A Miracle

A Miracle

About six months ago I took Edmund to see a doctor, about a large growth on his neck.  It was right of center, and growing quite large, but Edmund did not seem to be in any pain.  Our main concern was its size, and it did not seem to be letting up in its growth.  After some test, the doctor told us that Edmund had lymphoma, but it was chronic and probably would not kill him.  He also recommended that we take a wait and see position on this, since Edmund was so old and frail.  So we followed the doctor’s advice and brought him back home.  After about a month, the tumor starting getting a nasty red color, and growing quite rapidly so again back to the doctor.  After another examination, the doctor stated that the tumor was not really in bad shape yet, and it was still better not to do anything with it yet.  He did however write a prescription for Prednisone that was to be taken everyday.  He stated that this should slow done the growth and deal with any inflammation or infection.   Things went well for awhile and then we noticed that the tumor was shrinking a very rapid rate.  The nurse was worried that since the tumor was shrinking the Prednisone might need to be lessened in strength or stopped all together.   We made an appointment that was set for two weeks.  Well in that two week period the tumor vanished, gone, went south. 

Today I took him for his appointment.  We have a new wheel chair van, so it was an easier trip for Edmund; being partially blind and with a bad back, it is hard for him to get in and out of vehicles.  Being small he is one of the easiest people to take in the van, and his comfort level is much better.  It made him nervous moving out of the van into his wheelchair, with the van this step is eliminated entirely.  We got into the waiting room and Edmund starting singing “Melancholy Baby” at the top of his voice, and after that started singing “I’ll never smile again” one of his favorites songs; he is a fanatic for Billy Holiday.  After that I got him a big glass of water which he downed in record time, heat does that to you I guess.

We were called back to see the doctor and he was amazed at the change in Edmund’s condition; happy that he would not have to do any kind of procedure that would make him sick or uncomfortable.  He called in his assistant who has being working in the field for a long time and she had never seen anything like it either.  The doctor said that perhaps Edmund has some more things to do, hence the healing.  The doctor did not use the word miracle but nonetheless he was impressed.  Edmund as usual took everything in stride, and probably thought we were all a bit daft to make so much fuss over him.

On the way back, after I got Edmund strapped in and the wheel chair, and tied down, I looked over at him and was (am) amazed how a little slip of a man, so tiny and frail can beat the odds with this tumor.  Perhaps the fact that he eats enough for three men may have something to do with it, I don’t know, but his is special that is a fact.  I noticed also that he was mesmerized by the scenery; he looked like a child seeing something for the first time.  I think that is something he has developed over the years and now in his last years the fruit of that spiritual work is starting to show fruit.  Good fruit from a good tree.  Edmund is a devout and loving Christian whose faith is as deep as the ocean and bigger than the world.  I hope that when I get old I will be just a little like Edmund.

A good friend of mine, who is the same age as me, is deathly afraid of getting old and frail, and needing to be taken care of; he fears diminishment; well who doesn’t.  We have talked about this quite a few times.  My outlook is this, when I am 85 (if I live that long) I will be different than I am now.  We adapt, and while getting old is hard, most of the old timers I take care of still love life and find joy and happiness.  Each age has it good points and its bad, its joys and sufferings and we are meant to go thru all of them.  The lucky ones are those who live to be old and who allow others to love and take care of them.  It is an honor to take care of people who have raised families, held jobs and now are moving closer to that door that we all must go thru.   No one wants to get old and die but it is the nature of things, and from my experience most old people come to accept that and many know when it is time to move on.

Peace

mitch