Well Tom and Carol, you brought tears to our eyes today when we read your comment. I took Gord downstairs to the computer to check out a lottery ticket that one of the "clents" at the Fanning Center had bought for Gord as a gift last night. While there, we checked the blog comments and as I read yours out loud, my voice started to do the "I can hardly speak I am so emotional thing" which Gord picked up on and the two of us sat there crying. Thank you so much for bringing everything into perspective. I believe you are my mentor to get me through this, Tom. Thank you so much. We are praying for you and your complete recovery - dear sweet man!!!!We love you.
I would like to go back now to the "client" (that's what the patients are called at the Fanning Center).
This fellow is so remarkable in that he survived a motorcycle accident some 24 years ago and basically can only move his head and one hand. He navigates his wheelchair so precisely it is unbelievable. He speaks very slowly and by about the 10th time he has repeated a phrase, I finally "get it". He repeats until I repeat what he has said and then we move on to the next item of business. It is exhausting and he usually wheels himself over to our table at dinner time when we have all sorts of family and friends around. He quizzes everyone on what they do and then proceeds to tell "his story". I will tell you his story in his words in the order they come out and I so admire him for his will to live. He is an author of 3 books, was a physical education teacher; black belt in Tai -something; ran the Boston Marathon in 6 hours; had a motorcycle accident at age 24, died, was revived; is now 46 years old and living at the Fanning Center for the past 4 years. He has 2 sons, one is a pilot and the other a dentist in the military. Yesterday he had an outing to the mall and that is where I suspect he bought the lottery ticket that he so generously presented to Gord. He said if Gord wins he wants me to have half. (We did not win - just in case you were wondering). But it is the thought that counts and this was a very powerful and generous gift he gave us from his heart. He kept gestering to his heart when he presented it.
Believe me, when you observe the people that are surrounding us, my heart goes out to them and I reach out to help them every chance I get. When I leave at night I am saying good night to so many of them and that I will see them tomorrow.....they smile....I leave and go home to a nice home that is comfortable. I know many of them will never go home again. It makes you think. It makes me sad. But it is reality.
Gord is doing remarkably well, he looks amazing (just had a great haircut by Vonnie up in the atrium on the 3rd floor) and is stronger and more "with it" every day. We are sorting through his discomforts and hopefully getting them handled.
I am still determined to try to get someone to tell me more about his right arm and what we can do to try to get it back. There is still no movement at all.
To help things along in the construction area, Peter brought Gord a Lego set and we are challenged now to build it. It is a fun and very creative activity that we all participate in. Thank you Peter!!!
Have a good day everyone,
We send our love to you all
Gord and Sheila
PS I am going to try to get Gord to type a few words to you on the next blog from the "home". Stay posted....
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Good Morning Giord and Sheila
ReplyDeleteYour progress is amazing Gord. We are all new you that you where a Happening kind of guy. I remember the picnic table story, and how you where so driven to get them done.Your friends are there all around you, praying for strength,endurance and patience.
I keep coming back to the line in my book."In my ability to endure I see a strength I didn't know I had" really says it all. Keep enduring Sheila, you are a strong women,my prayers and love go out to you both daily.
luv Mrs D
KEEP UP THE HARD WORK.WE ARE THINKING OF THE TWO OF YOU OFTEN.
ReplyDeleteSORRY ABOUT THE LOTTERY TICKET.BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
LOVE DAN AND CHERYL
Hi Gordon, Every day (no kidding) someone asks how you are doing. All your friends at the MCC miss you and we can't wait for you to return.
ReplyDeleteYou won't believe how beautiful our canoes look with fresh paint, new decals, some seats rebuilt and new iako covers!! We brought three canoes to Wailea Beach on Saturday and they looked fantastic when we placed the canoes on the beach and put on the iako covers. Unfortunately it was a crummy day and there were very few beach boys tending the beach; we wanted to see their awe when they saw our "red hot and smoking" canoes. There are Molikini trips planned and two evenings of moonlight paddling over the next two weeks while the canoes are housed at Wailea.
With less than optimum weather of almost two straight weeks of high winds, four days of rain and overcast skies, the diehard paddlers of MCC have been out there in all the elements. Dave Williams even managed to finish the Captain's training course with all the difficult ocean conditions. We now have quite a few newly minted provisional captains who are anxious to get in their steering time to become full captains. They certainly know how to steer in the wind!!
Kihei Canoe Club has had two canoes vandalized by being pushed to sea (both recovered) and now they are locking their canoes. We're all concerned about this type of vandalism. One of their canoes vandalized was the double hull which means it took quite a few vandals to carry a thousand pound canoe off the beach and push it to sea.
Another thing we're doing is working on beach organization; it may sound like an oxy moron, but we're doing a better job thanks to Shel's ideas and implementation. We hope to pleasantly surprise you when you return. That's about it on the beach news.
We love to see the reports on your excellent progress; there is no one to fill your shoes at MCC, we truly need you back. Love from everyone to you, Sheila and your family helping you in your recovery. Bonnie Kos
Dear Sheila Gord and family members,
ReplyDeleteWe have been following your blog for weeks and are so pleased to hear of the progress that you have made. Those long days turn into weeks and hopefully every day brings more improvement.
We have been journeying with our son-in-law (Marco) through an 18 month battle with cancer.
I think you may have met Marco at the Bosch reunion. Well Marco's battle ended on Feb. 28 and now his pains are gone and he is resting peacefully with all the other angels that God has called home.
We are trying to help Karen Joshua (11) and Sarah (8) through these difficult times. We play with them and pray with them and enjoy the wonderful supportive people all around. We are continually praying so your whole family has the strength to persevere.
With love,
Your cousin Melvin Bosch and wife Nancy
Dear Gordon and Sheila: We have been home (to Bellingham) from Maui for about a week and a half, now. We missed you there! It didn't seem like the real Kealia without the two of you. We had a lovely time, however. Tim paddled a lot--one "huli" experience and one little bump while racing! Not as many whales as usual, but still wonderful beach, water, and people. A great Jimmy Buffet party and concert. We are sure pulling for you, Gordon, and sending strength to both of you. Take care of yourself, too, Sheila! Love, Mary and Tim Irvin
ReplyDelete