We had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. The rain that has pounded us for the past month finally gave way to sunny skies on Saturday. I got to enjoy city fireworks Thursday evening and again on Saturday night. They were beautiful and I always say they know how to make a birthday girl smile. Another year of love, life and happiness.
My husband took me shopping on my birthday and out to dinner. We ate in the German Village of Columbus. There is a lot of heritage there and history. It has been preserved with cobblestone streets,Tutor style homes and German restaurants. I have to laugh because we ate at an Irish pub. What can I say my mother was Irish and my dad German. The best of both worlds all in one place. The food was excellent. We visited a book store there that has over 500,000 books. It is in an old house with many nooks and crannies. The courtyard leading into the store was beautifully adorned with flowers that were thriving heartily from all the rain. I wished I would of had my camera. For now my memories will have to suffice.
I have been spending as much time as possible with my dad, as we count down the days to surgery. I asked him many questions on Saturday about his life and family. He is one of twelve siblings and is the oldest of the three that are still alive. We had fun talking about his life and how he was taught to always enjoy life. His advice to me was always have fun and be happy. He said he was always happy and loved people. I think his secret is forgiveness. He said to keep my husband out of trouble, as he laughed. LOL!
We had fun at a family reunion the last weekend in June. It was my dad's family. My aunt who is still living is just as funny as my dad and has a very healthy attitude of life. She said she came from a strong family and that my dad was probably giving the doctors heck, as she laughed. She told me he was lucky to have me for a daughter. I told her of course, I learned only the best from him. I am the lucky one, because as far as I am concerned he is the greatest dad ever.
We live each day to the fullest and we know that what ever happens that we are the lucky ones to have a dad who cares to give the very best.... Hallmark cards!
And yes indeed, it was a beautiful card that brought smiles and tears to my face. Thank you dad.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
Monday, July 6, 2015
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Renewed Faith In Doctors
It has been an emotional packed day, as I awoke this morning before the chickens (LOL) and drove to my dad's house in the rain. The sunshine we had the last couple of days had left us. Never fear it is afternoon now and the sun has returned. Laney and I have been sitting outside enjoying the flowers that are blooming all over the place.
I was so relieved over some news that we had this morning that I broke down and cried. They were happy tears. I have renewed faith in doctors after meeting my dad's cardiac surgeon. I have been a little apprehensive about being around doctors after the ordeal I went through with some doctors a couple of years ago. My dad has some really wonderful doctors who have helped him. My dad said I was really going to like the surgeon. He had done some heart surgery on my dad in 2000. My dad was right the surgeon did an excellent job explaining what was wrong with the heart and how he would repair it. My dad thanked him for helping him in 2000, and the surgeon told my dad that he was impressed at how well he had taken care of himself. He has no blockages or damage at this time other than the leaky aortic valve. The surgeon is confident my dad will do well with the surgery, but we always know that anything can go wrong. Any surgery is a risk, but he did not feel that my dad's age increased that risk any more than a younger person. My dad smiled and that made me happy. The alternative which is no surgery was not good, and you can probably guess a very short time to live. So, if all goes well my dad's dreams of living into his nineties may come true. He is my hero and my bowl of laughter for the day. I love you dad!
I also read an article today about a doctor that my husband saw once after cancer treatment. It was about him helping others that travel from a far with lodging during cancer treatment. That made me smile and I am very happy to hear that people are getting help. There are so many things that cancer patients worry about besides treatments. I know that my husband and I worried about the expenses of lodging while he was a patient at MD Anderson. We lived in an apartment for seven months while he was having chemotherapy. We are still paying for that expense and the expense of travel to from MD Anderson for two years after initial treatment for maintenance treatment. It was a 2000 mile trip every three months. We are among the blessed to have been able to go to MD Anderson. We were lucky to have been able to stay with some relatives the last two years. God Bless them!
Despite the expenses and the long travel by car, my husband is doing well and that was what the journey was about. It was an emotional journey and we were blessed that some of our friends went together and gave us some money to help with everyday expenses. We maintained our home in the north and sometimes I look back now and think how did we do it all. God was with us.
Cancer patients learn quickly how precious life is and how all the material things in life don't really mean that much. I remember after we had lived in the small apartment for a few months, we realized that we did not miss our possessions at home. What we did miss was the nurturing that you get from other people. We were in a new city and very alone. So glad it is behind us now. We are strong and cancer did not win. We love life to the fullest every day. God bless all cancer patients and doctors who care enough to make a difference.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
I was so relieved over some news that we had this morning that I broke down and cried. They were happy tears. I have renewed faith in doctors after meeting my dad's cardiac surgeon. I have been a little apprehensive about being around doctors after the ordeal I went through with some doctors a couple of years ago. My dad has some really wonderful doctors who have helped him. My dad said I was really going to like the surgeon. He had done some heart surgery on my dad in 2000. My dad was right the surgeon did an excellent job explaining what was wrong with the heart and how he would repair it. My dad thanked him for helping him in 2000, and the surgeon told my dad that he was impressed at how well he had taken care of himself. He has no blockages or damage at this time other than the leaky aortic valve. The surgeon is confident my dad will do well with the surgery, but we always know that anything can go wrong. Any surgery is a risk, but he did not feel that my dad's age increased that risk any more than a younger person. My dad smiled and that made me happy. The alternative which is no surgery was not good, and you can probably guess a very short time to live. So, if all goes well my dad's dreams of living into his nineties may come true. He is my hero and my bowl of laughter for the day. I love you dad!
I also read an article today about a doctor that my husband saw once after cancer treatment. It was about him helping others that travel from a far with lodging during cancer treatment. That made me smile and I am very happy to hear that people are getting help. There are so many things that cancer patients worry about besides treatments. I know that my husband and I worried about the expenses of lodging while he was a patient at MD Anderson. We lived in an apartment for seven months while he was having chemotherapy. We are still paying for that expense and the expense of travel to from MD Anderson for two years after initial treatment for maintenance treatment. It was a 2000 mile trip every three months. We are among the blessed to have been able to go to MD Anderson. We were lucky to have been able to stay with some relatives the last two years. God Bless them!
Despite the expenses and the long travel by car, my husband is doing well and that was what the journey was about. It was an emotional journey and we were blessed that some of our friends went together and gave us some money to help with everyday expenses. We maintained our home in the north and sometimes I look back now and think how did we do it all. God was with us.
Cancer patients learn quickly how precious life is and how all the material things in life don't really mean that much. I remember after we had lived in the small apartment for a few months, we realized that we did not miss our possessions at home. What we did miss was the nurturing that you get from other people. We were in a new city and very alone. So glad it is behind us now. We are strong and cancer did not win. We love life to the fullest every day. God bless all cancer patients and doctors who care enough to make a difference.
Life is beautiful !!
Elizabeth:)
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