Fixtures




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" April 29, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ In a time of throwaway marriages, Kathe gives a glimpse into a truly committed and enduring marriage. Maybe she is letting us in on her secret, she handles the emergency situations in life with humor and prayer. ------------------------------------------------------------ Regular Fixtures By: Kathe Campbell ------------------------------------------------------------ When we promised, "In sickness and in health," little did we anticipate the vow 50 years later. I wonder how many newlyweds do? But lately, living on the edge seems to be a way of life for weantiques in our dotage. We had been blessed with excellent health until the boom was lowered a few years back.Oh, I've lost an arm, am hunkered over with spinal stenosis and rheumatoid arthritis, but it seems unremarkable compared to these past years of utter chaos for my husband, Ken. He'sconquered prostate cancer, joint replacements, an upper intestine resection, five heart by-passes, is working on rheumatoid arthritis and a list of multifarious lesser complaints, all handled with that ever-present big smile. Last fall, however, a tempest of troubles beset Ken when late one evening a bull elk crashed throughhis windshield, literallypeeling the roof back like a can of sardines.He drove another eight miles in a state of shock before realizing he felt cold. After retrieving his cell phone from beneath shards of windshield on the front seat, he called me to say he may have hit an animal, that I should inform the Highway Patrol. Oh yes - -and that he might have a small cut on his face. In our family that meant only one thing; Pops totaled his car and he had a gusher. By the time family and neighbors descended on the St. James Emergency Room, Ken's face was unrecognizable and he had a concussion. Miraculously there were no broken bones, just a face full of glass and elk hair that still emerges on occasion, and again, that irrepressible grin. Two months later an episode of faulty speech and dizzy spells frightened me so badly, I immediately trotted out my redheaded temper and ordered Pops into the car against his wishes. After a CT scan, he was rolled into surgery where a neuro surgeon opened up a major portion of skull to reveal an enormous subdural hematoma. I've never been one to go to the Lord in prayer for miniscule reasons. My biggest prayers seem to abound in hospital chapels for the safe return of my darlin', more times than I like to recall. This time I brazenly summoned the sweet angels who had brought me back to life, and prayed for them to shed their glorious healing light. They responded so quickly, I just knew God had sent them to our Pop's side in intensive care that very night. As I stood watching the surgeon inspecting his work the following afternoon, Pops asked if he could view the damage. He was delighted to note that he now resembled Telle Sevalas and could now add another 15 inches of scar to his existing 207. What an amazing ol' duffer at 76, more concerned about breaking that ever- lovin' record. Ken recovered well and we returned to our regular work schedule until vision problems interfered with his driving. A return to surgery and once again my soul was on it's knees while an unexpected abscess was found causing pressure behind optic nerves. Because four doctors were taking no chances that a deadly staph infection could strike the brain, he has reported to Outpatient at the hospital every morning for another six weeks to ingest one of the hottest antibiotics available. And this brings me to the crack of dawn, the eve of our 50th wedding anniversary when I joined Ken for our other regular IV's of the latest rheumatoid arthritis miracle, Remicade. After the usual blood drawings and vitals, we were hooked up side by side to ingest our life-giving fluids and partake in a hearty anniversary breakfast so beautifully served by the hospital staff. What a lovely surprise! The grapevine was obviously abuzz as familiar nurses from various floors appeared to savor the scene. They took pictures and congratulated this pair of wedded bliss spectacles in their ultimate golden togetherness. Between we two walking drug stores, I'm amazed we haven't passed this way in unison before, downloading bags of miracles and uploading photos in every single department. When all is said and done, being regular fixtures hasn't been all that bad. There's a lot of mighty fine folks who really care. I wonder how we'll be spending our 51st? Kathe Campbell bigskyadj @ in-tch.com You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Ken and Kathe live on their mountain ranch in Montana where they feed their souls and run their Big Sky Inspectors like a well oiled machine. Ken is active in Kiwanis and Chm. of the Board of the Salvation Army. Kathe is an award winning author in magazines and on www.2theheart.com, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul,and has recently had her Montana art gallery introduced as internet stationery at http://outlookstationery.com/, and http://thundercloud.net/stationery/ -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- I love Diane's story "Fast Pitch in Heaven." It is one of my all time favorites of hers. It sure brings a tear to your eye and a tug on your heart strings. It also shows how God brings good out of adversity. Thank you, Diane, for sharing your heart with us. Annettee Budzban What a sad story! Such tragedy to visit that family. Yet when I think of the mother and daughter reunion in heaven, I can't help but smile. Thanks Diane for sharing. Julie --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Alert! I know that got your attention! I am working on a chocolate cookbook to be given away on Write 2 the Heart's web site. This work in progress is tentatively called "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover." Anyone who would like to join in the delicious fun, send a chocolate recipe with a brief bio to be included after each recipe. Send as many as you wish. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner We have been working on flowerbeds in the front yard. David went and got a huge load of mixed dirt. If you want to know what it was mixed with, just remember, it came from a dairy. It also came with little surprises, ants. I am covered with ant bites and mosquito bites. But my flowerbeds look great! God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.