Mike is 60 years old today. Thirty-six days ago he was admitted to a local hospital with pneumonia and sepsis. The twelve days in intensive care were an excruciating exercise in patience, faith and hope. The eight days of his sedation and intubation because he could not breathe on his own were almost unbearable.
He went in to the hospital on June 1 and came home on July 1. During that very long month.…. Kyra Rose graduated from high school and got her first job…. Alice and Peter celebrated birthdays…. Kahlan made the high school age traveling soccer team… Jacob went to Boy Scout camp on his own… Sam’s parents celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary…. all of our children came and stayed on a staggered schedule for several days each…. my sister Leslie adjusted her life to be there for me…. sister Sally welcomed a new grandson into the world…. sister Penny endured her own hospital stay…. I locked myself out of the van in the library parking lot at 8:30 PM one evening…. neighbors and friends and family mowed the lawn, cleaned the house, paid our bills, showed up and took me to the hospital cafe for coffee, sent encouraging notes, emails and voice messages, visited Mike in the hospital, sent flowers……..
We are very thankful for everyone in our lives, grateful for each other and excited about new possibilities. Happy Birthday, Mike.
And life goes on……..
©2011 Susan Kendall. All rights reserved
