Dear Family and Friends,
No we have not fallen into a black hole but after all the girls left we are now on our own. I don't have time to breath much less write and read emails. Those extra pair of hands were wonderful and trying to organize around Dick's needs, general household chores, doctor visits, and taxes to be done, I am a bit frazzled.
The urinary track problem is still with us so that means extra care and awareness to health issues. We have gone ahead and seen the oncologist about the multiple myeloma and done blood work. Dick is still having the severe pain in his left shoulder and hip which concerns our oncologist, so we go for a pet scan tomorrow to see what is going on. If all is clear then we 're going to have to find someone to help with pain management. He is willing but not fully able to assist with the PT,OT, and general care issues because of the pain. We were hoping to have outpatient therapy start now but we still need the home care until this is resolved.
Again thank you for the cards, phone calls, and prayers. They are sustaining us through this time of trial and testing.
I have added the note we sent to the Cathedral as a thank you for all our church family has done and been to us.
Dear Cathedral Family and Friends,
Amy and I thank God for your prayers and friendship through these past months of my recovery since the stroke in late September. While I still have not recovered the use of my left arm and leg, I have retained my awareness of your many expressions of love and concern. Your many cards, phone calls, and prayers have sustained us this whole time and continue to help us persevere.
We so appreciate the various church ministries of the Health Team, Food Ministry,KitchenTeam, Prayer Ministry,and LEV’s. They helped by providing meals while our girls were down to help prepare the house and after Dick came home on February 4th. They provided advice and equipment to ready the house for wheelchair access, and ready and willing bodies to be available whenever we need caretakers to give Amy a chance to run errands. A very special thanks to Bob Baker who spent hours widening the doors and helping to remove all the carpet and get the parquet floors underneath in usable condition. Also to Joanne Mumely who walked us through the pre-home job of getting the right equipment and overall encourager since the stroke. Also Bill and Roxanne McCormac who provided the person to help with the shower revamping and their on the spot reminders that help is available. A special gift to Dick was being able to receive communion while at the rehab center and have pastoral visits from his fellow clergy. This has truly been the Christian community in action .
We can never fully express our appreciation in these few words but please know you have done real service in the name of and to the glory of Jesus.
In His love,
Dick and Amy Grant
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
He's Home!
Hi All,
This is Susie writing. Momma's been so busy getting the house ready for Daddy's homecoming that she hasn't had a chance to send you the latest news. During January, the carpets were pulled up, doors were taken down and the bathroom was renovated to accomodate a wheel chair. The Health Team from St. Luke's Cathedral came, assessed the needs and set about addressing them. A hospital bed was loaned, and I can tell you we are very thankful for it. It has saved us a great deal of back trouble. Meals have been organized and handiwork has been completed. Without all of this support it would have been impossible to be ready in time.
I flew down on February 2nd to help Momma with the last little preparations, and Daddy came home on Saturday February 4th. I'm sorry to say it's been a rocky transition. It's been quite an adjustment for everyone. All of this was complicated by Daddy developing a urinary track complication that landed us in the ER for the night. Once that was sorted out, Daddy began sleeping better which has made a huge difference. In addition to this, we've been assigned a cracker jack team of home health workers (OT, PT, speech therapy, nurse assistant and nurse) who will help us get Daddy back on track to recovery.
We thank you all for your prayers and support. The presence of the Lord, manifested by friends and family, has sustained us through this difficult time.
This is Susie writing. Momma's been so busy getting the house ready for Daddy's homecoming that she hasn't had a chance to send you the latest news. During January, the carpets were pulled up, doors were taken down and the bathroom was renovated to accomodate a wheel chair. The Health Team from St. Luke's Cathedral came, assessed the needs and set about addressing them. A hospital bed was loaned, and I can tell you we are very thankful for it. It has saved us a great deal of back trouble. Meals have been organized and handiwork has been completed. Without all of this support it would have been impossible to be ready in time.
I flew down on February 2nd to help Momma with the last little preparations, and Daddy came home on Saturday February 4th. I'm sorry to say it's been a rocky transition. It's been quite an adjustment for everyone. All of this was complicated by Daddy developing a urinary track complication that landed us in the ER for the night. Once that was sorted out, Daddy began sleeping better which has made a huge difference. In addition to this, we've been assigned a cracker jack team of home health workers (OT, PT, speech therapy, nurse assistant and nurse) who will help us get Daddy back on track to recovery.
We thank you all for your prayers and support. The presence of the Lord, manifested by friends and family, has sustained us through this difficult time.
Monday, January 2, 2012
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES AND NEW YEAR 'S HOPES
Good Morning, this second day of January,
Hard to believe after all the preparation for Christmas and the New Year it is on to new projects. Thank you to all who helped us get Dick up, dressed , transported, and back to church after 3months. We were thrilled and wept through most of the service. The cathedral was beautiful,the sermon about the gift of salvation through Jesus, and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Just being with our part of the body of Christ was healing for both Dick and me. He came home to turkey cooking, a nap in his own bed, and then a home cooked meal with friends and family to share. He was one happy camper and it was hard to return to the center. We did fairly well but found that pushing the wheelchair up the ramps and over the carpet was very difficult .The transferring him from chair to bed, etc. is hard. He is still unable to use his left side and needs total assistance. But, he is getting stronger and can get out of the chair with more ease and stand holding on to a rail independently for a few minutes. Same with the car transfers. I definitely will need help if he doesn't improve by Feb.
We have started the process of transitioning from rehab to home. The first thing was to get him set up with a neurologist. That in itself was another God story. We will see him the 10th for evaluation. The therapy department needs his input with theirs to determine what is next. In the meantime, our girls and their husbands are taking us on- each has something-not sure just what- they are researching. Katie will be flying in the 9th to be my mouth, ears, and advocate as all this can be overwhelming. They are great and quite a team . Katie, Susie, and Becky and families were together at Susie and Art's new home in Chimney Rock,NC They had a ball and time to pow wow about the "elders". We use to laugh that they would put us on an ice flow but now that global warming is suddenly upon us they are finding alternative accommodations. Tree houses, backyard sheds, or out on a playground. Seriously, we have been truly blessed with loving, caring, and sharp, wise children.
I woke up New Year's day feeling more alert and alive than I have is awhile. It was a relief to have 2010 and 2011 behind us and ready to forge ahead with Jesus into what the future holds. He does fill my joy bucket but sometimes in (theory ) for me and then in spirit, soul, and body as I experience His presence in my heart and those around me.
Blessings to you in a New Year of joy, peace, and knowledge of your specialness in the eyes of our heavenly Father.
Dick and Amy
Hard to believe after all the preparation for Christmas and the New Year it is on to new projects. Thank you to all who helped us get Dick up, dressed , transported, and back to church after 3months. We were thrilled and wept through most of the service. The cathedral was beautiful,the sermon about the gift of salvation through Jesus, and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Just being with our part of the body of Christ was healing for both Dick and me. He came home to turkey cooking, a nap in his own bed, and then a home cooked meal with friends and family to share. He was one happy camper and it was hard to return to the center. We did fairly well but found that pushing the wheelchair up the ramps and over the carpet was very difficult .The transferring him from chair to bed, etc. is hard. He is still unable to use his left side and needs total assistance. But, he is getting stronger and can get out of the chair with more ease and stand holding on to a rail independently for a few minutes. Same with the car transfers. I definitely will need help if he doesn't improve by Feb.
We have started the process of transitioning from rehab to home. The first thing was to get him set up with a neurologist. That in itself was another God story. We will see him the 10th for evaluation. The therapy department needs his input with theirs to determine what is next. In the meantime, our girls and their husbands are taking us on- each has something-not sure just what- they are researching. Katie will be flying in the 9th to be my mouth, ears, and advocate as all this can be overwhelming. They are great and quite a team . Katie, Susie, and Becky and families were together at Susie and Art's new home in Chimney Rock,NC They had a ball and time to pow wow about the "elders". We use to laugh that they would put us on an ice flow but now that global warming is suddenly upon us they are finding alternative accommodations. Tree houses, backyard sheds, or out on a playground. Seriously, we have been truly blessed with loving, caring, and sharp, wise children.
I woke up New Year's day feeling more alert and alive than I have is awhile. It was a relief to have 2010 and 2011 behind us and ready to forge ahead with Jesus into what the future holds. He does fill my joy bucket but sometimes in (theory ) for me and then in spirit, soul, and body as I experience His presence in my heart and those around me.
Blessings to you in a New Year of joy, peace, and knowledge of your specialness in the eyes of our heavenly Father.
Dick and Amy
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