A Flyover Blog

Freedom2Care Campaign

I'm passing along this message from my friend, Cathy, who is a retired military nurse and practicing Catholic. She knows I have a soft spot for our military families and a passion for healthcare news, so she sent me this website - Freedom2Care.  Healthcare workers who are personally opposed to assisting with abortions were protected from job discrimination by federal law - until last month, when the Obama administration announced it plans to recind the current law. Public opinion is being sought (half-heartedly, I'm sure, by the administration) on this issue. If this law is overturned, the shortage of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers will grow dramatically - and fast - as good people quit their jobs or are fired for their convictions. Make no mistake, this will affect patient care across the country. I know some Catholic-run hospitals have already announced plans to close if the current federal legislation is overturned.  Should you decide to weigh in on this matter, you can submit comments on the Freedom2Care website. The deadline is Thursday, April 9th, so don't delay. Look for Send a message to HHS in the left sidebar. Personally, I think the people at Health & Human Services are shrubs, but they've got to take notice if their mailbox fills up. Right?

Stay Informed

 

"Information is light. Information, in itself, about anything, is light."

- Tom Stoppard 

Red Friday - March 27

 

U.S. Navy Lt. Russell Hale, a chaplain assigned to 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment, prepares to hold church services for Marines of Fox Company on board Camp Caffereta in Now Zad. Based at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., 2nd Battalion 7th Marines is a reinforced light infantry Battalion deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

 

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Freddy G. Cantu

"Must Click" Blogs

 

It's been awhile since I posted some of my favorite blog links, and I thought today would be a good time to fix that. When I need a smile - which has been often this past month - I click on over and eavesdrop on Jenny Ryan and her twisted little world.  Jenny blogs rain or shine at Using My Powers for Good; and she looks at life though a relentless funny lens. Jenny has an army of fans and, if she ever gets us organized, I suspect she could take over the world.  Go, Jenny! (You should probalby think about printing up some spiffy campaign signs soon.)

So, when Jenny posted a heads up on a new gem-of-a-blog she discovered, I had to check it out. Kendra Thornbury writes SpiritAlive, which is an outgrowth of her personal coaching business. SpiritAlive is filled with positive energy and encouragement for your journey. If you're feeling a little bogged down, your priorities are in disarray and you're having a hard time finding your happy place, Kendra may be just what you need to get you focusing forward again.

Photo from CuteOverload. I chose this one for Jenny; she's a hard core cat person.

Another Good Report

  

Mitch got another encouraging report last Friday, this one from his plastic surgeon. His face has healed remarkably fast and, though his has some visible scarring right now, the doctor believes the area around his eyebrow and right eye will fill in and smooth out in the coming weeks. After all, it's only been one month since the accident.  Mitch lost substantial flesh around his right eyebrow, so that needs to fill back in. We're to give it six months to heal on its own, then visit again to see if some cosmetic work is required to get his Hugh Jackman face back.

I suppose you've heard about the other 2 newsworthy cycling accidents in the news this week. It wasn't a dog that did Matt Lauer in last Sunday, it was a deer. Matt flipped over the handle bars - just like Mitch - and separated his shoulder.  Lance Armstrong took a tumble yesterday in a race and broke his collarbone. There are dangers around every turn, people. Remember to wear those helmets!

Photo from CuteOverload.

Do What You Love

 

"The first step is to find out what you love -- and don't be practical about it. The second step is to start doing what you love immediately, in any small way possible. I've seen what happens to people when they get to do what they love. They light up. They glow. They have a kind of energy that's wonderful."

- Barbara Sher 

Red Friday - March 20

 

It's Red Friday again; get your red on!

In this photo, Seabees arrive in Helmond Province, Afghanistan earlier this week, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. I was struck by this stark, flat, barren patch of land. Please remember our heroes this week!

 

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick W. Mullen III

Encouraging Report

 

We received good news from Mitch's orthopedic surgeon Monday. Mitch is doing extremely well. Doc was pleased with the range of motion he's already gained in his right arm, and x-rays of the left wrist showed the bones are beginning to heal. We got to see the hardware installed in his arm to keep it stable. It's called a t-plate; the top of the thing extends across his wrist keeping the pieces of his shattered bones in place.

He also x-rayed the right knee again. It looks good. The hematoma continues to get smaller and there is no sign of infection in the puncture wound. The doctor estimates the wound will remain open for another month, so yesterday I headed back to the surgical supply store for more dressings. Mitch is making extraordinary progress (thanks for all  the prayers!) but he's getting very impatient. It will be at least 3 more weeks before he can drive - pretty hard to do with one good leg! lol

As for me, I'm trying to get back into a work routine for a few hours every morning. Up to now, that has been impossible but he's really on the mend, now. Our next stop on the Road to Recovery: the plastic surgeon on Friday.

Photo from Worth1000.com.

Day 20

 

The accident was 3 weeks ago tomorrow so I thought I'd give you an update on how we're doing. Mitch is recovering much faster than anyone anticipated, but the fact is that he's injured three limbs and his head, so it's gonna take some time. He's gaining range of movement every day in the right arm. He also has extremely good movement in the fingers of his left hand and the swelling is gone, but his wrist bones are held in place with plates and screws and supported by a splint, so it will be a while before he can begin working on the wrist. His face is looking fantastic! 

The knee? Well, it's still draining and the wound is still gaping but I think we're gaining some ground. The hematoma is shrinking. We'll find out more Monday morning, when we see the orthopedic surgeon again. I visited the surgical supply store up in the industrial district twice this week to buy dressings. Yeah, this job is too big for Walgreen's bandage section. Eewww. We get daily phone calls from family and friends, so his spirits are good. Friday, cousins Penny and Charlie from Texas came to see him.

How am I? Exhausted. That's the word of the day. I am not complaining, just tellin' the truth. I've hit the point now where my hand and arm screams non-stop and there's nothing I can do but just keep going. I think I'll be able to start working again at least a little while every day. Thank goodness my office is at home! We're both looking forward to getting back to that illusive state called "normal"... but that's a little ways off yet.

Shadows

 

"When I consider the shadows that pervade my heart, they are usually the results of the way I see things."

-Joyce Rupp