8-10-04
Dear Family and Friends,
August 6th was our 21st anniversary and I would just like to say to the
entire world that I am so grateful for the husband that God gave me. I
say the same thing to Tim each year on our anniversary, “If we had never
become romantically involved and just remained friends, I would still
thank God for you everyday because you came into my life and showed me
what it meant to walk with God.” Tim was the first person who mentored me
in Christianity.
When I arrived in Tim's room that day, he didn't look as if he felt very
well. Later in the day when I checked on him again - same thing. I think
there was some sort of virus circulating at the nursing home because I
heard the CNA's commenting that various residents were ill. Sometime
during the night, Tim got sick. The folks at Sunbridge are really great
and check on Tim every two hours all night long, so they caught the
problem quickly. However, Tim did aspirate a bunch of his tube feeding
into his lungs. He was really sick the next 24 hours, and then he seemed
to improve. He isn't 100% yet, but a little better. Still, there is
concern that he will develop aspiration pneumonia. Right now he is
holding steady.
A very interesting thing happened yesterday. Got a call from the
Bush/Cheney campaign. A few months ago, Daniel came to me and asked me if
I thought that President Bush would read a letter from him if Dan sent
one. I said that he might and asked him what he wanted to write to the
President. He said, "You and Daddy told us that President Bush is a real
godly man and I wanted to tell him about Daddy and ask him to pray for
him." So, we sat down and Daniel dictated a brief letter to the
President. We popped it in the mail and over the next few weeks, Dan
would occasionally ask if I thought the President got his letter. I told
him I thought so.
About 10 days ago, I received a call from the White House Correspondence
Office. The gentleman who called said that the White House had received
Dan's letter and that they were very touched by it. He inquired about
Tim's condition. Then, he said that the President would personally read
Dan's letter. We were all pretty excited about that. It meant so much to
Daniel.
Yesterday, when the Bush/Cheney campaign called, they said that President
Bush would be in Phoenix for a rally on Wednesday and that the President
had really been touched by Daniel's letter about Tim. He said that his
letter had become well known throughout the entire campaign. Wow. Then
came the real wow. The Deputy Campaign Director of the Southwest Region
said that President Bush would like to meet Daniel on Wednesday in
person. I was stunned. UNFORTUNATELY, Daniel is in Michigan right now and
wouldn't be home by Wednesday!! When I told Daniel about it, he was very
excited and we talked about him coming home a little early, but (long
story short) it just wouldn't work out. So, he dictated another letter to
the President and we hope to get it into his hands somehow. The girls and
I were offered VIP tickets to the rally, so we will be going to cheer on
our very excellent President tomorrow evening.
Life continually amazes me. Tim would be flabbergasted by all of this,
but delighted to know that his kids had turned into staunch little
Republicans like Mom and Dad. When I told the girls that the President
wanted to meet Daniel, they screamed (like the teeny boppers that they
are) as if Orlando Bloom had walked into the room. Shows you how politics
rate around this house.
I will keep you posted on Tim’s condition.
Love,
Carole