Maybe a little good news for Dara, my sister?

I'm hoping there is a bit of good news for my sister, Dara. On February 22nd, her voice started becoming strong again, but then it weakened for a while. It is back to fuller strength and she is more audible. She is working on vocal clarity and a stronger speaking voice and it is helping.

I called her yesterday around 3:00 p.m. her time and she asked if I could talk later because she was going to therapy? What? Did I hear that right? She was going to therapy?

Now, I tried to call her back yesterday and today and I have not reached her. I sent an email to her case manager to get an update, but then Dale, her boyfriend, called me to say that she is beginning therapy and that she is very encouraged by it. I believe it is physical therapy and not speech therapy. I'll find out tomorrow for sure. It has nearly been a year, but it is a new day if she begins this crucial step.

In the meantime, she is in isolation. Feel free to call her at 424-251-4724.

or send a card of encouragement to:

Dara Predmore
2017 250th Street
Lomita, CA 90717

Many thanks. Hold steady on this COVID-19 crisis. We will get through it.

Martin Luther

Here is what Martin Luther said about the bubonic plague.  Maybe we can take some inspiration from him. 

You ought to think this way: "Very well, by God's decree, the enemy has sent us poison and deadly offal. Therefore, I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person, but will go freely."

Being restored to Community: Pope Francis

Beautiful words from Pope Francis to ponder: Tonight before falling asleep, think about when we will return to the street. When we hug again, when all the shopping together will seem like a party. Let’s think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other. We think about when it will be all a memory, but normality will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift. We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us. Every second will be precious. Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter. We will go back to laughing together. Strength and courage. - Pope Francis

An American Quilt

Some progress

Yesterday was the second anniversary of my mother’s death. Yesterday, my sister began to speak articulately once again. Whereas over the past several months I could understand 1 of 20 words she spoke, as of yesterday, I could understand 9 of 10 words she spoke. It is an amazing improvement. I keep praying; she keeps working; she’s feeling better, but has a long way to go. During the time when she could not speak, I kept her apprised of the events of the family and other stuff going on in the world. Today, she was laughing and very hopeful. She says she is feeling much better and much more hopeful. She still needs to strengthen herself with her body but she is taking one step at a time. I've been praying and keeping in touch with her and I cannot tell you how amazing it is to speak with her and to hear her thoughts clearly.

Her phone number once again is: 424-251-4724. She might like to hear from you.

Upcoming Retreats

The Visit to Torrance

I'll start out by saying that my father turns 88 today. What a venerable age! Amazing. He says he is doing fine in many respects but that his days are taken up with doctor's appointments and therapy. That is to be expected.

The trip to my sister's was good. The poor woman is suffering from a cold, which has depleted her energies. It was good for me to visit. I can see that some of my advocacy has made the nursing home more responsive to her needs. She at least does not feel forgotten anymore.

Her mind is sharp and her body is weakening. Paradoxically, parts of her body is doing better, eyesight, eye-hand coordination, but other parts have weakened. She does not want to be in this state, and she knows that any physical therapy will push her beyond comfortable limits. We were able to talk about what she needs to do to participate in her own recovery and we discussed what I and others can do to help her along.

She is delighted with the cards and phone calls she has received. She even received a card from Stockholm, Sweden. It helps her to know that people are praying for her or are wishing her well. Though it may be a small gesture, it connects her to a much larger reality around her, and that gives her hope, and today, she needs hope.

We shared a piece of chocolate cake and we sang happy birthday to her. Her birthday is on January 14th. My visit was both a holiday and birthday visit. Her boyfriend has been extremely kind, caring, committed, and generous to her.

Now, the hard work for her begins. We are engineering a plan for her own physical therapy, and thanks to a good friend in Florida, we have come up with a plan. We have to give it a try. Thanks for your perseverance in prayer.