It Keeps Snowing and We Keep Rescheduling

Well we had about 12 inches of snow last Friday into Saturday and ended up canceling our Sunday services and our Haiti Relief Program for the evening of the 31st. I was pretty bummed about having to put it off, but Courtney reminded me that they would still be needing help for a long time. We have rescheduled the Haiti Relief program for the 21st of February at 6:00 PM at St. Andrews UMC. I hope you will either be able to join us or at least consider supporting the missionaries that we have noted. The needs continue to be desperate and the work being done seems beyond what mere humans can do, yet it gets done.


Please take the time to looks at the ministries of the 3 missionary couples from the previous blog entry, look at the photos they have provided. It will break your heart and touch you in ways I can't explain. It's not easy stuff to look at, but you'll never see this on the evening news. I'm going to put a few raw videos from the Heartline Clinic in Haiti, These are our brothers and sisters injured and rendering aid. We tend to have short attention spans and the news channels seem to change to whats news that day. We mustn't forget that the need remains. Keep praying.











Pray for the people of Haiti, pray for those delivering aid and relief.

An Update on Joanne's Post-Surgery Rehab

Since her surgery Joanne hasn't been able to do much with her hair. My help has been extremely limited. I can get her hair back in a ponytail with much difficulty and little success. I decided to take her to get her hair done. I told her we had some reservations, but didn't tell her where or for what. A friend of ours, who has been doing Joanne's hair for longer than I can remember, Rita Mattox, has a hair salon on Lakeside Drive called "Style Pros". (She cut my hair at one time, until it started falling out.) I called her, told her what I was planning, and told her to do whatever Joanne wanted, as long as it was something she could take care of herself without to much difficulty. When we pulled into the parking lot Joanne knew where we were heading. I took Joanne into the salon and told them to call me when finished. When I came back, Joanne had her back to the door and I didn't recognize her. Her hair was straightened for the first time in years, but that will wear off in time. When we were leaving and I was getting ready to pay, Rita wouldn't allow it. She said, "Come back and see me after Joanne goes back to work." Where do we find friends like that.
I will readily admit that I'm not the best nurse Joanne could have but, for the most part I'm all she's got. We both appreciate all the help and kindness we have received; the meals, cards, calls, words of support and encouragement, and of course the assistance with the transportation to the doctor and physical therapy. It has all been quite overwhelming. We are blessed.

Post-Surgery

This has not been a great week for Joanne. She was supposed to have started her physical therapy on Tuesday, but became very sick. We think it was the codeine in her pain medicine. So she has to rely on Motrin to cut the pain in her hand and shoulder. She has been in great deal of discomfort. She gets worn out doing ordinary things. I am afraid she does not have the best of nurses, me, doing her home care.

We have been blessed by the kindness of others. Joanne's cousin, Charlene, and my family have helped by bringing meals for us. Our congregation from Republican Grove UMC had a pizza dinner delivered to our home. Our friend, Alice, picked Joanne up for physical therapy and then brought her home yesterday. My sister, Karen, will be doing the chauffeuring to physical therapy next week.

I can't list all the people that have brightened Joanne's days with calls and cards of well wishes. I think the folks who brought us the meals had the same thoughts as the message Carl Wayne Adams wrote, " Joanne, get well soon, you know Charlie can't cook!" I guess sometimes the members of your congregations know you too well.

Joanne's Surgery

Today Joanne had her surgery. The technical description of her procedure was "left shoulder arthroscopic subachromial decompression and left endoscopic carpal tunnel release". I think that means they worked on her left shoulder for problems from her torn rotator cuff and her left hand for her carpal tunnel condition.

Ann Eades, the nurse in the photo, did her pre-op stuff and started her IV. Ann at one time worked at our doctors office before going to the Surgery Center. It was a real comfort to Joanne to have someone she knew there. Ann's first comment to Joanne was, "Why did you bring him?" It was good to have Joanne laughing before the surgery. Thanks Ann.

I had plenty of company in the waiting room. Barbara and Dewey Rakes from Mead Memorial UMC, where Joanne works as secretary, came by. Then my sister Karen and then my Mom and Dad joined us. It helps having folks to talk to and keep your mind off things. Thanks folks.
The surgery went great and it was the best case scenario. The shoulder didn't need extensive work and physical therapy will start Tuesday. Thanks Doc.

She was a tad nauseous from the anesthesia after the surgery, but she slept through that. She went in to surgery at 9:30 and was out by 11:30. We were on our way home by 3:00 that afternoon. When we got home she went right to sleep on the sofa. She has a bell she rings when she needs me. I am very thankful for all the well wishes and prayers from family and friends. Thanks everyone, keep up the good work. Most of all thanks God, Amen.