If you read my previous post entitled, "Counting Every Blessing" you know that I am "cut" and not in a good way. Most people who talk about being "cut" means they are in great physical shape and probably have washboard abs. Not the case here, I have two incisions and one skin graft due to a recent melanoma ordeal. Two weeks later my husband and I were returning from Nashville where I had been attending an art class. He starting feeling very bad with aches and pains and fever. We visited stand alone medical clinic and we were told he had a virus that would "run it's course". He continued to worsen with nausea and vomiting and started having double vision and severe weakness. We then visited the ER and were told he had a problem in the nerves in his brain and he would be transferred by ambulance to be admitted to the hospital. Diagnosis came from six physicians, six MRI's, two Cat Scans, one lumbar puncture and numerous blood tests. Miller Fisher Syndrome, a variant of Gullian Barre' Syndrome. He had received a flu shot 10 days prior to the virus and the combination of those two triggered an immune response where his own immune system started attacking nerve cells. He received 5 days of immunoglobulin therapy and is home now recuperating. He will recover but it is a slow process. But the title of this painting comes from the fact that we truly are one in the Spirit. When prayers, concern, love are needed, the power of those are immeasurable. Your spirits are uplifted and your heart is touched and within that positive atmosphere of love, God is present. We have been so overwhelmed with the text, cards, calls and messages from so many wonderful people. We are very thankful.
There is a lot of strife in our world today regarding many issues and this old song comes back to me, "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love".
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Songwriters: Peter Scholtes
I do want to report according to Google that the CDC estimates between 12,000 to 56,000
people may die from the flu each year. The chances of getting Miller Fisher or Guillian Barre from the flu shot is 1 in 100,000.
There are those places that just call to you. Places where the sky is a clear blue, the pool is turquoise and you can truly relax and turn your mind to "off". This beautiful little cottage in Key West is one of those places.
6" x 8"
I have always loved the sun. I loved it when I was 19 years old and my friends and I laid out at the lake soaked in baby oil, I loved it in my 20's and 30's when we lived on the lake and were out in the boat with our kids all day. I even loved tanning beds when I worked in my 40's and did not have as much time to work on my tan. Well, over the years I have had several skin cancers that have had to be removed, squamous and basal cell. Three years ago I had to have Mohs surgery ( a precise surgical technique used where thin layer of cancer containing skin are progressively removed and examined until only cancer-free tissue remains.) Two weeks ago I had my yearly dermatology visit and skin check and I had 4 biopsies. Two came back bad.....wow....melanoma. That is a little more serious. According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and the most common form of cancer in the U.S. If not caught early, it can metastasize to other parts of the body. I had a wonderful surgeon, Dr. Chris Harmon of the Surgical Dermatology Group of Birmingham and he assured me that he got clean margins and the cancer was caught very early but I need to be reassessed every 3 months.
I have a biopsy healing on my left arm, a 2" inch incision on my right arm from one removal, a 2" incision with stitches above my right clavicle that provided a skin graft for my lower shin. My lower leg is still dressed so I am unsure what it looks like but it has been very painful. I started to stay quiet about this but I just want to encourage SUNSCREEN and please see a dermatologist if you have any question regarding any skin discolorations or changing moles, even if you call them freckles.
I have been listening to Rend Collective today and love the son "Counting Every Blessing" and I feel this so strongly.
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me
Oh I remember those moments when time does not matter, except for the fact that you want it to stop. Those moments when you forget about what needs to be dusted or cooked or folded or washed and you just sit in the grass and hug your little person. When my kids were small I did not think they would ever grow up and be independent. I thought I would always be picking up toys, fixing snacks and running from soccer game to dance lessons. Now I sit with my grandkids and talk of those days filled with stories of their parents. Life goes on and what I am now conscious of is every moment spent with a little person on my lap or in my arms or just sitting and talking is precious. l listen better and live in those moments more fully.
