As we gather families on Christmas Eve and anticipate a New Year, I want to share two miracle stories from 2017. The first is a miracle of modern medicine and the second a miracle of human spirit.
An Open Letter to Publix Food Markets
I received a coupon from Publix with an offer of $10 off the purchase of $50 or more. Fine print on the coupon specified that the offer is good only at Publix at White Oak Village. White Oak Village is 23 miles from my house. With two stores less than five miles of my house, why in the world would I travel across town and burn at least two gallons of $2.50 gas for ten dollars??
The Publix marketing team has a lot to learn about the Richmond, VA market. I have shopped at my local Publix several times and find the store wanting in both selection and pricing. Ukrops and Martin's you're not. Unitl I see some improvment in Publix stores and marketing, I will take my business elsewhere.
One Out of Three Ain’t Bad (with apologies to Meat Loaf)
Last week I went to our local Chinese restaurant for lunch. While waiting for my food, an older comfortably but well dressed woman walked in and picked up a menu. She was looking at the full-price menu. I mentioned to her that she still had time to take advantage of the lunch menu, printed on the back of the page.
She thanked me while settling into a nearby chair. With a sigh, she exclaimed her body was telling her the weather would be changing. I smiled saying I hoped to avoid being a human barometer for a few more years. She put down the menu and smiled back. “I should be dead!” she said, starting to share her story.
Without being rude and asking her age, I would say she was in her mid seventies. She had an air of old Richmond – that is to say her accent was refined southern with distinct local attributes. Former Virginia governor Doug Wilder has a classic old Richmond accent. I guessed she spent most of her life in the West End of Richmond.
She had one Kidney which was diagnosed with acute Renal Kidney failure. He doctor gave her months to live at most. She was put in contact with a local doctor who had an experimental treatment for her condition. The doctor had performed the operation twice but both patients had died. She didn’t like his track record but considering the alternative, she agreed to move forward.
Her new doctor was retiring within the month and the surgery had to be scheduled immediately. She had the operation the following week. That was in January of 2017. She is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren this year and more years to come.
My food was ready and I thanked her for her story and wished her Merry Christmas and a long happy life. She wished me the same and turned to the counter. “I’ll have the Szechuan Chicken, dear.” She said to the hostess. She is enjoying every moment her miracle operation has given her! One amazing lady!
I’m Not Dead Yet! (thank you Monty Python)
An 80 something man with one Lung, recently broken Hip, Kidney cancer and a host of other ailments was admitted to the ICU in August of 2017. Both his Oncologist and General Practitioner agreed his death was imminent and he had no prospect of recovery. Both signed statements that he had less than six months to live and he should be given in-patient Hospice care. Hospice is typically end of life comfort and spiritual support for terminal patients. In-patient Hospice is reserved for terminally ill patients in their final days. All treatment and medications for underlying symptoms are stopped.
He was in and out of consciousness the first few days often hallucinating and revisiting life events from long ago. Friends and family visited to say farewell. His church choir came to sing. Their voices filled hospice halls with angelic voices singing hymns of comfort and everlasting life.
As his numerous medications worked out of his system and he continued to eat and drink, one morning – about the time of the solar eclipse – he woke up with a clear mind. He demanded to sit up and be moved to a chair beside the bed. He wanted to start walking. Hospice administrators concluded he was no longer qualified for In-patient care and had to leave.
His family moved him to a rehabilitation facility where he continued to improve. Later he was able to transfer from his bed to a wheelchair. At one point he wheeled himself from his room to the nurses station requesting they arrange physical therapy and social events for him and his roommate as soon as possible. Facility staff were surprised and delighted by his tenacity.
During the next month he continued to improve to the point facility doctors and insurance agreed he could be sent home. By Thanksgiving he was able to celebrate with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His next goal is to see the birth of his next great-grandchild next June!
He has fired his old doctors and looks forward to a new lease on life.
Believe in miracles! They are all around.
An Open Letter to Publix Food Markets
I received a coupon from Publix with an offer of $10 off the purchase of $50 or more. Fine print on the coupon specified that the offer is good only at Publix at White Oak Village. White Oak Village is 23 miles from my house. With two stores less than five miles of my house, why in the world would I travel across town and burn at least two gallons of $2.50 gas for ten dollars??
The Publix marketing team has a lot to learn about the Richmond, VA market. I have shopped at my local Publix several times and find the store wanting in both selection and pricing. Ukrops and Martin's you're not. Unitl I see some improvment in Publix stores and marketing, I will take my business elsewhere.
One Out of Three Ain’t Bad (with apologies to Meat Loaf)
Last week I went to our local Chinese restaurant for lunch. While waiting for my food, an older comfortably but well dressed woman walked in and picked up a menu. She was looking at the full-price menu. I mentioned to her that she still had time to take advantage of the lunch menu, printed on the back of the page.
She thanked me while settling into a nearby chair. With a sigh, she exclaimed her body was telling her the weather would be changing. I smiled saying I hoped to avoid being a human barometer for a few more years. She put down the menu and smiled back. “I should be dead!” she said, starting to share her story.
Without being rude and asking her age, I would say she was in her mid seventies. She had an air of old Richmond – that is to say her accent was refined southern with distinct local attributes. Former Virginia governor Doug Wilder has a classic old Richmond accent. I guessed she spent most of her life in the West End of Richmond.
She had one Kidney which was diagnosed with acute Renal Kidney failure. He doctor gave her months to live at most. She was put in contact with a local doctor who had an experimental treatment for her condition. The doctor had performed the operation twice but both patients had died. She didn’t like his track record but considering the alternative, she agreed to move forward.
Her new doctor was retiring within the month and the surgery had to be scheduled immediately. She had the operation the following week. That was in January of 2017. She is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren this year and more years to come.
My food was ready and I thanked her for her story and wished her Merry Christmas and a long happy life. She wished me the same and turned to the counter. “I’ll have the Szechuan Chicken, dear.” She said to the hostess. She is enjoying every moment her miracle operation has given her! One amazing lady!
I’m Not Dead Yet! (thank you Monty Python)
An 80 something man with one Lung, recently broken Hip, Kidney cancer and a host of other ailments was admitted to the ICU in August of 2017. Both his Oncologist and General Practitioner agreed his death was imminent and he had no prospect of recovery. Both signed statements that he had less than six months to live and he should be given in-patient Hospice care. Hospice is typically end of life comfort and spiritual support for terminal patients. In-patient Hospice is reserved for terminally ill patients in their final days. All treatment and medications for underlying symptoms are stopped.
He was in and out of consciousness the first few days often hallucinating and revisiting life events from long ago. Friends and family visited to say farewell. His church choir came to sing. Their voices filled hospice halls with angelic voices singing hymns of comfort and everlasting life.
As his numerous medications worked out of his system and he continued to eat and drink, one morning – about the time of the solar eclipse – he woke up with a clear mind. He demanded to sit up and be moved to a chair beside the bed. He wanted to start walking. Hospice administrators concluded he was no longer qualified for In-patient care and had to leave.
His family moved him to a rehabilitation facility where he continued to improve. Later he was able to transfer from his bed to a wheelchair. At one point he wheeled himself from his room to the nurses station requesting they arrange physical therapy and social events for him and his roommate as soon as possible. Facility staff were surprised and delighted by his tenacity.
During the next month he continued to improve to the point facility doctors and insurance agreed he could be sent home. By Thanksgiving he was able to celebrate with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His next goal is to see the birth of his next great-grandchild next June!
He has fired his old doctors and looks forward to a new lease on life.
Believe in miracles! They are all around.