Hello Everyone,
I am writing to let you know Charlie had a follow-up appointment with his surgeon a few days ago. The doctor took one look at his x-rays and said, “Beautiful.” Apparently, the screw is holding the bone in place and the bone graft is healing well. On top of that the doctor said he may be able to use his arm in 8 weeks instead of the expected 3 months! This is definitely an answer to prayer and we are so grateful especially since Charlie is a carpenter and requires working with his hands not to mention his farming enterprises.
Mama is still healing well from her radiation burn, her infection cleared up and she has more energy though not near so much as last year at this time. We are reminded of this because of Garrison’s upcoming graduation celebration and remembering how different it was last year for Charlie! Her lymphedema has improved since her last visit to the “Lymphedema Clinic”, although she still has a tiny bit and wraps her hand. And lest we forget these things for a time the calendar reminds us of chemotherapy appointments and various follow-up consultations. But this is sort of normal now and I am glad and thankful the doctors are so efficient. Mama had a very invasive, fast growing cancer so it is absolutely important that every cancer cell disappears. And God is so faithful and good to give us any energy and strength we need to accomplish the tasks He sets before us. Thank you all for your continued prayers and thoughtfulness!
We have spent the majority of the last few days outside where the blueberries are covered in lovely creamy bell-like blooms, the apple trees flourish their aromatic boughs bedecked with delicate white and pink and the freshly mown pasture spreads out in rows thickly green, prickly and refreshingly sweet. How I love to feel the feathery tomato plants and smell their peculiar fragrance as we firm the warm dirt over their roots, and hear the little pig’s contented grunts when I scratch behind his ears and notice when his eyes are closed his mouth looks like he’s smiling. God has made labor wonderfully satisfying, and though my fingers are sore from pulling “thorns” there is full compensation in the knowledge of a task well done and completed.
"Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. (Ps 128:1-2) Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their labor. (Isaiah 3:10) Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. (Ecc. 2:24) The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Prov. 13:4) The labour of the righteous tendeth to life. (Prov. 10:16) So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. (Ecc 3:22) From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of his hands brings reward. (Prov. 12:14)"

Charlie’s home!!!!! :D

Charlie underwent surgery yesterday; the surgeon is confidant his wrist will eventually heal well.  He also mentioned the procedure was more complicated than he had expected. The cyst on Charlie’s scaffoid bone in his wrist was deeper than they guessed from the MRI and the fracture was not healing. They harvested bone from his pelvis bone to fill in the cyst and then used a permanent screw to pull the fracture together and hold the bone in place. Needless to say, bone grafting is very painful. Charlie is tough, and the nurses were all surprised when they heard his pain level and then saw his broad smile,how calm he was and heard his cheerful (albeit groggy) “Thank you’s”.

Garrison stayed with Charlie overnight at the hospital and this morning he came home and is sleeping with good pain management! Thank you to all who are praying!