughts weren't helped by my having my computer turned on and pictures taken of Paul since the accident were flashing across the screen. One by one they would open and I remembered what stage of recovery we had been at with each one. It seemed like we had reached some really positive stages and then a picture would open and I would realize how much further we have to go. I am a person who can stress easily. The long hours of the night are the worst for me. I am stuck with all my thoughts racing through my mind, and of course, can't act on any of it during the night. I guess this happens because my mind is finally quieted down and is not distracted, so everything that was squashed down in the recesses of my mind during the day, resurface when I am laying still. All of these thoughts and the dark of the night can lead me me into feelings of despair and frustration. Once morning comes, I can get busy and act on some of the things I dwelled on during the night. My visual aid that caused me to start reflecting on the readings from the Transfiguration of Our Lord, came from the light of the computer screen. I was sitting in the dark of the night, and in the bay window in front of me, I saw the reflection of my face which was illiminated by the light of the computer screen. I could not have seen my face without this light. As we stand in the Light of Jesus Christ, we are asked to 'become what we behold'. Our lives can be a reflection of His love and light. We are to be the luminaries in this world. We are lost sheep when we try to find our way in the darkness. We develop a distorted sense of direction until we have a light shining on the pathway. We can't see the evil that lurks around us, without the Light of Truth warning us to stay away. This must be why I love the morning so much - the light of the morning sun always sends any feelings of fear or despair fleeing. In our efforts to be loved and to love others, to have a purpose - we need to stand in that 'transforming light' and we will find our way.
So again this morning, I found the inner peace of knowing that God will help us find the answers needed in getting Paul to the intended recovery God wants. He sent His Son Jesus to light the way. I have seen the beautifully illiminated faces of other people who have lived with so much suffering, and yet, who have taken on the 'luster of the Son of God'. They reveal God's love through their lives.
"On Tabor shone the light of glory that transformed the risen Christ, whose days will last from age to age, no matter how dark the world's night."
Be our light, Lord.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
I spent some time looking at all the pictures that have been taken since Paul's accident. It helps me see the larger picture. We have come a long way in some respects, but in others, we have not come very far. This week, we will set about finding a doctor who can possibly help Paul regain any amount of his hearing. Looking at his ear, it appears that the opening is partially blocked. I don't remember it being blocked in this way before and hopefully, with surgery, any blockage can be corrected. Paul can hear voices in a very muffled sort of way, but cannot distinguish the words.
We also are trying to find a very good plastic surgeon who can do the necessary rebuilding of the orbital bone and facial bones, so that Paul's eye can be set correctly. We feel it is time to move forward with some of these other issues, as we wait for the Neurosurgeon to find answers about Paul's hydrocephalus. So much time has gone by as we have searched for answers to that complication and we will direct our attention to the other areas that should not be as difficult to solve. I have read more material about hydrocephalus and it is a really difficult issue to solve in some cases. We appear to fit that 'difficult' category. Big Sigh! So we will move on in some of the other aspects of the overall recovery mission!
We hope to get Paul registered in rehabilitation this week. I don't know if he can actually handle a 6-7 hour program yet, but he can do a 3-4 hour day. He needs the stimulation, as seen by his response to the visit from his aunts, uncle and cousins. He puts forth a much better effort if there is something planned outside of the home. If we have a doctor appointment, he manages to handle all that that entails. If we are at home and try to get him active, he shows a lot more resistance and says his head hurts too much. This past weekend was pretty much a non-event. He managed to take his walks and he went to church, but that is about all he did. He got a lot of rest and so should be ready to start out this week! James and I are going to put together a daily schedule that will include more physical and mental stimulation until he gets into a rehab program. James found some things on the internet to stimulate him mentally and has started some excercises that are more difficult. I had noticed that Paul still walks a bit stiffly. I mentioned that he might benefit from doing 'squats' or something. I was talking to James about this and Paul, who was in the kitchen with us, put down the bowl he was holding and said, "What do you mean? I can do those already" and did some for me right then and there. He actually sounded offended! He does need a more thorough regime physically though, and it is our hope that the rehab program will include that.
We are going to make an appointment to have the feeding tube removed after his appointment in Savannah next Tuesday. It will be the last of all the tubes Paul had in him since the accident! We have monitored the amount of liquids that Paul can now take in orally and he is doing very well. On Friday, I was putting some of the homemade juice that I had concocted into his tube. (I have to admit, these mixes can sometimes have weird colors.) I was talking to him about the fact that he is almost at the point where he doesn't need his feeding tube to get his hyrdation each day. He then asked, "Am I going to have to actually drink that stuff then?" I know that he has watched with a wary eye some of the things that we have made and he will ask each time if he has to drink it or if we can just put it in the feeding tube. He never was terribly fond of vegetables and the feeding tube has been a great way to get all the nutritional needs into him, without any time being spent 'encouraging' him to eat it. He even asked if there were any 'vegetable pills' he could just swallow! We may have a tough ride ahead of us once the tube is gone....sigh. I wonder how much spinach and liver powder I can sneak into a fruit smoothie without it being detected? I'll let you know after I finish my experimenting. For those who actually WANT to know, that is.
Sunday was the Transfiguration of the Lord and I found myself inadvertently reflecting on its meaning this morning. I woke up at 4 AM and could not sleep again. I came downstairs and sat in the dark. I was 'stewing' about how much we still need to get done for Paul and how the time is slipping away so quickly. I don't have as much time as I would like to devote to all of his needs. These thoughts weren't helped by my having my computer turned on and pictures taken of Paul since the accident were flashing across the screen. One by one they would open and I remembered what stage of recovery we had been at with each one. It seemed like we had reached some really positive stages and then a picture would open and I would realize how much further we have to go. I am a person who can stress easily. The long hours of the night are the worst for me. I am stuck with all my thoughts racing through my mind, and of course, can't act on any of it during the night. I guess this happens because my mind is finally quieted down and is not distracted, so everything that was squashed down in the recesses of my mind during the day, resurface when I am laying still. All of these thoughts and the dark of the night can lead me me into feelings of despair and frustration. Once morning comes, I can get busy and act on some of the things I dwelled on during the night. My visual aid that caused me to start reflecting on the readings from the Transfiguration of Our Lord, came from the light of the computer screen. I was sitting in the dark of the night, and in the bay window in front of me, I saw the reflection of my face which was illiminated by the light of the computer screen. I could not have seen my face without this light. As we stand in the Light of Jesus Christ, we are asked to 'become what we behold'. Our lives can be a reflection of His love and light. We are to be the luminaries in this world. We are lost sheep when we try to find our way in the darkness. We develop a distorted sense of direction until we have a light shining on the pathway. We can't see the evil that lurks around us, without the Light of Truth warning us to stay away. This must be why I love the morning so much - the light of the morning sun always sends any feelings of fear or despair fleeing. In our efforts to be loved and to love others, to have a purpose - we need to stand in that 'transforming light' and we will find our way.
So again this morning, I found the inner peace of knowing that God will help us find the answers needed in getting Paul to the intended recovery God wants. He sent His Son Jesus to light the way. I have seen the beautifully illiminated faces of other people who have lived with so much suffering, and yet, who have taken on the 'luster of the Son of God'. They reveal God's love through their lives.
"On Tabor shone the light of glory that transformed the risen Christ, whose days will last from age to age, no matter how dark the world's night."
Be our light, Lord.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Under Pressure
Our day started at 4 AM as we packed for having to stay in case of surgery. It is a 4 hour drive and it was a very pleasant ride down, in that Jon and I had some time to talk without interuption or having things to get done. Paul's head was really hurting, so he was very quiet most of the time. We got there with about an hour and a half to spare, so we got lunch and then headed to the appointment which was at 1 PM. Apparently, they had to work Paul's appointment in, and that is why they were able to see him so soon. We had a long wait, but the doctor later explained that he wanted to have the time to spend with Paul and so he tended to other patients as quickly as he could to free up a block of time for us. He took a complete history and asked a lot of questions. They did a CT scan and also a shunt tap. The CT scan showed that the ventricles are still enlarged, but the tap indicated that the flow on the shunt is working. The shunt also allowed the doctor to check the pressure in the brain. The problem is not too much pressure, but possibly very low pressure. Paul's headaches may be due to that low pressure reading. The doctor adjusted the shunt and said he wants to see Paul again in 2 weeks unless his headaches become more severe than they are now. With the adjustment to the shunt, he is hoping that he can determine the very narrow 'window' that will need to be found with the setting of the shunt. Because Paul has a problem with overdraining, this will be tougher to do. The doctor did not feel surgery was necessary at this time, as that will be his last resort. We were told by the physician's attendant that Dr. Thompson is very well versed in the use of shunts and that he should be able to help us. The success of shunts varies and the outcomes are very unpredictable, which is why you have to keep working at it until you find the perfect 'fit' for each person. They will work on this until we know the shunt is working its best, then see if the correct combination of meds in conjunction with the shunt will help Paul.
The doctor said he feels Paul has what is called 'Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus' and is basically a border line case. He said that if the shunt were taken out, Paul would not experience a life threatening problem, but obviously would suffer very severe headaches. They will test the brain fluid for any low grade infection, but that the fluid was clear and he does not feel there is any problem with that.
Our prayer is that with this adjustment, Paul will find relief and can get on with his life. He can start rehabilitation again, as long as he can work through the present headaches.
We were going to stay in Savannah, since our appointment was not over until 5:15, but as we were leaving the office, we got a call that the boys had locked themselves out of the house. We had new windows put in and Jon told the guys they were not allowed to cut any screens and 'work' the window open. They had to go to my sister's house and wait for us. We got home about 9:45 PM.
The drive home was another peaceful drive. Jerry had given us the audio CD of Peggy Noonan's book about Pope John Paul II. I was listening to the chapter about how Pope John Paul prayed almost constantly during the day. I smiled as I could relate to that, now that our life had taken a turn in November, 2005. I was listening intently and then noticed that the sky was so beautiful and that one single ray was coming through the clouds, then another, and then another. The expanse of sky in front of us was filled with a wide stretch of rays coming through the clouds. I stopped the tape and just enjoyed the beauty of the sky, thanking God for the help we received that day and for this beautiful sign of His awesomeness and majesty. I turned the CD back on and the words leapt out at me as the reader said that as a young boy, John Paul had often prayed at his parish church, Our Mother of Perpetual Help! I have already spoke of Tuesday being the feast of St. Alphonsus and his devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Then the reader spoke on about how John Paul had met St. Padre Pio and how he had requested intercessory prayers for a woman he knew who had cancer. She was cured and John Paul attributed it to the intercession of Padre Pio. In fact, it was Pope John Paul who canonized Padre Pio as a saint. I thought about their connection and then remembered that we had received Blessed Oil from Padre Pio and that along with the picture of Pope John Paul that we had in the hospital room, we had the oil. I used the oil daily when I blessed Paul, and continued that practice when we got home, with the picture of Pope John Paul directly facing Paul's bed. All this made me smile so much, as I thought about how in that moment, I was hearing connections between Pope John Paul, St. Padre Pio and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I don't consider it coincidence either. In that moment in time, as I was able to listen and reflect on what was being read about John Paul II and his devotion to the Blessed Mother. I felt like God wanted to let me know that Our Blessed Mother truly was surrounding us with her love and protection and that Pope John Paul was praying for us, along with St. Padre Pio. I have seen so many of these little signs in my pathway and feel in my heart that God lets us know He hears us by sending us 'messages' we can see and hear.
Today, Paul got up easily and got a shower and was ready when Jerry came over to take him to Mass. When Paul came out of the shower, he said, "Did you see that I finished in 12 minutes? That is the fastest time for me."
Thanks be to God for the peace He provided us yesterday and the hours of driving that provided us so much time to reflect and pray!
May your heart be filled with that same peace today,
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
The doctor said he feels Paul has what is called 'Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus' and is basically a border line case. He said that if the shunt were taken out, Paul would not experience a life threatening problem, but obviously would suffer very severe headaches. They will test the brain fluid for any low grade infection, but that the fluid was clear and he does not feel there is any problem with that.
Our prayer is that with this adjustment, Paul will find relief and can get on with his life. He can start rehabilitation again, as long as he can work through the present headaches.
We were going to stay in Savannah, since our appointment was not over until 5:15, but as we were leaving the office, we got a call that the boys had locked themselves out of the house. We had new windows put in and Jon told the guys they were not allowed to cut any screens and 'work' the window open. They had to go to my sister's house and wait for us. We got home about 9:45 PM.
The drive home was another peaceful drive. Jerry had given us the audio CD of Peggy Noonan's book about Pope John Paul II. I was listening to the chapter about how Pope John Paul prayed almost constantly during the day. I smiled as I could relate to that, now that our life had taken a turn in November, 2005. I was listening intently and then noticed that the sky was so beautiful and that one single ray was coming through the clouds, then another, and then another. The expanse of sky in front of us was filled with a wide stretch of rays coming through the clouds. I stopped the tape and just enjoyed the beauty of the sky, thanking God for the help we received that day and for this beautiful sign of His awesomeness and majesty. I turned the CD back on and the words leapt out at me as the reader said that as a young boy, John Paul had often prayed at his parish church, Our Mother of Perpetual Help! I have already spoke of Tuesday being the feast of St. Alphonsus and his devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Then the reader spoke on about how John Paul had met St. Padre Pio and how he had requested intercessory prayers for a woman he knew who had cancer. She was cured and John Paul attributed it to the intercession of Padre Pio. In fact, it was Pope John Paul who canonized Padre Pio as a saint. I thought about their connection and then remembered that we had received Blessed Oil from Padre Pio and that along with the picture of Pope John Paul that we had in the hospital room, we had the oil. I used the oil daily when I blessed Paul, and continued that practice when we got home, with the picture of Pope John Paul directly facing Paul's bed. All this made me smile so much, as I thought about how in that moment, I was hearing connections between Pope John Paul, St. Padre Pio and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I don't consider it coincidence either. In that moment in time, as I was able to listen and reflect on what was being read about John Paul II and his devotion to the Blessed Mother. I felt like God wanted to let me know that Our Blessed Mother truly was surrounding us with her love and protection and that Pope John Paul was praying for us, along with St. Padre Pio. I have seen so many of these little signs in my pathway and feel in my heart that God lets us know He hears us by sending us 'messages' we can see and hear.
Today, Paul got up easily and got a shower and was ready when Jerry came over to take him to Mass. When Paul came out of the shower, he said, "Did you see that I finished in 12 minutes? That is the fastest time for me."
Thanks be to God for the peace He provided us yesterday and the hours of driving that provided us so much time to reflect and pray!
May your heart be filled with that same peace today,
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Pictures!
Finally, I was able to get the pictures of Paul driving on this site.
James took Paul to DTSi yesterday and he worked for awhile. He had a really bad headache in the morning, but got to Mass with James. For the last 2 days his headaches have been worse than normal. I know he has been praying that he won't need surgery, so it shows he is dwelling on the doctor visit we go to today. We will be on our way to Savannah in a few minutes and we ask that you keep us in your prayers and also, please pray for the doctors to be graced with the knowledge and wisdom to help Paul according to God's will. We are filled with hope as we enter another day that will bring us closer to Paul's intended recovery.
"No one has hoped in the Lord, and has been confounded" (Eccl 2:11)
May God direct our steps to Himself and show us how to walk in charity and peace.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
James took Paul to DTSi yesterday and he worked for awhile. He had a really bad headache in the morning, but got to Mass with James. For the last 2 days his headaches have been worse than normal. I know he has been praying that he won't need surgery, so it shows he is dwelling on the doctor visit we go to today. We will be on our way to Savannah in a few minutes and we ask that you keep us in your prayers and also, please pray for the doctors to be graced with the knowledge and wisdom to help Paul according to God's will. We are filled with hope as we enter another day that will bring us closer to Paul's intended recovery.
"No one has hoped in the Lord, and has been confounded" (Eccl 2:11)
May God direct our steps to Himself and show us how to walk in charity and peace.
Love,
Jon and Rebecca
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