[email protected]

Hello,

Last Wed.am Tim, my sweet Hubby, headed over to the care facility and picked
up his father, Charles. The two of them headed to Novato, 1 hour away, to pick
up David, Tim's brother. David has Downs Syndrom. David was at a different
location and the trip became a 6 hour stuck in traffic ordeal. Charles suffers
from a stroke 5 years ago and is paralyzed on the left side. This is Tim's
family. We hosted a Thanksgiving meal. 12 people, my mom, sister and family,
Tim's family, our 3 kids. Friday Ashley was busy with a final dress rehersal
and openning night musical. Saturday we brought Tim's dad to see the Sound of
Music matinee. Ashley was is a few special parts and danced great. We had a
family meal, our way, at Round Table Pizza. Sunday Tim went to take his
brother back home. Charles wanted to go also, but Tim noticed he was coughing
a ton and left him at the care facility. Turns out Charles has pneumonia and
was rushed to the hospital Sunday pm. He'll be there for while. Tim watched
him turn blue yesterday. He saw death. And then life again. Today is Charles
73rd Birthday. Tim will go see him later today. The kids do not want to go to
the hospital. Tim looks sad, worried and worn. He and I had coffee together
this am (kids still sleeping) and that was nice.

Mary H.

Betsy

**Charles suffers
from a stroke 5 years ago and is paralyzed on the left side.**

Hi, Mary --

I hope you can find some time to rest and have a nice cup of tea (wait,
make that coffee). Life has been incredibly stressful for you and your family.

It seems like virus season this fall in N. Calif. is especially fierce.
There is a child at my park day that has already had pnuemonia twice.
My dh had pleurisy. Son is coughing very raucously even as I type.

My mom's boyfriend had a stroke more than three years ago and is still
making progress. "Experts" claim that almost all recovery will happen
in the first year, but this is not what we are seeing. Jim didn't
regain much of any movement in his right side the first year, but when I
saw him at Thanksgiving he showed me that he's suddenly able to move his
right leg and foot.

Please do all you can to take care of yourself.

Best wishes,
Betsy

David Lewis

Mary,

It's mind boggling, what life brings us. I'm sorry your husband (and all
of you) are so stressed right now and that your father in law is ill.

I think it's a better idea that your kids don't go to the hospital.
They have super-bugs at hospitals and I think it's really dangerous for
kids to be there if they don't have to be. Harder for your husband to
go alone though, maybe.

Hang in there, Mary.

Deb L



On Tue, 03 Dec 2002 09:10:07 -0800 <maryfhickman@...> writes:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> Last Wed.am Tim, my sweet Hubby, headed over to the care facility
> and picked
> up his father, Charles. The two of them headed to Novato, 1 hour
> away, to pick
> up David, Tim's brother. David has Downs Syndrom. David was at a
> different
> location and the trip became a 6 hour stuck in traffic ordeal.
> Charles suffers
> from a stroke 5 years ago and is paralyzed on the left side. This is
> Tim's
> family. We hosted a Thanksgiving meal. 12 people, my mom, sister and
> family,
> Tim's family, our 3 kids. Friday Ashley was busy with a final dress
> rehersal
> and openning night musical. Saturday we brought Tim's dad to see the
> Sound of
> Music matinee. Ashley was is a few special parts and danced great.
> We had a
> family meal, our way, at Round Table Pizza. Sunday Tim went to take
> his
> brother back home. Charles wanted to go also, but Tim noticed he was
> coughing
> a ton and left him at the care facility. Turns out Charles has
> pneumonia and
> was rushed to the hospital Sunday pm. He'll be there for while. Tim
> watched
> him turn blue yesterday. He saw death. And then life again. Today is
> Charles
> 73rd Birthday. Tim will go see him later today. The kids do not want
> to go to
> the hospital. Tim looks sad, worried and worn. He and I had coffee
> together
> this am (kids still sleeping) and that was nice.
>
> Mary H.