DAY 80: Remarkable

We've seen remarkable progress in the week that's passed since Mom said "Hi". This shot says it all:


Can that really be the same woman I wrote about in November, early December, and just before Christmas?

The main medical issue she faces is a Clostridium Difficile infection in her intestine, more commonly called just C. Diff. She's receiving antibiotics that are nearly certain to work. The doctors are not worried and neither am I. An infection with C. Diff is common in people who've been through what Mom has, and she can transfer to a long-term acute care center during treatment.

Yes, Mom's medical issues are fading into the background.

Looming ahead is a colossal mountain called rehabilitation. The long-term acute care center will get her off the ventilator and able to participate in rehab, then she'll go to a rehab center. There, it will take a long time for her to get back to her old self. We're mentally prepared for up to a year.

She's very weak, of course, and her medical issues are numerous. She has a lot to overcome, a lot to re-learn. She'll do both.

If there's a silver lining in the cloud of this ordeal, it's that our family has been joined by fine people like you inside the cloud. There's goodness in the world. The rallying of people motivated by nothing more than kindness has provided a much-needed reminder that not all is as reported each night on the news. And you know what? Our team of good people is winning this struggle. Mom will not just live, she will thrive again.

Thank you for your continued interest in her progress and our family.

Now, how about a look back at last week's benefit concert?

Skip Gorman did a masterful job of taking us on a trip through time to the days when cowboys gathered around a campfire each night. His soothing voice provided perfect narration between songs. The concert was part history lesson filled with anecdotes, and part musical journey across the range of America's old west.

Amazingly, Skip pulled all of this off even with a cold and limited voice range. Here he is during the concert:


Next is a picture of Skip with all of us, except Colleen, who couldn't make it. From the left is Karen, Emily, Kevin, Charlie, Skip, me, and Daniel:


It was a fun evening with about one hundred people in attendance. We appreciate the generosity of the YMCA in donating the venue, the work of Rodger and Erika Libby in organizing the event, and the talent of Skip Gorman.

Finally, it's still a winter wonderland. Here's the road through the meadows near our house:


This last shot I took on the way home from Estes Park one afternoon, from Fish Creek Road near Cheley Camp:


Let's hope we can get Mom to a long-term acute care center this week. It's time to move on to phase two.