“Grandma, what big eyes you have!”

“The better to see you with, my dear—and my roast pork dinner, and the autumn leaves, and the fine print in my dictionary.” This week I’m having cataract surgery on my right eye; the left eye is scheduled to be fixed in 2 weeks.  This is the world’s most simple surgery.  If it weren’t for [...]

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Praise God for the “normal” things . . .

. . . waking in the morning to the sound of much needed rain, sharing a breakfast at our local “good old boy” restaurant, stopping at the library and leaving with 2 heavy sacks of books, celebrating the progression of summertime in our gardens, sitting in ”our row” in church with 10 great grandchildren—ages 6 and under, gently stepping back in [...]

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How can I help?

Most of us have had friends in need, either due to illness or a crisis.  The question we always ask is, “How can I help?”  Before I experienced the flack and fallout of chronic illness and pain, I asked that question many times—and often did try to “help” in the wrong way.  Only when we have [...]

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Keeping on keeping on!

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”  2 Corinthians 4:17  (NIV) God is faithful in all circumstances!  Since September 30th, 2010, Joe and I have been besieged with “one thing after another”—mainly involving a serious accident with our van for Joe and surgeries for both of [...]

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Getting on with Life!

It’s been a long time since I posted something new on this site!  In that time, my husband and I have experienced health issues heretofore unimagined by either one of us.  These issues are debilitating and ongoing.  They will not go away, short of miracles defying God’s natural laws.   A few weeks ago, I spent time [...]

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Those things we CAN do!

Today I had a “wake up” call, as I began seriously realizing what my limitations will be for several weeks after my September 30th spinal fusion surgery.  (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.  Yikes!) I suddenly realized that for a long time post-op, I won’t be able to bend over and pick up bits of lint or [...]

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“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.  I know that full well.”  Psalm 139:14 Indeed, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  In recent weeks I have printed out and studied what is adding up to volumes of information on the spine, spinal issues, spinal surgeries, etc.  When I [...]

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Back Issues

Today I’m scheduled to pick up a new MRI image and the radiologists report thereof, prior to next week’s appointment with a neuro-surgeon.  Since steroid epidurals, joint injections, months of PT, and medication have barely skimmed the surface of chronic back pain, it appears that surgery may be the next move. Past imaging has indicated multiple [...]

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The comfort of yarn and needles . . .

Tomorrow we make the 45 minute trip to St. Luke’s where we will spend a couple of days.  Joe is scheduled for a heart cath—and then whatever else needs doing:  perhaps more stents, or a scheduling of by-pass surgery. St. Luke’s is a good place to be in these circumstances, as that hospital pioneered heart [...]

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