All is well....

Posted by Lynnette

We continue to marvel at the progress Paul is making. If you can believe it, he is off the respirator and has been talking and joking like his old self between periods of rest. We are still in shock! He still has several indwelling lines, chest tubes, drains, and lots of medications but all the equipment and bandages seem invincible when you see his great smile.

We sense a great deal of energy from Paul that is anxious to come out when his body is able to comply. The anticipation of the great things that we will see from him in the future with this new found energy is exciting. We are all just awestruck at the steps he is making towards recovery.

What a gift from God this has been, as the miracles continue to come. And what a gift from a selfless family this has provided for us. We are deeply overcome with love for them and their sacrifice as we see the new heart beating in Paul's chest under his skin.

Please continue to pray for a smooth recovery as we still have obstacles to overcome. Again, we thank you all so much for the love you have extended to us.

As we read a few of your comments to Paul earlier while he was still on the ventilator, he was so overcome with emotion that it was difficult for him. We treasure all the comments, well wishes, and prayers you continue to send our way. We are richly blessed.

BlessMyLife.org

I received an e-mail worth sharing with you from my good friend's Rob & Alexis Duffin. Together Rob and his wife have created an uplifting website about the daily miracles in our lives. (As a studio engineer Rob's worked on several of my recordings. I appreciate his optimism.) www.blessmylife.org

To Our Friends:

We were recently exposed to yet another website that provides people with an outlet for blogging about negative life experiences. Though the intent of that site is meant to be humorous, it only increased our desire for a medium that inspires positive thinking. Blessings seem to be more abundant when we recognize them with gratitude.

We are excited to introduce our site, Bless My Life, Where Miracles Are a Daily Occurrence (www.blessmylife.org).

We have created this site to provide you with a place to share your daily miracles and blessings. We hope that by providing you with a place to share your daily, life-enhancing moments that more of these moments will be recognized in all of our lives.

We’re excited to have a positive force for good in the world and we invite you to be a part of it!

Love, Rob and Alexis Duffin
www.blessmylife.org

Miracles by Walt Whitman from Leaves of Grass (1855)

Why! who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love--or sleep in the bed at night with any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds--or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down--or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new moon in spring;
Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best--
mechanics, boatmen, farmers,
Or among the savans--or to the soiree--or to the opera,
Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,
Or behold children at their sports,
Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect old woman,
Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,
Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;
These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring--yet each distinct, and in its place.

To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass--the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women,
and all that concerns them,
All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.

To me the sea is a continual miracle;
The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the ships,
with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

by Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (1855)

Say a Prayer this Valentine's for the Cardiac Kids

(Picture: 1st baby photo after I recovered from heart surgery at 22 hours - 1973)

In the past 6 months, since I was listed for a new heart, my wife and I have read other related blogs. It's sobering to see so many ‘cardiac kids’ or children with congenital heart disease. Some of these sweet souls have had transplants. Others are waiting. There have been miracles, struggles, and loss of life.

It’s inspiring to interact with a few of these families. I’m sure several share my medical team at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a wonderful staff of experts who are passionate in their work to save lives. But, more importantly to me, the cardiology and transplant staff has a peaceful, caring spirit about them.

Although I am fully aware of the many adults in my same shoes I would hope they'd agree with me when I admit that living 35 years is a great blessing and an honor. I hope to have many more years. I have a daughter who needs a father. But, my heart is crying out for these ‘cardiac kids’ that they might have a chance to enjoy this beautiful world. Just as badly as I want to live for my daughter I want these sons or daughters to live for their parents.

Several months ago, while I was staying in the hospital with my health declining, I remember being discouraged with life and my situation. And although I struggled mentally, I said a quiet prayer. Moments later I recalled something I heard from a man I greatly admire. He said, “Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward. Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn… Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. Its absence—when this desire of our heart is delayed—can make ‘the heart sick.’” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Member of the LDS Church First Presidency) Upon remembering this message I regained my optimism and felt peace again.

This Valentine’s weekend as we think of hearts I invite you to join with me in remembering these ‘cardiac kids’ and their families. Say a prayer for them. I’ve added links to many of their blogs over on the right side.