Persons attempting to find a "text" in this [story] will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a "subtext" in it will be banished; persons attempting to explain, interpret, explicate, analyze, deconstruct, or otherwise "understand" it will be exiled to a desert island in the company only of other explainers.
BY ORDER OF THE AUTHOR - Wendell Berry's introduction to Jayber Crow.
This article was posted to Jayber on 15 July 2005 by to the following categories: Family, Family.
An audio version of this article is also available.
My updates on Brian's recovery are going to less often now that he's out of the hospital, at home and resting, but I want to tell you about his trip to the hospital yesterday.
Jill and I loaded Brian up in the car and took him to the Orthopaedic Clinic at HCMC where they removed all of his staples and stitches (except for around the skin grafts) and checked to see how the skin grafts were doing.
Everything went well, and the skin grafts are taking hold as expected. The next scheduled appointment is next week on Thursday (July 21st) for X-rays.
Brian's currently sleeping quite a bit, and lying down most of the time, but he's more-than-able to get up and around in his wheelchair. These next few weeks will require patience while he continues to heal and his bones continue to strengthen. He's really looking good, and doing great!
What great news-once again just what we have asked God for. Brian you looked so good in the picture and it must be wonderful to be home (even though its a new home!) Love you- the Taylors Falls Schumanns
July 20th, 2005
First off, THANK YOU (That’s you!!) so much for all the prayers, love, and support! It’s all appreciated.
Brian’s happy, healthy, well—you name it—cells are doing great work to heal his legs and help him regain his overall strength. Speaking of strength, I cannot even begin to tell you how much God given strength Brian has shown through all of this. He is a real warrior. Warrior with style too. He is time and time again showing concern for other people and eager to be in conversation and cracking jokes, if I might add, even while the paramedics were working on him. They didn’t know how to respond but I couldn’t help but crack a smile and let out a slight giggle. Brian gave and continues to give me so much hope through it all. Borrowing from what Mark (Brian’s brother) has already shared in an update Romans 5 really shows God’s power.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
Because God is so awesome, He has given His love to us all and specifically given Brian his hope, character, and perseverance which are far out-weighing his suffering.
I have faith that God will heal Brian. God has been sending his angels to watch over us all through this tough time. Two recaps of purposeful prayer answered…Mom Gustafson offered a prayer in a time of frustration when the nurses could not get the vac to work on Brian’s left leg. This was an issue throughout the hospital stay but this time it had been quite a few hours with minimal flow until it became totally blocked. Mom Gustafson prayed with me and when I returned to the room it was working again. A few days later Brian was scheduled for a 2:30 pm skin graft surgery and with having to be NPO (nothing per oral) since midnight the night before every surgery thus far he was understandably tired of it in more ways than one. I asked Mom Benson to pray for an earlier time, she did, and they came to get him for surgery at 7:30 am. God is good.
Brian and I are enjoying our new home. We are so thankful for our family and friends and beyond that for the friends of our family members who have been there for them so they can be there for us. Thanks. Love, Jill