November 2014 Las Palmas Chapel in Mesa, Arizona, asked me to sing on a recent Sunday during the service. I chose my wife Carol’s favorite hymn “How Great Thou Art.” A minister had sung that hymn to me while I was still in a coma and hospitalized in intensive care during my illness. Carol recalls that every medical professional in the ICU stopped whatever they were doing and turned to listen. Carol later told me that while he was singing, I moved my head for the first time in the direction of the music. At that moment Carol said she knew that I would awaken from the coma and recover and she would do everything to make that happen. Needless to say recalling that image while I was singing, I nearly choked up but got through the hymn. I looked over at Carol and she had tears in her eyes.
July 2014 I was honored to give the keynote address again at the A.T. Still University annual white coat and pinning graduation ceremony for physical therapists. It took place in downtown Mesa at the stunning Mesa Arts Center. This venue presents many big name performers. It was a thrill to stand on the same stage where Tony Bennett stood.
July 2014 My wife Carol and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Portland and Seattle to visit Carol's daughter Tamara and my son Martin. Tamara and her husband took us on an incredible trip to the Pacific beach. Later we had dinner with some Arizona teaching friends, Joel and Karen. Martin gave us a tour of his naval base and showed us his home located on a high hill in Bremerton with a beautiful panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.
April 2014 This month I won my first bowling tournament in nine years. The last time I won a tournament was two days before my illness cost me my hands and feet. Even though the prize money for this tournament was less than I won nine years ago, it was ten times more satisfying to me because I won it using my prostheses.
|
AuthorI am a quadruple amputee with a sense of humor and a passion for life. I like to tell stories. Archives
August 2017
Categories |