Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful I can be THERE . . .

. . . There for A. who put down her dog of ten years today, Tucker.  Thankful that I can understand when she says her dad (who is from Sierra Leone) says it's just a dog and it doesn't matter when we both know it DOES.

. . .  There for D. who's friend's funeral was today.  The friend was a murder/suicide victim.  I don't understand the "why's", but I can hug the one who is HERE.  

. . . There for K. who just got diagnosed with leukemia.  You know, the mother of four who's children's ages range from one to seven, who's husband travels for work, who's third daughter is battling juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  I have no platitudes to say, but I can be THERE . . .

Thankful Thursday!

I've been writing "Thankful Thursday"s for a very long time.  Do you ever wonder what I'm going to say?  Because today's is truly a first . . .

I am so absolutely THANKFUL that no one drowned on my time today at the Y!  I can't even make this up.  Claire was the first one to go down.  She stepped of the step we have the children stand on and went under.  Fortunately, she was tall enough that a few coughs and she was fine. 

Maxwell, however, was so excited for his very first day of swimming lessons that he forgot to hang on the wall and he forgot to stay on the step.  He went down not once, but twice- at different times!  I hear his mom stopped by the front desk after lessons and said how happy she was with his swimming instructor!  Really?

Mark only went off the step once.  I told him that he had done a remarkable "bob" as he coughed up a bit of water.  His mom is a doctor.  She's cool. 

I think, while I'm quite thankful that this Thursday ended well, next Thursday I may look into velcro or super glue for these students . . .  

The FINAL PT Report

I met with Laura yesterday for my final PT session.  It was filled with encouraging news, good news, and challenging news.  I, according to her, am doing great!  Better than most!  However, I'm not "perfect".  We had to work together to get my leg to flatten to 0º, but we did it.  It took a bit of time, but Melon Knee managed to bend to 120º.  All good . . .

Laura also said that over the next ten months or so, my knee will swell, hurt, and do spectacularly - in what ever order it decides.  But I'm to not loose heart.  I'm to keep doing my exercises.  If I lose my step-down wobble, I can stop doing exercises.  That could be in two weeks, two months or ten.

The sweetest thing she said was, "Let me get you my card.  You can send me an e-mail at any time.  I'm here to help."  

Good-bye to . . .

Saturday was Micah's last day at Applebee's.  She wasn't happy with some things happening at the store and asked us if she could resign.  She talked with her manager at Cub and he was willing to give her more hours, so we gave her our blessing.  

She wanted to go out in a "storm", letting them know EVERYTHING that was wrong!  I encouraged her to show grace.  Choosing to leave with grace, her manager's gave her a "farewell" meal before she left Saturday as well as these words, "If you ever want to come back, know you're hired."

Salematu

It all started with a toothache when Salematu was 24. As a first-year nursing student, she knew she should go to the dentist, but she was struggling. She had just lost her husband unexpectedly, leaving her with two young daughters. Money was low, and medical costs were high. But the pain in her mouth grew worse. Eventually, waiting was no longer an option. After examination, the doctor’s news was not good — she was told it was a tumour that was growing slowly but steadily.

Over the next two years, she watched helplessly as it took over her face, pressing into her mouth and making it more difficult to speak or swallow. It twisted her nose. It began to creep closer to her left eye, threatening her vision.

All the while, Salematu was told the same thing by doctors: there was nothing they could do. They did not have the medical capacity to help her. Over time, she was forced to abandon her dream of finishing nursing school. What use was it to continue studying if her tumour kept her from working?

Tired of the looks and comments from strangers in the street, she stopped going out. She became relegated to her home, spending most of her time with her two young daughters. She was ashamed to be seen, embarrassed to let even her daughters witness her changing face.

Kiwi nurse Shali Clemant (left) helps care for Salematu post-surgery

‘I FELT HELPLESS.’

The first glimmer of hope came the day her uncle called her with news from the port city of Conakry — a hospital ship was arriving to perform free surgeries! Her heart was filled with happiness at the hope of release from the tumour. Salematu got on a bus and made the journey to the capital city alone, leaving her daughters behind with their grandmother.

It was hard to say goodbye not knowing how long it might be until she saw them again, especially without a way to keep in contact. But she knew that this surgery would not only save her life — it would save her daughters from growing up as orphans.

The day she walked up the gangway to receive her operation, Salematu said she felt joy down to her bones.

The next two weeks in the hospital were a blur. After her successful surgery, she bonded with the nurses who gave her round-the-clock care. “The nurses are my favourite,” Salematu said. “They are so kind to me. They have all become my friends.” After a few days, she was able to look into the mirror and see her new face for the first time after surgery.

“I feel beautiful. I feel good. I feel hopeful,” Salematu marvelled.

A HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR HER CHILDREN

During her stay on the Africa Mercy, Salematu couldn’t stop thinking about the moment she would be reunited with her daughters when they would finally see her without the tumour that had hindered her smile for two long years. Without a way to send them photos, she knew the transformation would be overwhelming.

After a few days, she was able to look into the mirror and see her new face for the first time after surgery.

“I feel beautiful. I feel good. I feel hopeful,” she marvelled.

During her stay on the Africa Mercy, Salematu couldn’t stop thinking about the moment she would be reunited with her daughters, when they would finally see her without the tumour that had hindered her smile for two long years. Without a way to send them photos, she knew the transformation would be overwhelming.

“They will see me soon, and they will not believe it,” Salematu smiled. “They will be so happy!”

The day she was told she could return home, Salematu said she felt like dancing! She was so excited to finally hold her daughters close, and to return to pursuing her dreams of finishing nursing school, with the hope of one-day pouring love and care into others.

These plans for a life that once felt powerless now felt full of limitless possibility. Salematu’s miracle changed her life, and she couldn’t wait to share her joy with the world.

Only at Sand Creek - on a Sunday!

When you work with a bunch of believers, you find out everyone prayed before work today - either that the rain would stop or that the group would cancel!  

The rain stopped and we had forty-some girls from the Southwest High School Girls Soccer Team in Minneapolis on the course.  Tim and I got to do the low ropes and had a blast.  Then we did zip lines while our co-hearts were down in the high ropes.  It was a great day working with a great team and some very fun girls!

Only at Sand Creek - on a Saturday!

This one was for the record books!  Seriously!  The whole day went fine until the 3:15 p.m. high ropes course.  Then it got a whole lot better!

Imagine . . . We had four fifth grade girls from Apple Valley there to celebrate a birthday.  Add to them, six ladies from a bridal party.  It could have been a disaster.  Instead, it was the best time ever!

We sent the four girls up first as they had requested to do the giant swing if there was time.  They successfully made it through, then decided they wanted to cheer on the bridal party rather than swing.  They learned everyone's name and shouted encouragements throughout the course.  

Now the only way to get off the high ropes course is to zip down.  As each bridal party member zipped down, two fifth grade girls stood on each side of the "runway" and did a cheer.  There was "Amazing Grace" which was sung.  There were dances.  There was the chant for the bride - "A-L-L-I-E".  We were all laughing and smiling.  

Then the owner invited everyone to do the giant swing at no extra charge.  See, we were all having fun!  We had bridesmaids and fifth graders side by side pulling people up.  

At the end, they wanted group pictures.  Now, I doubt the fifth graders will be invited to the wedding, but word is out the bridesmaids are going to do the "ALLIE" cheer when she walks in to the dance.  After all, they video-taped it!