From: Teresa
Date: Sunday, February 20, 2000
Dear Family and Friends,
I just arrived home after being with Lynne for the past 6 days. I will try to recap the last few days as best as I can.
On Tuesday, I arrived at University Hospital in San Antonio around 4:45. It was so good to be able to give Lynne a hug. Her incision is healing well following surgery. We talked about 12 years ago when we had our c-sections and how it had taken awhile to gain our strength back.
One of Lynne's co-workers, Skip, that works out of an office in Ft.Worth,was in town on business, and stopped by for a visit.
We opened several cards and I put them on her card board. The encouraging words mean SO MUCH!
Wednesday, I arrived at the hospital in time to eat lunch with Lynne. I told her she deserved a treat, so I brought her a Frosty from Wendy's. She said she was feeling more like herself again since surgery. After lunch I went with Lynne to her afternoon therapy session. She has been working on her leg strength so that she can wheel her "Flinstone Car" around. I decided to sit in her chair to see how she was having to wheel herself around. It's a challenge, and she is definitely better at it than I am!
Wednesday evening we opened more cards, made a list of things she wanted to have since everything had been taken home prior to surgery, and had a prayer together before leaving for the house. Dad called to say that they had sung "You are My All in All" at his church, and they had never sung it there before!
Thursday, I arrived at lunch time again. Lynne had a short break after lunch, and then it was off to therapy again. Her OT, Celeste, is working on helping Lynne strengthen her hands and fingers. On Monday, Celeste had helped Lynne make Valentine cookies. (they were yummy) Today she worked with the putty. There was some extra putty, so I worked with it too.
One of the things I brought her was the big banner her office staff made her wishing her well. They had stuck about 25 lottery tickets around the banner. For therapy, Celeste had Lynne Scratch Off about 3 of the tickets. She worked really hard, and accomplished the task, but didn't win any money.(I told her that wasn't very fair since she had worked so hard) Everyone is really encouraging in therapy. Lynne continues to have a positive attitude. She is such an encouragement to everyone!
For dinner, I went to Wendy's and got Lynne a baked potato. (Hospital food is a bit old). Mom called, and talked with Lynne for awhile, then Russell brought the boys by to see her. I took the boys home so that Lynne and Russell could have some time together.
Friday, we had lunch together again, and then we went to therapy. Therapy was really exciting. Lynne stood on her own with a therapist on either side of her. They had her shift her weight a little to the left, and then a little to the right, then she would sit down. She repeated this about 4-5 times!!(I was her cheerleader) After standing, Bev (her PT) had her get on the mat and do some leg lifts, then she told Lynne to roll on her belly. Lynne did this without any assistance! It was a lot of work, but then she rolled back to her back without assistance too!! The last thing she did today was pick up some round pegs and place them in some slots on (what looked to be) a checker board. She put every single one of them into their place by herself! After therapy it was time for a much needed rest. About 4:30 her friend, Elizabeth (Liz) dropped by to check on her. (A visit from a friend is always a bright spot) About 6:00, Lynne's equipment that she will be taking home arrived. (At this time, the plan is to dismiss her to go home on Wed., Feb.23, one day short of 2 months in University hospital. Mary Netherland is planning to come and help Lynne once she gets home) Finally, after having some dinner, we listened to a tape about faith, visited, listened to music, and just enjoyed each other's company. After a prayer together it was time to say goodnight. (I don't know where the time went) Russell spent the day getting their bedroom painted. He is ready to bring Lynne home!!
Saturday, Russell had class, so I stayed home with the boys. About 8:45 AM the builder came to rebuild the fireplace. While they built, the boys played their Roller Coaster computer game, then we ordered suff-crust pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut. Once the builders took a lunch break, we went to Blockbuster to rent some movies, and got an ice-cream treat from Dairy Queen. We went home and watched the movie. Once Russell got home around 6:00 I went back to the hospital. Lynne had spent the afternoon with her friend and co office manager Jennie. Jennie had brought Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas from Alamo Cafe, and she and Lynne put in about 4 hours of work. Lynne was really tired, but it was a great sense of accomplishment. Lynne and I visited awhile and as you probably guessed, the evening went by in a hurry.
This morning (Sunday), I went by the hospital to spend some time with Lynne. We read scripture, sang some songs, and prayed together. It was hard to leave. I went to church with Russell and the boys. The couple in front of me said, "You must be Lynne's sister, I recognize the alto voice."
I left to come home after church. This afternoon at 2:00 several of the chorus members went to the hospital to sing and have communion with Lynne. Lynne said there was not a dry eye to be found. The song that she says keeps coming up has some simple words but a lot encouragement. It goes like this, "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way."
God bless,
Teresa
Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement. They mean so much!
Lynne Riggan
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Date: Sunday, February 20, 2000
Dear Family and Friends,
I just arrived home after being with Lynne for the past 6 days. I will try to recap the last few days as best as I can.
On Tuesday, I arrived at University Hospital in San Antonio around 4:45. It was so good to be able to give Lynne a hug. Her incision is healing well following surgery. We talked about 12 years ago when we had our c-sections and how it had taken awhile to gain our strength back.
One of Lynne's co-workers, Skip, that works out of an office in Ft.Worth,was in town on business, and stopped by for a visit.
We opened several cards and I put them on her card board. The encouraging words mean SO MUCH!
Wednesday, I arrived at the hospital in time to eat lunch with Lynne. I told her she deserved a treat, so I brought her a Frosty from Wendy's. She said she was feeling more like herself again since surgery. After lunch I went with Lynne to her afternoon therapy session. She has been working on her leg strength so that she can wheel her "Flinstone Car" around. I decided to sit in her chair to see how she was having to wheel herself around. It's a challenge, and she is definitely better at it than I am!
Wednesday evening we opened more cards, made a list of things she wanted to have since everything had been taken home prior to surgery, and had a prayer together before leaving for the house. Dad called to say that they had sung "You are My All in All" at his church, and they had never sung it there before!
Thursday, I arrived at lunch time again. Lynne had a short break after lunch, and then it was off to therapy again. Her OT, Celeste, is working on helping Lynne strengthen her hands and fingers. On Monday, Celeste had helped Lynne make Valentine cookies. (they were yummy) Today she worked with the putty. There was some extra putty, so I worked with it too.
One of the things I brought her was the big banner her office staff made her wishing her well. They had stuck about 25 lottery tickets around the banner. For therapy, Celeste had Lynne Scratch Off about 3 of the tickets. She worked really hard, and accomplished the task, but didn't win any money.(I told her that wasn't very fair since she had worked so hard) Everyone is really encouraging in therapy. Lynne continues to have a positive attitude. She is such an encouragement to everyone!
For dinner, I went to Wendy's and got Lynne a baked potato. (Hospital food is a bit old). Mom called, and talked with Lynne for awhile, then Russell brought the boys by to see her. I took the boys home so that Lynne and Russell could have some time together.
Friday, we had lunch together again, and then we went to therapy. Therapy was really exciting. Lynne stood on her own with a therapist on either side of her. They had her shift her weight a little to the left, and then a little to the right, then she would sit down. She repeated this about 4-5 times!!(I was her cheerleader) After standing, Bev (her PT) had her get on the mat and do some leg lifts, then she told Lynne to roll on her belly. Lynne did this without any assistance! It was a lot of work, but then she rolled back to her back without assistance too!! The last thing she did today was pick up some round pegs and place them in some slots on (what looked to be) a checker board. She put every single one of them into their place by herself! After therapy it was time for a much needed rest. About 4:30 her friend, Elizabeth (Liz) dropped by to check on her. (A visit from a friend is always a bright spot) About 6:00, Lynne's equipment that she will be taking home arrived. (At this time, the plan is to dismiss her to go home on Wed., Feb.23, one day short of 2 months in University hospital. Mary Netherland is planning to come and help Lynne once she gets home) Finally, after having some dinner, we listened to a tape about faith, visited, listened to music, and just enjoyed each other's company. After a prayer together it was time to say goodnight. (I don't know where the time went) Russell spent the day getting their bedroom painted. He is ready to bring Lynne home!!
Saturday, Russell had class, so I stayed home with the boys. About 8:45 AM the builder came to rebuild the fireplace. While they built, the boys played their Roller Coaster computer game, then we ordered suff-crust pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut. Once the builders took a lunch break, we went to Blockbuster to rent some movies, and got an ice-cream treat from Dairy Queen. We went home and watched the movie. Once Russell got home around 6:00 I went back to the hospital. Lynne had spent the afternoon with her friend and co office manager Jennie. Jennie had brought Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas from Alamo Cafe, and she and Lynne put in about 4 hours of work. Lynne was really tired, but it was a great sense of accomplishment. Lynne and I visited awhile and as you probably guessed, the evening went by in a hurry.
This morning (Sunday), I went by the hospital to spend some time with Lynne. We read scripture, sang some songs, and prayed together. It was hard to leave. I went to church with Russell and the boys. The couple in front of me said, "You must be Lynne's sister, I recognize the alto voice."
I left to come home after church. This afternoon at 2:00 several of the chorus members went to the hospital to sing and have communion with Lynne. Lynne said there was not a dry eye to be found. The song that she says keeps coming up has some simple words but a lot encouragement. It goes like this, "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way."
God bless,
Teresa
Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement. They mean so much!
Lynne Riggan
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