Rest in Peace ! Requiescet in pace!

As I get older, the more I think of the people I met on my life journey. As we approach All Saints Day, I recall those who have recently died: Charles Jackson, Rev. Dr. Timothy Waltonen, and as of this evening Rev. Dr. Cheryl Stewart-Pero.

+ Rest in Peace! Requiescet in pace!

Trying to Catch Up

Time goes quickly. I did not realize that I had not posted anything since the spring (2019). The winter has been mild. I had no difficulties traveling during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. I was able to attend the exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibitions were good but just being in the museum where I ventured as a child brought good memories.

Last spring I was notified that I was part of a list of kidney patients who might be able to have a kidney transplant in 6 months to a year. I attended the meeting at the end of March. In June I received a call. There was a kidney that was available and it looked like a good match. I was not able to use it because I had a tooth infection which was part of the pre-operative work. No transplant operation when one has an infection. Another call came a few months later. The nurse said it looked good on paper but they wouldn't be able to tell until they examined it in the lab. That call came through on a Monday afternoon. The next morning (Tuesday) I received a call. The kidney was not a good match as they had hoped. A third call came at about 2:45 in the morning. I was on the PD machine. A kidney looked good. I would have to disconnect from the machine and call my support person (Eric Crump) and come to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). I hung up the phone and was getting ready to disconnect from the PD machine when I received a follow-up call from UMMC. The time-frame would not work. The nurse said that one day the call will be for me.

On February 10, 2020, I was in the lounge area of my primary physician (Dr. Miller) awaiting to see him for my regular visit. My cell phone rang and it was from the UMMC. The nurse said that there was a kidney available and looked like at a good match for me. I asked whether I could call her back as I was about to see my primary physician. She said yes. I then called Eric, who was in the seminary library. I told him what had transpired. he said he would be able to drive me to Baltimore but had to return immediately to Gettysburg for a meeting. I said that would work for me. When I saw Dr. Miller, I told him what had transpired. He said, "This is what we have been waiting for." He looked at my latest tests and said, it looked good from what he could see. I left the office and when I arrived home I called the nurse at UMMC. I was still in shock but asked "What do I do now?" She asked, "When can you get here? I said I'd call my support person and get back to her. Eric said he could leave at 2:45 PM. I related that to the nurse who gave me instructions as to the check-in process. I called my sister and brother-in-law in New York and told them the news. Eric dropped my off at the hospital at about 4:30 PM. I wasn't doing a lot of talking but was still numb. Could this really be happening? I went to the admissions desk. The staff person could see I was nervous. She said, "You have done what you can do, now let us do our work." That was so true. Her words helped to calm me down. I was escorted to the elevator...The preparation began, the change into hospital garb, blood work, etc. After a couple of hours, I was prepped and the nurses were ready to take me down. One nurse asked if I wanted prayer, I said, "yes." She prayed. I was astonished that she asked me the question and really surprised when she prayed. The other nurse remained there. After the prayer was completed, I was prepared physically and spiritually for surgery. I was rolled to the surgery room at about 7:00 PM.

From what I could observe, I was the last person to leave the recovery room at about 2 PM (I has asked the staff person the time. If I remember correctly, it was about 2 AM when I returned to my room. There were lots of health persons who I saw in the post-op days. I have to admit, I had excellent care. From the non-professional to the professional staff. I was released on Saturday, 15 February. Jeanie and Robert were at my house when I received the word that I would be discharged. It just so happened that Bob Gahagen (the pastor at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, NY) and his wife Bertha were coming by to see me at the hospital. So, they came to visit and brought me home to Gettysburg on their way back to Brooklyn from spending time in Pittsburgh. It could not have worked out any better if we had planned it. Before being officially discharged, I had to demonstrate that I could count out and place the pills in the pill box....and there were LOTS of pills. I was given instructions for living at home. I could not be around large gatherings of people nor with people who had the flu/cold. Just a few weeks later, everyone in the U.S. had similar instructions due to the coronavirus. So, I was not alone.

My post-op routine has included: weekly blood work at Lab Corp in Taneytown, MD which is then sent to UMMC, periodic visits with my nephrologist, endocrinologist, pulmonary, my primary physician, etc. There are routine adjustments to my medications. I continue to isolate myself and certainly wear my mask when in public. 

In sum, I am so thankful for the transplant. I wrote a letter to the family of the person whose kidney I received. Although I was on the list for a transplant, I didn't think it would happen to me. God has been so gracious and continues to show power in our lives.

Post-Paris and other Musings

I can't believe we are in the midst of the spring season. In the middle of March I made my trip to France. It happened that I arrived the day before the "Celebration of Life" for Patricia LaPlante-Collins. It was a celebration with words from several of her friends and music with a jazz combo. There were a host of American ex-patriates as well as French attendees. The grand-daughter of Richard Wright was also there. Patricia had a host of acquaintances. My reason for using that word is that fact that she had been found in her apartment having bee dead for a couple of weeks. It was only after her ex-husband had not heard from her that he had her apartment opened and she was found. Although I have been in Cimetière Père LaChaise to see monuments of my favorite French writers, philosophers, musicians, etc., I never thought that I would attend a funeral at the Columbarium. After the celebration, we walked to the nearby cafe and had wine and aux d'oeuvres. I was glad that I was able to attend and at the same time saddened by the event. Part of my routine on my trips to Paris was to go to Patricia's soirées on Sunday evenings. In addition, I would meet her during the week to catch up on life while having a drink at Café St. Victor.  That routine is now finished; it is part of the past.

I was able to take the train to Amsterdam (March 19)and had lunch with one of my early confirmation students from Advent Lutheran Church in Cleveland. I had not seen Janet Thompson in about 40 years. She is now a law professor and was spending a sabbatical in the Groningen, Netherlands. We met for lunch and talked until we had to catch our respective trains. It was so uplifting to hear about her life, family and career.

I am in the midst of working on a presentation/article on Americans in France. I went to Tours (March 18) to interview two Americans who are now living there. It was a delightful interview. Matthew grew up in Gettysburg and lives with his French husband in Tours.

I made a quick trip to Erquy to visit with Maryvonne and Christian. It was a one day, no, one afternoon trip due to my not looking at my email until that Wednesday morning at about 3 AM. I was able to get a seat on the noon train to Lamballe. I sent a text message to Maryvonne. She and Christian were able to pick me up at that station. We had time to have lunch, take a walk to the beach and then head back to Lamballe for my 6:18 PM train to Rennes and then to Paris. They were so gracious about the mix-up and I think they enjoyed the crazy schedule. They have become really good friends.

Another adventure for me was attending Livres Paris (Book Fair) with publishers from France, the European Union, China, Russia, and Africa. Books upon books. I was good and only bought 4 books. I also indulged in clams from Brittany.

I worshiped at Notre Dame. I always enjoy liturgy there because I think of all those who worshiped there for over 800 years. I took a picture of the chancel area before worship. Little did i and anyone else know  that there would be a fire there on April 17 during Holy Week.

I had lunch with Catherine Ferguson and a movie and dinner with Yves

I returned on March 22. I think this was a powerful trip. France continues to be a place that brings me calm.