First time back on my bike after a week of fighting a nasty cold. Unlike Patty Griffin I am a fighter who sometimes needs to ‘give up’ to heal. Still I believe we must continue to ‘fight the good fight’ and help one another carry our burdens…
Dr. J. Dean Cole the orthopedic surgeon who virtually rebuilt my left leg (see ‘The Accident’ page) sent me a letter with the name of a dentist whose leg was as damaged as mine. The dentist, Bill, and I talked on the phone this morning for a long time. In an auto accident decades ago his leg was severely damaged. He needed ‘total knee replacement.’ No orthopedic surgeon was willing to tackle the issue. Bill was desperate. A surgeon friend suggested he consult Dr. Cole, who said, “We can fix that.” He gave Bill my name and Bill’s phone numbers Dr. Cole mailed to me. Since we’ve move I got Dr. Cole’s letter just yesterday. So I gave Bill a call.
We had a long conversation during which I gave him the history of my leg. Bill and I share the blessing of ‘never giving up.’ In spite of our pain we refuse to sit down and sit still. He exercised in and through the pain just like I did. “Life is to be lived,” Bill said. (See my post ‘Carpe Diem’) Bill’s motto was ‘do it now’ which he often shared with his patients. He believed it was in his genes that made him so persistent. Just like I believed I was born this way. He refereed soccer games with a leg he could not bend at all. People would ask him if he was OK. He would tell them, “Just Watch.” Needless to say we hit it off. Those who know me know that I am like bull dog. I too don’t give up
I encouraged him that if anyone could help him it was Dr. Cole. I believe that he is a Gifted Surgeon. Bill thanked me for the call. He called it a Blessing and said I was an angel. The call was a Blessing to me also since Bill and I were sharing our burdens, lightening each other’s loads. We are after all called to be God’s hands and feet…
I hope Bill keeps in touch.
So: “Do it now!” “Don’t give up!”