Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope this finds you all happy and whole. It's been a while since we've been in touch. It was one year ago today, about 5:30 in the morning, I got a phone call from Dad. Normally I would never answer a call, from anyone, at that time of the morning. However, Dad was scheduled for a pacemaker and we were a little nervous about his health. "I need you to take me to the emergency room." is all he said. I assumed something was wrong with his heart, threw on some clothes and ran next door. Dad was sprawled across a chair, groaning and grimacing in pain. He had been in pain since the previous evening but waited to do anything about it until he started throwing up blood.

I threw on the emergency flashers and ran red lights as we rushed downtown to Bronson Hospital. When you go into the ER talking about heart problems, they get you right in, no waiting. When the doctors tried to lift his shirt to examine his stomach, he screamed in pain. After a little while they diagnosed it was most likely something to do with his pancreas. It was inflamed. They informed me he may very well be in the hospital for several days. It's funny now how alarmed I was at that. Several days!? None of us had ever been hospitalized for more than a couple days.

Well, it turned out to be several months instead of several days. Dad had to be sedated and intubated for weeks on end and was very close to death a couple of times. He lost about 60 lbs. You remember the story.

This year has been a long road of recovery. For a while after the hospital, dad needed a home nurse, Meals on Wheels, a house cleaner, and physical therapists. He looked like a skeleton and needed a walker to get around the house. As soon as he could, Dad started getting his steps in and after a couple weeks moved from the walker to a cane. He worked and worked on gaining weight and getting his strength back. It was quite a challenge, but he biked and walked, and by the end of the summer he started looking like his old self again.

When September rolled around, Dad told me he was feeling good and wanted to ride his bike from Kalamazoo to Lake Michigan. Luckily he wanted a ride and wasn't looking for someone to ride with him! I dropped him off at the Kal-Haven trail head  in Kalamazoo and several hours later picked him up in South Haven. Seeing him come around that last corner on his bright green bike, was a victorious moment. I was filled with a sense of accomplishment and I think some relief. We had done it. He had survived the ordeal. I don't think I've ever been so thankful for my Dad and so proud of him.

We're also so thankful for all of you. All the notes and encouragements. All the offers of help. All the thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

From Pete & Ann, Ben & Nicole, and all of Nico's grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Below is a note from Dad: