"Diane and Roger visit Dar"

04-30-2009

0433 hours





Driving from Salem Oregon earlier in the week, sister Diane and husband Roger stopped by Kentfield on there way home. They were able to spend a fun filled day of laughter, stories and all around silliness with Dar.





This was Roger's first visit to see Dar since she left Oroville Hospital back in January, Diane has not seen Dar since Valentines Day. It was great to have Dar in good spirits and happy to see sister and her husband.



Diane and Roger are going to stop by this morning before heading back home.



Dar's visit to see Dr. Shapiro turned out to be somewhat confusing to Dr. Doherty. It seems that there is no reason that Dar should be having trouble with the "button". Dr. Doherty has some ideas that she is pursuing but will talk with Dr. Shapiro further and hopefully get some more specific answers to her questions.



Although we did not get a definitive answer or a clear cut direction to go Dr. Doherty believes that Dar should be using her speaking valve and eating her "puree" food by the weekend. Dar will have another chest x-ray today and given a clear report Dar should be off and running as she was before. She really misses not being able to hear her voice and the ability to communicate with those folks that work with her.



Dar had a busy day of therapys, but we were all able to go sit on the patio and visit for about an hour or so. The weather was a little bit cool but Dar was very content to be outside with a blanket to keep her warm and feel the sun on her face.



I am looking forward to hearing from Dr. Doherty, hopefully before the weekend, regarding her conversation with Dr. Shapiro.



Must get ready for work, put the clothes in the dryer, feed the dog and get ready for the day. As things come to mind during the day I may add to the post later today.



Please continue to pray for Dar and as I have said many times before and you will hear many more times in the future, thank you for your support and prayers. We are thankfull to you all.



Talk later, in closing I am enclosing an email I received yesterday that I really needed to hear. I hope you enjoy it and think about it during your day today.






How to Dance in the Rain


It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am .


I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.


While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.


The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.


He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.


As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.


He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.


I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'


He smiled
as he patted my hand and said,
'She doesn't know me,
but I still know who she is.'


I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,
'That is the kind of love
I want in my life.'
True love is neither
physical, nor romantic.


True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.


With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thoughtI could share with you.


The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best
of everything they have.
I hope you share this with someone you care about.
I just did.


'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain.