Devondancer update

Coffee · Post by **Coffee** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:03 pm

I'll keep praying Roland. In the meantime here's a Babylon 5 quote that I've come to live by:

I used to think it was a terrible thing that life was so unfair. Then I thought, 'what if life were fair, and all of the terrible things that happen to us came because we really deserved them?' Now I take great comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.

Cork · Post by **Cork** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:14 pm

I'm sorry to hear of this setback.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:16 pm

So sorry to hear of this.

Warmest healing thoughts to her and to you both.

--James

gregdidge · Post by **gregdidge** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:27 pm

Roland, My thoughts and prayers are going out for you and Lesley. I'm sorry she has had to have this latest setback. It sounds like you have a wonderfull team of doctors caring for her. I'm hoping for a quick recovery.

devondancer · Post by **devondancer** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:52 pm

Thank you all. No news yet, nor expected for a while. Thank you for that lovely quote, Cofaidh - it did help.
I have talked myself back to sanity! The other day Lesley and I watched a programme on people who had won the Victoria Cross, for acts of extreme courage. We talked about how we defined courage, and spent quite a while coming up with all sorts of examples, which were not all-encompassing but expressed at least part of what we meant. Lesley finished by quoting Pericles, and I have probably got this wrong, so bear with me: The man who can most truly be accounted brave is he who knows best the meaning of what is sweet in life, and what is terrible, and then goes out determined to meet what is to come.
To me, that is Lesley. She loves life, people, our land, music, dance - she knows what is sweet. She has known and faced what is terrible, over the last few months particularly, but through her work, her insight, her knowledge, as well. And no matter what, she goes out to face it, and she keeps going out, and she keeps facing it. She is so incredibly brave that I struggle to live up to her, to keep up with her. I can only try, and keep trying. I am with her, no matter what, and she is not fighting alone. I am going back now and will wait there until she wakes up. We will do this together. Sorry I panicked - her pain was terrifying.
Roland

Cork · Post by **Cork** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:10 pm

Good to hear from you. I've been nearby, waiting for news.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:00 pm

Ro, you have shown great courage too. We're here for you both.

Hugs and strength to you.

MagicSailor · Post by **MagicSailor** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:20 pm

Sending the best of warm healing thoughts and Caribbean sunshine!

Thank you both, Lesley and Ro for teaching us all so much about love.

Regards,

Owen Morgan

Yacht Magic
Anchored in the lagoon, St Maarten

My new blog.
Click here for my latest reported position. (Use the satellite view.)

lalit · Post by **lalit** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:07 pm

It sounds as though Lesley has wonderful surgeons. I am praying with all my heart that things get better for her soon, and for you too, Ro.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:25 pm

Prayers and songs going up here in California as well.

Redwolf

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:27 pm

Roland,

You are, as always, in our prayers. Lesley is strong. You will get through this.

Patrick

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:12 pm

from the Book of Common Prayer-

Oh God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers:
Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant Lesley the help of your power, that her sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

devondancer · Post by **devondancer** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 3:54 am

Thank you all so, so much. Lesley is awake and knows me. Her pain is much less.

Her surgeon stayed with us, waiting until she woke. He talked of how deep an impression Lesley has made on him - she is not just "one of his patients" but, he says, a symbol of courage, of survival by sheer grit and determination. He said he feels he can see through her to her very soul, which is clear and strong, like crystal. I was totally overcome. I knew this about her, but admit I may be biased: for someone else to feel this so strongly, who or what is this woman I love so dearly? And I know she will look at me, and chuckle, and be just my wife again.

We cannot tell yet how this will have affected her ability to walk. There is always a risk and Lesley has asked already this morning. The surgeon was totally honest with her, respecting her wish to know the truth. She knew, we knew, from the beginning that things might not work out as we hoped, and she has the strength to rebuild, to "paint her own silver lining", as annie says. But that terrible pain is gone, and thanks to her amazing donor she has stood the surgery better than anyone expected.

The care and help we have had from Lesley's surgeon has been just unbelievable. He was working on Friday, flew up Friday night so that he could operate on her himself, in his own time on his weekend off. And he is still with her now, in case of problems. That is where I should be, and where I am going now, but I had to let you know how she was.

My grateful, grateful thanks.

Roland

djm · Post by **djm** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 6:25 am

This is all too upsetting. I'm afraid I can't take much more of this. I say we take a vote on it and let Lesley know it's time to stop messing about and just get better, already.

djm

devondancer · Post by **devondancer** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 8:33 am

She is doing well, dj. You can relax. Everyone is pleased with her, she is wide awake, virtually painfree and quite talkative! I will of course give her your message and I'm sure she will be pleased to comply!
Ro