The Four Seasons

I was reminded today of a movie that was popular in the "70's.  "The Four Seasons".  While driving to the Center for Living, a small yellow leaf landed on the hood of my car.  After that I began to notice the trees that lined the street.  I noticed that the dogwood trees were turning and shedding along with some of the others.  I share this with you because Lee and I have experienced the four seasons of 2009 and 2010 in a very memorable way.

December through the first week of March, we experienced a very cold Winter while Lee spent 67 days in four different hospitals.  December 18 through December 24, he was hospitilized at Catawba Regional Medical Center.  He returned home for Christmas Eve and Day only to be sent to Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem on December 31.  At Baptist he had a lung biopsy and was in pulmonary intensive care unit for six weeks.  It was during his time at Baptist that Lee was most critically ill.  On February 1, he was transferred to long-term acute care @ Select, Forsyth in Winston-Salem for rehabilitation.  It was @ Select that we learned his only option for life was a lung transplant.  He was transferred by ambulance to Duke on February 28.  He stayed at Duke until March 11. 2010, but was rejected for a transplant because he was so weak. 

Our entire Winter was spent in all those hospitals.  It was THE coldest Winter I can ever remember.  I do know that parking garages are a very cold place to be. They seem to draw all the wind inside.

Fortunately we were able to return home in time for Spring!  Lee and I were able to see the farm in full bloom.  I do believe it renewed both our spirits and gave Lee the determination to gain enough strength to return to Duke.

Summer seems to have come and gone in a flash.  It is probably the first Summer of my life when I was not able to participate and enjoy the Summer activities with our family.  It was instead, a Summer filled .with anxiety, apprehension, joy, then sorrow, and the continuous tidal wave of  unimaginable emotions.

I share this with you because that one small yellow leaf that landed on my car gave me hope.  Even though the leaves will die and the tree will become bare, I know that new leaves will return in the Spring.  Even though it is almost Fall, I believe this is Lee's Spring.   

Lee had another good day at the Center for Living.  He is very tired tonight because each day they push for more from him.  He was able to walk from the condo to the car WITHOUT the aid of the walker!  Another first!

More later........................................Brenda