Sometimes when you open up a Christmas present, you just rip off the paper in one big tug and are greeted by instantaneous joy. On other occasions, you have to go through several pieces of tape, a complicated twist of ribbons, layers of environmentally friendly foam noodles, or a box that seems like it was sealed to withstand a nuclear attack, before you reach the intended gift. At our house, we are working really hard to unveil all of the gifts of 2014. Having the privilege to hear our Gabriel blow his horn on two different coasts, the chance to learn with our incredible students at two different schools, and the opportunity to watch our family and friendships grow through a series of ceremonies, recitals, rituals, and relocations provided all of us with many of lifes best packages this year. It was easy to recognize the merits and the merriness of many deliveries right away- one rip, one tug, and our ears,eyes,and hearts celebrated with ease and delight. However, six months after the UPS initially dropped a little something extra off on our doorstop (the Unwelcome Pancreatitis Service, for those of you not in the business) we are still trying our best to power through the sticky beige pieces of hospital tape, the complicated twists of tubes, pumps, and extensions, and the layers of side effects that come between Rich and the gift of health. His feeding tubes are clogging every ten minutes, and that means that he cant get the nourishment or rest needed to heal. We have tried every trick recommended via the phone or the internet and inserted cold water, tap water, bottled water, warm water, Seven-Up, and Diet Coke through various sizes of syringes, Some of our methods over the last 96 hours have work temporarily, but then the high pitched beep, beep, beep of the pump begins again and it sounds,and feels, like a truck has backed up and run us over. That beep is supposed to warn us of dysfunction, but the disappointment on Richs face sends a much stronger signal. With or without the magical formula that is supposed to make its way through the nose, down the throat, into the stomach, and around the pancreas, Rich remains the strongest man I know. He wont give up on the spirit of the holidays, and as long as he is able to see both his dream tree and his son in the same room, he has the courage to keep unwrapping our complicated Christmas. Rich has not revealed the miracle of health inside of any of our boxes yet, but he has revealed a lot about what is inside of him. I dont think all of the tissue, tape, foam noodles, or ribbon in the world could cover up his gifts.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 19:53:16 +0000
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