Back in Basel

With my granny visiting this week, I wanted her to see a few of the great places around Kandern. One of them happens to be Basel. I had something to mail to REHAB, but Granny suggested we drive it out there since we were going to be in town anyways; also, she wanted to get a glimpse of this place that has been so formative in my life recently.

Since her husband was not as interested, I hoped to make the experience a little more fun by showing off our casual border crossings. We missed a turn or two with the GPS, but I managed to show him the crossing from Germany to Switzerland that seems like it's in the middle of a neighborhood. We actually stopped in this small Swiss town to refill a prescription that I can't get in Germany.

I walked into the Apoteke with my sticks, and the pharmacist recognized my prescription. "You're getting better," she told me in German, "You had to stay in the car the last time." I realized it must have been the same pharmacist who met my dad and Carol the day after I left REHAB. I was excited to show off my walking skills and told her I was given just a one percent chance to ever walk again.

Back in the car, we dubiously followed the directions to REHAB, but successfully made it to my previous home. I was unsure how I'd feel returning to this place that held so many vulnerable recent memories. Before we even made it inside the doors, I saw two of my nurses and waved excitedly. I went over to Denise, the head nurse from my station, and she asked me about my recent Oxford trip. She was so excited for me, and I was delighted to get to tell her about it.

I left Granny and Jim to have some lunch while I looked for Isabelle to deliver a package to her, but before I could get to the ergotherapie, one of my doctors came to greet me and ask about Oxford as well. I was so excited to share again how wonderful the trip was. Since we came during the lunch hour, I wasn't able to find Isabelle, but I saw my other doctor getting his lunch, and he asked the same questions. I loved being able to report again and again how well I'm doing and how wonderful Oxford was. 

I made my way upstairs for what I planned to be a quick visit to some other patients and the nurses in my station. I stopped first to visit my friend Tina in station 3, and while we were chatting, Alex happened to walk by. I can't describe my delight to you at seeing Alex. I was secretly hoping I'd see her but knowing it was a long shot. She gave me a big hug, and told me how happy she was that I had made it to Oxford. Seeing Alex was by far the highlight of my day though I really can't stress enough how wonderful it was to see so many other people who have been such major influences in my life over the last six months.

I didn't know which nurses would be on duty, but I was so happy to wheel up and see Sabrina, Danai, and Eva sitting with Denise and Birgit who I'd seen outside. The nurses at station 4 are all incredible, and I would have been happy to see any of them, but that was a particularly wonderful group to see all together. I loved telling them how well I'm doing, and it was encouraging to hear them echo what the other people I'd seen say about how my face already could tell them how successful I've been out of REHAB.

I've come a long way, and I still have a long way to go. I'm not satisfied with settling here. I never want to be satisfied with settling - in my life or in my faith. That's part of what got me into this beautiful mess. 

With all the crazy emotions of today, I still couldn't forget my body's new needs. I'm still praying for complete healing so that I'll be able to walk into REHAB with no wheelchair or sticks someday - I want all that "run and not be weary, walk and not be faint" stuff. However, I'm not forgetting the context of that quote - the LORD does not grow tired or weary, and he gives me strength. I'm praying for him to renew my strength each day and to knit my nerves together again.