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| W/Cassie and Coury in role as Che...we saw the last show! |
I am convinced that my healing has been greatly influenced by the support I have received here. When I went into the hospital, we were in Sacramento to see our son, Coury, on stage. Cassie, Coury’s girlfriend and our long-time friend through volunteering in Nicaragua, was working the ER as a resident. Our son Daniel was with us as I was admitted in ER. Later that night, Coury and our daughter Jessica joined the Murdock/Woodard circus in the ER with Mama.
Throughout the hospital lucha (struggle), Cassie helped me and Mike understand what all the doctors were saying, what the tests showed, and how serious it was. Coury, Jessica, and our son Tiff kept Mike company and sane during my days in the ICU while I was mostly oblivious to my environment – thank you, morphine!
Jessica informed “the world” of my trials and progress so that friends and family would know what was happening with me, which meant Mike did not have to field as many calls. It also meant that many, many people sent well wishes via email and prayed for us.
There were times I thought I was going to die and I knew that Daniel was going home to Nicaragua and would be support for Joseph, the youngest of the family and who had not come to California. I knew the kids would support each other and Mike. I knew that the community at home would carry on and support each other and that we had good people in Nicaragua that would help. I knew this for certain. |
| Jane with me recovering |
Jane modeled for me what to do if someone goes into the hospital…how to be an advocate with nurses and doctors, how to get a patient up and walking…she even got me out into the sun. She brought gifts, magazines and chicken noodle soup…the first food I ate. She read to me and she and Mike made me laugh. She took days off work to help us in the hospital and later with doctors’ appointments.
Tiff and his housemates took Mike and me into their home for months. Between Tiff and Coury we have always had a place to stay (Dena, Cassie’s sister, still lends us her bedroom every time we come to their house in Sacramento!), a car to go to and from appointments, food to eat, and all we need.
Blue Zones is a book being talked about here in the States now. "Blue zones" are areas where people live a vital 10 years longer than the rest of us in the world. Food, exercise, and reducing stress are all aspects of the communities in the Blue Zones. But two elements that the book stresses are friendship and knowing that someone has your back.
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| Coury with me outside! |
If we had not had all the support from family and friends here and in Nicaragua, I would have been anxious, fretful, stressed out, and felt lost. Knowing people had Mike’s and my back eased tremendous stress for both of us and let the healing occur unencumbered.
Living as a family… true community…as brothers and sisters…is a good idea…a really good idea. Not only might we live longer, but we all might live more peacefully. Let’s do it.
-Kathleen
