My Karen “Why Her Mama’s Heart is Tender Today”

September 17, 2015 Update

I glanced up from my writing station and just outside my window a little squirrel is sitting on the branch of a shrub. His little life seems to be pretty free from the cares and concerns that many of us are facing today. Most mornings he arrives and sits outside of my window enjoying the few peanuts that await him. Every afternoon he is back around 3:00. If there isn’t something to eat he squawks and calls as if to say, “Well what are you waiting for. You know that I’ve come for my supper!” So free from the cares of this life.

It doesn’t take much to entertain and amuse me. I enjoy feeding my friend as well as the many sparrows that show up every day to sing and enjoy a little bird seed. If they only knew what was going on just inside the window. If they only knew what today is and what it means to the older folks who live inside the window. But they are just squirrels and birds. Their biggest worry is to be on the watch for the scraggily looking cat that likes to walk through. Yep! If they only knew what today means to us.

Karen’s Mama’s heart is pretty tender today. Two years ago we stood in the Medical Intensive Care Unit of the Cleveland Metro Health Hospital. Our son Billy had been admitted two weeks earlier suffering from a very serious fall from his shower chair at his home. Two years ago today seemed to be very little different from the earlier days except as evening approached, he grew very sick. We could tell that his blood gases were falling and even though he was still speaking to the doctor and nurses, we told them that dramatic changes were taking place. Bill closed his eyes again to rest. The medical team was watching his monitors closely. Suddenly Bill opened his eyes wide as if to look beyond us. He spoke very briefly to his Mom and me. Alarms started sounding, medical teams from all over the hospital rushed to his unit. More calls for specialists were being paged. All worked to their best.

But two years ago this evening, Bill left the realm of the wheelchair, the handicapped, the Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, the disappointments and difficulties of life. He went home. He became completely well. So for Bill, we are thrilled and delighted. But for his Mama and Dad, it’s a tender day. For Bill’s brothers and sisters, it is a hard day of remembering their very special brother. He was our son, brother, uncle, and friend to many.

Karen’s blood lab numbers are great. She will receive the absolute maximum maintenance chemotherapy tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for praying.