Cindy's Village People!

Even though the consults continue to determine if fluid found around her lungs and pelvic region by the CT Scan is a concern or not, Cindy was feeling better yesterday (2/21).  

Her fever was down and she broke out her first bandanna now that hair loss is more pronounced. She looked great in it but the picture I took of her wearing it is on the cutting room floor due to the uncooperative face underneath. Stay tuned until she is in a better photo-taking mood.

When Cindy was spiking fevers a few days ago, she suffered a germaphobe lapse, wondering if we should limit her visitors. We consulted her medical team about this and received an emphatic, if not medically verifiable, “NO WAY!”

Their consensus: Friendly faces other than medical professionals are better for patient well-being.  After all, medical professionals traipsing in and out can also bring germs. The only restriction they offered were: don’t go if you have an active cough or sore throat and follow these guidelines when visiting:

1. text Cindy first to clear your call or visit. (She will say no occasionally and has.)
2. When you arrive
   • (a) don a mask before entering her room (box outside her door)
   • (b) wash your hands immediately (at sink in her room) and again if you re-enter room after leaving for any reason
   • (c) maintain a reasonable distance from her - even a chair drawn up beside her bed is OK.  

Early on, one of our lead physicians offered a memorable analogy that I’ve been passing along every chance I get. Coughing toward Cindy poses risk only to the extent that you could hit her with a bubble blown at her.  Most times, you can’t hit anyone with a bubble unless they are literally standing right in front of you. Likewise with germs that die in the air long before they can infect another person.

With all that in mind, we welcome our Village People!  (Not to be confused with late-1970’s disco band pictured above.) Five of Cindy’s Village People visited Thursday:

• Grace girlfriends Rachael and Jill who also took CIndy for a 3-lap walk, and
• Hillside Elementary colleagues Rob, Stephanie and Drew (the masked people pictured above).

I was the happy fly on the wall while Cindy, Rob, Stephanie and Drew talked “shop” about the elementary/middle school work they all love.  She was quite radiant during their visit while their fondness for her was palpable. Not lost to me was their assurances of support for her and help for us.

Thanks Rob, Stephanie and Drew for letting me stay for your visit and to all you awesome Hillside and FPS people.  We feel your love and we appreciate it greatly.

To all Cindy’s Village People - You are literally holding her/us up with your countless expressions, acts of endearment and support.  The cards, the comments here, the prayers and thoughts, the meals and help for Glenn, the special projects (like streaming the Grace service), visits, gifts, calls,  accommodating our inconvenient new schedules (Hillside, Farmington Public Schools, Champion Gasket, calls), and on and on.

Each and every one of you are the “hands and feet of Jesus” to us.  Bless you one and all.

It takes a village to raise a person. Indeed.

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Photo credits:

1. The Village People band
2. Blowing bubbles: Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash
3. Hillside visitors: me (Glenn)