There's Always a Blessing

Bruce calls me to his bed side at 3:45 am this morning. He reaches for my hand and I make it to him in 10 mins. That's progress. As we hold hands and feel our hearts beat as one, he says he wants to renew our vows.
I said, "OK, how and when?"
He says,"now"

Holding hands I said, "Bruce, you are the love of my life. You are my strength and comfort. You have protected me and given me great love. I'll love you the same as today and always. You have filled my heart with love and have given me a lifetime of memories. I love you my Honey, past, present and future. Our love endures forever. Will you Marry me?"
He said ,"yes."

He says to me, "I've known no greater love. I'm nothing, I'm sick and all broken up yet I call your name and you still are here. Through thick and thin our love holds true. No one really knows love until it survives sorrow. Our Sorrow truly announces our love for one another. I love you. You are my all in all and I look forward to our love in our tomorrows. Will you marry me my Shelly Rose?"
I said,"Yes"

Father and Son, Andrew share a moment.

It's a cuddle day. We truly are our happiest when we're together.

Two hearts beat as one.

We prepare Bruce to go to a car show in July.

My brother Ed helps as we enjoy the cars.

Carolyn and friends make Bruce a prayer blanket. We met Carolyn and Jack in AZ but they live in MI. They drove 180 miles to be with us. We love you guys.

The activity director, Deb, is from Lincoln Sq. where I live. She brought up a baby rabbit for Bruce and me to enjoy. Thanks Deb. Bruce really enjoyed that.

Ed, my brother, helped me get Bruce's war metals to him. Something Bruce always wanted to get. Now he has them. Thank you Ed.

Well we postponed my surgery. Bruce has had a difficult time lately. He went in the hospital 4 times in July for feeding tube change and 1 more time for yet another port. I decided to wait and be with Honey. He said his good bye to me and I'm trying to find the strength to release him. Please pray for us.

Love

Shelly & Bruce

Here We Go Again

Hi to All,
I, Shelly, went to the Dr. Tuesday and my femor bone above the knee is not healing and it has been 8 months on the 6th. So the plan is Monday, I'm having surgery at St. Mary's. The Dr. is going to graft living bone from my hip and place it in and around this 4" section above the knee. I'll be in about 3 days. Please pray. At the same time we are moving Bruce for second oppions and different care. He has gone through so much, yet hangs on to his humor. I'll keep you all posted but this is all I have for now. We are concerned and are weighing through all oppitions. But without saying we aren't driving this trip. We rest and renew in God's grace and love.
We love you all,
Shelly and my Honey

Summertime Fun!

After something like this, sometimes just getting to do your favorite things for the first time again can make all the difference. For Shelly, when she is in Michigan, nothing is more normal in the summertime than swimming at the family cottage. On June 26 she was able to do that for the first time.

That meant going down several stairs, walking downhill on uneven ground and then taking the walker into the waves - but she did it all!! In fact the day trip went so well that she went to the cottage over the 4th of July and spent 2 nights playing with her nieces and nephews, enjoying the bonfire and watching fireworks!!!

She developed a few tricks - like adjusting the legs of the walker for uphill or downhill - or going down stairs backwards - but everything went fine. By the end of the second day she was pretty tired, but she earned every wink of sleep as a reward. It was also great to prove to herself she can do fine in a normal bed and can adjust when the house is not wheelchair friendly. Everyone there was very proud - but not surprised.

Life's not back to normal, of course, but going a couple of days without seeing a white coat sure can be refreshing. Send up some "Thank You" prayers for this milestone too.

It's All Good

It is so exciting to see my Honey heal do to the power of prayer and by the grace of God. More and more we have conversations that ol' married couples have. It feels so good. I have my best friend back. Thank you Dear Lord. Thank you prayer warriors. I'm hopeful that we are seeing glimpses of lite at the end of this dark tunnel.
Bruce is showing good signs of healing from his last surgery. He still needs blood transfusions often because his count holds at 8 or so and should be at 15.
But, his mind continues to heal. With his progress, and a little function of his kidneys again, his dialysis will be cut back a little. We rest in Gods grace. I wish you could see what I'm witnessing, even the Dr's. are getting second wind. Thank you friends and family for all your support and prayers. Please keep them coming.
Love Ya all,
Bruce and Shelly

Thank you Prayer Warriors

Bruce had surgery Friday to close his 4+ pressure ulcer. It was so deep you could see his spine when you turned him over. Obviously we couldn't allow that to progress. Considering the weakness Bruce was in we were facing yet another hurdle of all the wurst results predicted. God is good and sees us through once again. His surgery was 2 hours instead of the predicted 3-4. It went well and now we're praying that the closure and tissue transfers take hold. Honey is strong and has good vitals but he is really swollen in the face and very tired. He sure wants to live and is giving it his best shot. Please continue praying. We love you all and thank you for your strength when we feel weak. We are at Butterworth through Monday and the hope to return to L-Tech.
Happy Fathers Day to all you Fathers
Love Shelly and Bruce

A Change For Shelly

Hi Friends and Family,
I have made progress and thought you would like an update. I have moved from the nursing home and have made a step up into assistant living. No more charting, threats of an alarm system if you choose to stand without permission and to have a cup of coffee without a protective bib. I'm free again. I live with respect again. I was thankful for the help at my previous place during my time of need but it truly was time to allow my progress to take effect. So much was lost physically, mentally, emotionally and life as Bruce and I knew it, respect was one area that I fought to hang on too. Often I was challenged and or miss understood. Anyhow, I live back in the country again. I'm at Lincoln Square. It is just beautiful here. They have been so kind to me as we get the details of the transfer and Insurance settled. My room is now an apartment. I have more space then furniture and my windows over look the woods and nature. I am so happy with this move. I can cook in my own room or go to the dinning room to be served my meals. Also, if I do get in trouble there are emergency cords in my apartment. This is a good test to see if I can live on my own. Next Monday I go to Mary Free Bed to get tested to see if I can drive again and what equipment I'll need to adapt our car to make this possible. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. The family did the move for me in one day. This and that was gathered from each others homes to provide me with a home. We truly are blessed.

Bruce is talking more and more. My brother-in-law Mark and I had a 2 1/2 hour meeting discussing Bruce's future and care with Bruce's Dr. and case workers. Please allow me time to rest on this meeting then I will share with you. All that I know is, with God all things are possible. We're not giving up so please don't you either. Keep the faith and the prayers coming. Bruce and I are having some wonderful conversations now and that is progress and answer to our prayers.

We love you all
Bruce and ShellyRose

Our 10th Anniversary

Hi,
We started our day with breakfast and a routine check up. Then Posie and I were off to see Bruce. My sister Wendy took me shopping, out to dinner, at our traditional dinning spot for our anniversary, then up to be with my Bruce. We expressed our love to one another then placed our rings unto each others hand. I feel so blessed to have this moment. Of course we shared some tears. As I handed Bruce some new music to enjoy and flowers, he gave me another smooth line. Reaching for the flowers he said, "They're just beautiful and yet dull compared to your beauty." Take notes men. That's how you can make your woman's heart flutter.

Noticed my beautiful necklace that Marge and Audrey made me with love and sentiment. They used beads from our junkin' days, bead swaps, and different creative stitches. They also inserted beads that spelled, Bruce,Shelly, Love, and Hope. It really is special to me. I Love you guys!

Put your sunglasses on and notice my new wedding ring. Jensen's jeweler made a very painful moment as special as possible. They were kind, considerate, supportive and offered me chocolate as we dried each others tears. The owner even kept the store open to costume make the ring, size it and send it to me. Amy, the sales clerk, brought it to me to the nursing home that same night. Again we shared our lives with each other and 2 hours later we both received some healing just by taking time for one another. God meant us to get this ring there. It symbolizes love, support, hope, faith, blessings and friendship, along with 10 years with the love of my life and best friend. It has a past, present, and future diamond with 5 diamonds along the side that symbolizes our journey together. We had a wonderful 10th Anniversary Day.

Love to All
Bruce and ShellyRose

He's Back!

Tuesday, Bruce and I had a wonderful visit. We talked to each other as if we were sitting pool side. It truley was a blessing. Thankyou for all the prayers. He was having such a great day that he even told a joke. I couldn't believe my ears and began laughing. He tried holding back his laughter so much he snorted. Well, then we both lost it. It sure was a great day.

He has gone 48 hours without fevers, the blood count is up to 10 and the speech is really good now. So, he is moving forward and today, Thursday, he's returning to L tech. The move is scheduled for noon, so I'm going to help settle him in. He will stay there for about 4 weeks then he will advance once again.

Each day is a new day. Some we have been told are fatial and others we set new goals to achieve. That is the world of medicine. I'm so glad God is the same yesterday, today, and tommorrow. I draw peace from His comfort and truth.

God Bless us All,
Bruce and ShellyRose

He's Back!

I just wanted to say Hi!

Bruce's surgery was successful, but it did take 4 days for his body to adapt. He has run fevers for almost 2 weeks straight. His speech is hard to hear at times yet I am thankful it is there. He has good days and lives in the past often. I'm trying everything to bring him peace and comfort as he discovers things over and over for the first time again and again. I love my Bruce and it has been a hard journey but I cherish each moment we get to share. Only God knows the ending to this but the hospital is purdicting 1-2 more months is all Bruce's body can endure this.
Here is a very privite moment I will share with you all because it so reflicts my Bruce. I walked into his room to greet him with a smile, kiss and lots of hugs as usual. Then he said this,"Give me your hand and place it on my Heart." So I did.
He said, "Can you feel my heart beat?...Now feel it as if you can hear it." "OK Honey," I said as I watched his face of seriousness along with a joy that today he had clear speech. "Do you feel that" he asked. "Yes I do....Why?", I asked. "Because it is going to stop soon and when it does, I want you to remeber my heart beat, how it feels and take that with you and remember where ever you go Know I am with you and my heart will always beat for you from afar."
That is my Honey. Love to you all.
Bruce and Shelly

PRAISE AND PRAYERS

Here is the latest update. I walked about 120 feet today. I got into my sisters' buick, then mom,s reviara, my brother's van and my brother's big van (I know it's navy.) I sat and stood from 3 different chairs. Cool. It truly is work but welcomed freedom. Thank you Lord!

Bruce is running fevers so his speech is weak again. While alone, he pulled his dialays port out thinking he was retrieving his glasses from his shirt pocket, now he gets to wear mittens, but we are in MI. He also got 2 more units of blood. Keep your prayers coming please

Love
Bruce and Shelly