MFT44

THE BEND IN THE ROAD

You never know what is just ahead, around the bend in the road. There may be an animal in your path or something blocking the roadway. You never know for sure until you go around the bend.

All of life is like that. There is always the unexpected that comes up as you go around the bend. My wife Rosalie and I discovered that in an unusual way just over three months after we were married. This was the second marriage for both us. Rosalie had been married for more than 57 years and I had been married for over 61 years when we lost our mates. For a fuller story of our lives see Our Home Page.

As I said just over three months after we were married when we had made plans for a wonderful summer, that included a flight to California to visit a niece and her hubby, and trip to Florida to see Rosalie's eldest daughter and then a Caribbean cruise. We already had the tickets for those trips, but we also planned trips to Albuquerque, NM and New England to visit Rosalie's granddaughter and youngest daughter.

When we turned the corner on April 23rd I was confronted with emergency surgery for perforated bowels. I had taken too much prednisone for too long and I had problems. The surgeon didn't hold out much hope for my survival, but by the weeks end I was able to be up walking. Then another bend in the road, I suffered a mild stroke, followed in three days by a massive stroke that really took its toll. My right side was immobilized and I couldn't speak or swallow. That did it, I was taken to a Rehabilitation facility.

After about six weeks and being fed through my stomach I was able to swallow and speak well enough to be understood. Then at the end of three months I was able to walk with the aid of a walker.

We were released to go home to Dublin and Goshen, where Rosalie was from. But after falling nine times in the nine months that we resided in our two apartments it was time for another bend in the road. Encouraged by our daughters we sold out most of our belongings and moved into Friends Fellowship Community in Richmond, IN in the assisted living section.

We have had fairly smooth living for the last four and one half years.

The last bend just occurred a month ago. Rosalie came down with a terrible shingle affliction. She has been suffering awful pain and even the strong medication she is taking gives her very little relief. We pray that she will soon be able to feel like a normal 87 year old should.

Updating this saga April 25, 2003. On February 10th I was taken to the ER at Reid hospital with chest pains, but following every test imaginable my heart proved not to be the culprit. So that meant there was some other problem, which turned out to be gall stones. My gall bladder was removed, but following that procedure I was unable to swallow again. The doctors thought that would only be temporary, so they tried to put a tube to my stomach through my nose (unsuccessfully I might add). So that meant another tube to my stomach. I was in the hospital 18 days and then spent 21 days in the health center here at FFC. But I am now back in our apt. and my stomach tube has been removed again for the second time.

My wife is very much improved from her shingles and is grateful for your prayers.

I can say as of now the effects of the shingles a long gone

Sincerely, Earl J Prignitz