A Close CALL, a Wake Up CALL, CALL us Lucky!

I can't really begin this story talking about "luck" I know better than that. I am feeling very, very grateful, thankful, and mighty blessed that my "other half" closest friend, and husband has sailed through a major health crisis seemingly no worse for the wear! Bottom line is that Gary suffered a stroke a little over a month ago, the neurologist called it "significant" however, what is amazing is that it "resolved" very, quickly. Two nights in the hospital and Gary was home. Then this past week he had his heart repaired. The ASD was discovered through extensive testing and considered the culprit of the stroke, so a "Gore HELEX Septal Occluder" was implanted to plug the hole... problem fixed! There is a phrase that we use called, "tender mercies". Basically, they are the little things that happen that are a true blessing to you. These things may seem insignificant to others, or perhaps a coincidence, but in your heart you know it is a little gift from God, or maybe a BIG gift from God, given to you, for a special purpose. A "tender mercy" helps you to feel personally connected to a very loving Father in Heaven. You feel he is aware of you and your life. So - listed below are some of the "Tender Mercies" I have felt through this experience of Gary's stroke:

1. Somehow Gary was able to drive from point A to point B, including a left turn in a busy intersection, while suffering incredible weakness and tunnel vision. He didn't know what was happening, actually, he knew things weren't right and wondered if he should stop in the middle of the street, he doesn't know how he got to point B. He could have been on the freeway, he could have had a number of terrible things happen on the road, but they didn't.

2. The customer he was meeting recognized IMMEDIATELY the signs of a stroke and called 911 without any hesitation. She could have thought he just fainted and needed a drink or something.

3. We have health insurance.

4. That Gary "woke up" so quickly. I try not to think about the condition of the man, that I saw, whom they rushed INTO the CT scan....soon after he came out, the Gary I know was smiling at me.

With the encouragement of Jonathan, Gary got all set up for when Emily came home and saw him for the first time after his stroke. She had been at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin at a training for her summer job with UDA during the stroke and hospital stay. This picture may not be too complimentary...but it was hysterical when Emily came in and saw him!