Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Turning Point in Providers

The letter came yesterday.

By law, on and after October 1, a veteran without a war wound and with medicare needs to be aware that he is covered for some service at VA Hospitals at his own expence after Tricare.  No VA Hospital excepts medicare. All veterans with medicare are requested to seek Tricare-4-Life providers before October 1.

That is a summation and it took several readings to figure that much out. Plus a call. And I am not sure the call center understood the letter!

Between us we have four college degrees. Surely we understood some of it. What we know for sure is that God's timing is perfect.

Raymon has had two major surgeries, numerous tests and labs, squads of doctors, physical therapy, two MRIs and consultations all before this ruling came down. And that is only this year. Prior to this year, he has had physicals, general doctor services, screenings and other medical treatments.

At this stage of the game, new eyes are a good idea.

We embrace this twist with open arms.

As the Summer is further from its beginning, the surgery side effects continue to recede slowly. The numbness in the legs and right hand fingers remains the same. Frustration is the king hinderance! I am guessing that it would be easier if he felt or looked bad.

Thanks for hanging in with us.

Raymon has already begun set-up visits with new doctors. :-) 

Monday, August 12, 2013

Dove Bars

Tonight we had a tasty treat, a Dove Ice Cream bar. 

That single luscious indulgence is a trip down memory lane for us.


Walking NYC's 5th Avenue from lower Manhattan to the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve became our tradition back in the 1980s. One of those years, we tasted roasting chestnuts, yuck. Trust me, the song is so much better. 


Some time around 1985 I think, we were approached by a rolling refrigerated cart and a young man, equally refrigerated. As I recall, we all were refrigerated. It was freezing but no one seemed to mind. It was the perfect weather for Christmas Eve in New York City.


[You know, this could have been a street festival in China Town. Christmas Eve makes a better story. Proceed.]


The young man approached us with a test product called Dove Bars. They were not yet on the market. He was passing them out, asking folks to give them a try and what they thought.


Its been almost 30 years since that original Dove Bar. My 1st in NYC. Tonight was my 2nd in NYC. 


I'm glad we got to try it all those years ago. Kinda makes you wonder if something we said had anything to do with them being here today. 




excuse me, my mind is going to wonder now...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Friends To The Rescue (written earlier)

This posting was written after Raymon, home from the hospital was still sleeping in the front room. He had the pull-out sofa while I had the bedroom and king-size bed all to myself!

It made for a perfect arrangement giving him plenty of equipment and sprawling room. And it was perfect for me as well. One person in a king-size bed, what can I say!
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Its seems running and jumping into a bed with risers under it really isn't a very smart thing to do. Especially at 3:00 A. M. in the morning.

I sprained most of my leg muscles. Smart, eh?

Yes, with Raymon laid up in the front room pull-out and most of the pillows, I decided I wanted a bit of attention too.

Sunday morning neither of us were moving much.

A blurry of text messages and emails later, two amazing friends sailed to our aid bearing ice cream and tex-mex food. We were 80 % healed by their gifts alone.

They then hit the grocery list, delivered the laundry to the laundromat (to be re-delivery by the laundromat the next day) and performed various house cleaning chores. I think I will sprain something on a regular basis!

Another gift of food by another dear friend came later that day. It will last through today and tomorrow.

Yet again a forth dear friend who lives down the hill and across the city public park answered scrambled voice message. He heard a panicked call that we needed help. He literally ran the hilly mile distance to see if we were okay. I felt terrible. The message we really sent was that "we are okay and do not need help."

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Life Changing / Written 3rd week July

This posting is not an update but history. We are past this. I wanted you to see the process.

This posting has been recovered from draft. I did not post it but rather prayed it. God sent some folks to us during this time. Now that the crisis has passed, I want to share with you our valley moment.

Of course there have been other, many other "valley" moments. Without God, his comfort, patience and ever present peace, neither of us would be sane right now. All of you and those not reading this blog who continue to call, text and email enrich us with strength impossible to describe.

Before reading this posting, know that the medical issues remain but the personal focus has vastly improved.
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draft

Up unto this point I have been presenting only general facts. The more specifically painful, I've withheld out of privacy and expedience.

Thank you for your forbearance.

Now I ask for specific prayer for specific issues.

He is overwhelmed by the resulting life changes before him.

Continuing mysterious numbness in his upper thighs are without diagnosis, disturbing and disrupting his will. I believe that his frustration prevents him from doing things he can.

He is not doing his recovery exercises on a regular basis. Without them, he remains weak. These include leg strength, arm and back plus neck and hand.

The number one thing is lack of motivation and what-is-there-to-recover-to. In other words, why recover?

I can hear all of you start typing on that one right now, but I shall answer right away. Most of his volunteer activities are dark for the summer, our work here with Everyday Church Church is on hiatus during a developmental time for the congregation.

We are thrilled that the congregation has been and continues to be so active in these last months. It has been difficult to not be an active part of it!

We are both feeling down about the slowness of the recovery process. Not because of the time needed to heal, but because of the time and opportunities lost within the life of the community.

As many of you have gone through a recovery process, please call and give him advise and wisdom.