From Michelle. 17 November, 2010.
Dearest friends and family,
What a difference a week makes. Thanks to your amazing prayers and a generous helping of grace, Steve is doing much better. While his shoulder is still frozen and he continues to make four trips to Harborview per week to work on it, he is making good progress. Thanks to two other physical therapist friends who are willing to make house calls, his shoulder gets “cranked” six times per week. The shin splints are also improving. While his bursitis remains, it is not infected. Best of all, not a single therapy appointment has been canceled or curtailed due to unusually high amounts of spasms. Praise God!
More good news: we have officially financially qualified for Medicaid. My understanding is that we have to be approved by a social worker next in order for Steve’s status to be activated, but this should take far less time. Please keep praying! We are hopeful!
In church on Sunday, the following verses were read from Psalm 139: “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” My heart knew the shape of each letter, the sound of each vowel and consonant. I have known that sweet surrounding presence, echoing through many, many years and dark corners of my life. The truth of it was like an old friend. Wonderful to find firm footing once again in that familiar comfort, even as the terrain changes constantly.
We had a lovely time at the pool on Monday. The pool Steve regularly visits is a therapy pool, which is heated to an unusually warm temperature. It is crowded with elderly and disabled folk and their therapists, enjoying the warmth and buoyancy of the water. For the first time, I brought Zephyr, along with Steve and his caregiver Dale. Zephyr, of course, had a grand old time splashing about in the warm water, playing along the long wheelchair ramp into the pool, and jumping from the edge into my arms. What had been a mere therapy routine was now a child’s delight, and the delight of several onlookers.
There are so many activities from our former life to miss. One of the most poignant of these for Steve is wrestling with the boys, an oft-spoken language of love and laughter among father and sons, now in the past. How precious, then, to watch Steve grab Zephyr in the water! In the Philippines this was a frequent pastime, a welcome respite from the heat and a terrific play time with the kids. Now it is a precious respite from gravity, but still a terrific play time with the kids! We’ll have to bring the older boys soon!
Last week, I ended with trust. This week, I end with praise. From my very favorite psalm (63): “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”
Dear friends and family, we are so grateful for all of you!
Love,
Michelle