Tuesday, October 1, 2019, Neill and I fell out of bed at 6am. to head for Traverse City for eye
appointments. Fred and Janette Renaud, our prompt friends would pick us up at 7 am. While
brushing, combing and pulling on our clothes, and locking the door, not once did we think this
was the last time we’d return home ..
We four had fun stopping for coffee, and arrived in time to drop Janette at her doctor. Fred
drove us to 5th-3rd Bank for business, and waited for us.
As we walked in the bank, a strange thing happened–Neill couldn’t stand or walk without hanging
onto the wall. I guided and he followed to the right office. I knew he wasn’t feeling well
when he asked for a restroom as we left. Newly remodeled, they were in the basement, and we
stumbled down two floors after the banker. I was afraid Neill would fall. He whispered loudly, “I
am so dizzy!” He rushed into the mens room, and the banker stayed with me as we listened to
his frantic efforts to eliminate and clean up. When he came out we quickly found Fred and
drove to the eye clinic. Fred left to get Janette.
The Clinic took Neill first, and hurried me through an eye exam. I met Neill again in the hall in a
wheelchair, with the doctor. Neill is a funny guy, but was dead serious when he said,
“I can’t have my exam. We have to go to Munson ER now. Dr. Hanley says I’m having a
stroke.” SHOCK!!!!
We called Fred on the cell, he picked us up, and we rushed to the ER, two blocks away. As we
pulled in, we ignored security in our panic. I ran in with doctor’s notes in hand to find the ER,
with security in hot pursuit. She scolded me, as I tried to explain to her and the doctor at the
same time. Aware now of the info she wanted, I produced it as the doctor read the report and
took Neill to a room. I found him later and a doctor and nurse came in for an exam.
Thus began extremely good care and diagnosis with a move to the “Stroke Floor”. Calls to
family, farewell to Fred and Janette, gradual paralysis to Neill’s left side (face, arm and leg)
followed. With son Jonathan on the way, and lots of activity around Neill, the nurse put me to
bed in the guest bed in the room.
While I slept, John arrived and took over making decisions. Consultations, tests, anxiety over
increasing paralysis, and daily care went on all day. I went to the cafeteria for supper, and fell
into the arms of a dear friend, Jean Sommers, a volunteer at the hospital. Off duty, she was
looking for me–Facebook scores again .. .We had supper bought by a nurse in line with us,
(often happens at this hospital I hear). After visiting Neill, she took me home to her apartment,
and between there and the hospital, she cared for, fed, and transported me with love the next
two days. One of many gracious miracles of our loving God on this trip.

Medical plans were made for Jon to drive us to St. Ignace hospital Friday, where we met my daughter Marcia and husband Norman. Special treatment and Initial PT were started for Neill. went home with Marcia, and Jon drove back to his family, After a week in the hospital, Neill was moved to Evergreen Manor, a long-term care facility where we became family, and therapies were intensified. For the next seven weeks my precious church family and friends drove me to visit Neill each day. Winter was coming!.
Our Medicare ran out and we had to go to a less expensive facility in our home town, called Cedar Cove. We had visited many times, but now it was to be “home”! I came daily from 12:00 to 8 pm. We ate together, did crafts, played Games, conversed, prayed, worshipped, enjoyed visiting entertainment, told stories, history, and jokes. And we had singalongs!
Both Neill and I played piano and organ before the stroke. At 88 and 89, we loved
music. Thanks to God, Neill’s mind and voice returned and he was able to help a friend lead singing each Saturday afternoon, while I played the piano, and our Cove family sings. Neill has never been able to move home, but last week I moved into the Cove with him full-time. Now Cedar Cove has become our “Home” while with praise to Jesus, we wait for our Heavenly Home.