Back In The Saddle Again

Today was one of those mini miracle days...Joe left the house on his own speed and it wasn't to dialysis.

Sometime the latter part of last year, Joe and I went to the Senior Citizens Center (less than a mile from our home) to pick up a schedule of upcoming events with the hopes that something would interest Joe and he would leave the house. Basically the only time he was leaving was for dialysis, church and when he went somewhere with me. He decided to wait in the car while I went in and that's where I met Denise who is the activities coordinator. I discussed with her my concern about Joe not getting out and socializing with others. She came outside to meet Joe and told him how much she'd love for him to come and help her out sometime. He smiled and said he'd think about it.

Last week we went by the Senior Citizens Center to pick up a schedule of upcoming events. I had hopes that something would interest Joe and since he was feeling better and the weather is improving maybe he'd get out. On the way over, I mentioned to him that he might speak with Denise and tell her he was ready to work. When we arrived, he got out of the car, walked in and asked for Denise! He told her he was ready to go to work! He told her he'd come to work for her on Mondays. She gave him paperwork to be completed and made his volunteer assignment and gave him his hours. I was so surprised, happy, excited, etc.

So, Joe left for work this morning on the CATC bus which picks him up at the house. He's now a RSVP member with a card and a pin and all the benefits. It was quite exciting for me to see him walk on his own speed out to the bus and watch him drive away.

To many, this may not seem to be something to get excited about. However, to me (and Joe) it is. Even before the heart attack and kidney shutdown he was vegetating and now he's taking this step. Back in the saddle again!

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This is written AfTEr Joe returned from his first day of volunteering. Look at the smile on his face! He even got his own name tag and is looking forward to going back again on his assigned day of Monday. It was so nice for him to come home and have little snippets to relate about some of the people he met. It was so nice to see the smile on his face and hear the excitement in his voice.

The greatest thing though is that another mini miracle took place. Joe announced that he was going to start going back on Wednesdays. He'll go in and have lunch and then he'll take a Tai Chi class. What is Tai Chi? Tai chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. To do tai chi, you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.

This is another answer to many prayers from me and others.