UPDATE March 2, 2008

UPDATE
March 2, 2008

Our life is becoming more normalized with a routine. Jack has stabilized and has continued to gain endurance and strength. He has has a long way to go in the healing process but each day brings a little more hope. It has been sooooo good to have him home. We see each other and interact more often since he is in the mainstream of our daily lives.

Our week begins on Sunday when the children and I take over as caregivers since Annette actually takes a day off which she is entitled to take. It is very pleasant to have the house to ourselves and enjoy a quiet day somewhat like it used to be – even though life will never be like before. William who comes on at 11:30 PM when Annette and I are well into sleep, has not taken a night off since he started, thank goodness. It occurred to us the other night that we have been blessed with these other cultures in our lives in the most remarkable way. To give you an insight into how our amazing Lord provides for us, I will let you know how Annette and William have become part of our Christian armor.
Last Sunday I went to church prior to Annette leaving us for her day off. She chose to stay longer that morning so I could go to church. She pointed out to me how important it was for me to sit under the Word of God. She is certainly preaching to the choir here but it was such an encouragement that she was sacrificing for my benefit.

The other days of the week are comprised of me working each day, coming home preparing dinner (some nights) with Annette making a deal with me that if I cook, then she will clean the kitchen. I will make that deal every day. Thankfully, our daughter, Courtenay, does one meal/week; our daughter-in-law, Megan, does a meal/week, a neighbor, Judy Morris, provides dinner each Thursday evening, and occasionally someone else calls with soup or a meal. It is a great comfort to know that Jack is cared for, that we are provided for, and that we can have a routine. We are most thankful for these abundant blessings.

Recently, Jack was thanking William for helping him have such a good night’s sleep. William quickly pointed out that Jack needed to thank the good Lord for that because it was only the Lord that provides that to us. Jack began to weep. “The Lord knows our frame and earnestly remembers that we are dust.” Ps 103:14. These lovely people make me also think of Proverbs 25:25 – “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country”. As believers, it is an awesome thing to see what work the Lord has done in bringing Annette and William from a far country to care for us during our time of need.
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses even in our care providers.

Jack’s physical therapist has used our outside entrance to help Jack gain confidence in using steps. Our main entrance steps are not very high and they are also very deep coupled with rails on each side for him to hold as he descends and ascends. His physical therapist told him in going to down to use his weak leg followed by his strong leg and the reverse in going up. Going up is so much easier for him. Going down the stairs is much more challenging and dangerous. He and I tackled 3 steps inside the house today. Coming down the 3 steps was so difficult in navigating that I had him sit down and come down one step on his bottom before he could stand up using his walker. It is much safer. One of Jack’s goals is to do these stairs in the same way that he was prior to all of the setbacks he has had.

When we did the stairs outside, he then walked down the sidewalk to the street walk and walked to our driveway. I had the wheelchair behind him in the event he became tired. He is always thinking about conserving energy (now you know why he has been such an energy guru). After we got to the driveway, he decided he better ride back to the steps so he would have enough energy to get up the stairs. This gives you some idea as to how far he has to go before he regains his strength.

Some of the other encouraging signs of improvement have been his desire to read and write again. He has certainly been more alert since he began the radiation antedote. We are so thankful that all of our strength is not measured in our human strength. Jack and I both would be on our faces during this great challenge. One of the empowering things that we need constant reminders of is from Psalm 18:30-36.
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me, so that ankles do not turn.”

We are so cognizant of so many aspects of our Lord’s provision. The experience to witness the Lord’s hand so close to us in all aspects of this illness has been one of the truly amazing joys in the midst of the human sorrow in watching one of us so disabled physically.

We so appreciate the calls. When I do not update the blog, people start calling wondering what is going on. We received one of those calls yesterday from one of Jack’s former colleagues at MIT and Nano-C, Tony Modestino who is wintering in Florida with his lovely wife, Sherry. Tony, thank you for that call. It warmed our hearts as it always does with the cards, letters, and emails that we also continue to receive from so many of you.

We hope with March bringing longer days and Spring, at least on the calendar, that we will be renewed in our care for each other.

Love,
Carolyn and family