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Show 2. was quite different than the conversation I had had before I left Madison with the Grace Church priest. Pie told me, there are many ways to resolve this problem of Bill's illness. The Bishop can permit lay people to pass the wine and bread at the Eucharist. Bill can sit during the service. This is a time when a Parish can really grow in responsibility and in response to the priest's need.' So, fella, you see how I keep bumping my head up against lack of understanding. Even opposition is better than lack of understanding because you get understanding of some sort from the opposition. Then I come home here and to this house and try to relate to neighbor, parishioner, vestrymen, over issues, of keeping the Church doors open. Repairing the roof, heating the bMlding, getting ready for the Candy Cane Teal ! And, even though'I read books by clergy who are concerned about the lack of relevancy of much of the typcial parish Church, I still have to deal with It personally. Bill's progress Is extemely slow. There's talk that he might be ready to come home early in December, but I'm not confident that he'll be ready. He still doesn't stand alone - the right leg buckles and has spasms and give out on him. While he is moving his left arm freely, the hand and fingers are very, very weak. The right hand, the good hand before, is deteriorating can't raise the fingers any more - just clench down. Different set of muscles for each action, aren't yet functioning. At this point, I would say that he might have some degree of use of both hands within six months to a year and probably will be walking, possibly unaided, with some degree of confidence within the same time frame. On the other hand, he may not achieve all this. My concern is that he not pome home before he is somewhat independent. V/e'll have to drive to Green Bay or to Neenah - an hour's drive - for outpatient therapy couple times a week and in winter this will be a problem. Also, our own therapy won't equal what he gets now four times a day at Madison. The Bishop said there is a $250,000 hospital limit - so we don't have to worry about costs while he is there. Mark talks about coming home to be here with Bill for Christmas and I'd need Mark to help get Bill in and out of cars, etc. But, it's too soon to really know whether In fact, he should come home this soon. So, I have to keep Bill cheered up as well as myself. To do this I have to hang onto things I believe in and their importance in the overall scheme of human existence as well as in my function. I have to believe that there is some purpose for all this present situation - even though I dont' comprehend it at the moment. So, hearing from my friends, as I did today from Dick's girl, Margaret, keeps me going. And I keep working with Utah and Washington people - as I can. Someday, really sit down and tell me what you are doing. Don't be afraid - I won't challenge your program. I'm putting together some possible newspaper articles again, on a different basis, and just wrote one today dealing with funding for wildlife. So, I need to keep up to date. Dorothy |
