Just Me - AmeliaJake, The Peanut Butter Cafe & Roadhouse

My hand’s a paw

July 6, 2009 AmeliaJake

My right hand. I awoke this morning to realize it was a slightly swollen, somewhat painful thing hanging from my wrist – looking sort of like a paw, but not a cute, furry one. Soooooo I think this morning I will get cleaned up and go over to the nursing home and see Kathryn. (I have already taken quick acting aspirin crystals.) Then I will come home and if the things have come around, attach myself to the sander again.

Today is Quentin’s birthday – July 6th. That was actually the start of a tension-filled week: The morning after he was born, the doctor came in and said his right eye was all red, as in “filled with blood” red, and he was calling in an ophthalmologist. Well, he did and that fellow got him an appointment with the head of the eye department at the University of Illinois in Chicago. You have to have a special “ticket” to go to the head of the line like that.

So I came home and then we brought Quentin home because, as the nurse explained, he would be breaking the sterile field of the nursery to go to the University anyway. It was quite a day, from Dr. Morton Goldberg’s resident asking me, “Has anyone in your family had an eye removed?” to Dr. Goldberg himself getting down on his knees to put drops in Quentin’s eyes so he wouldn’t have to be moved off his dad’s lap, to the giant microscope coming down out of the ceiling, to the room filling up with ophthalmology people, to Dr. Goldberg saying, “Well, I don’t see a tumor.” The sudden lightening mood of the medical personnel slapped me in the face with an ‘Oh my God, they were thinking tumor, but it isn’t’ moment.

We walked out of the room and Dr. Goldberg asked me how I was. I answered fine and then went into the waiting room, looked at our friend who had driven us, and burst into sobs while gasping out, “He’s okay.”

And then Quentin came home.

That was 28 years ago. Now, today, my paw and I will be sanding the kitchen floor. But if I were in hot, hot Houston, I would get him a cake . . . and eat some, too. I think my paw could handle a fork.

***Jody Lynn Vance: 1985-2011***

Jody was born at sunrise on a bright, sunny, cold, snowy Groundhog’s Day and from Day One she was a gift to everyone around her. Her infectious laugh and rambunctious spirit made her the center of attention where ever she happened to be.

She and her Dad would watch Sesame Street and sing at the top of our voices (and quite out of key) all of the songs. She enjoyed having Mom fix her hair so it was fancy and just right.

As a toddler she had quite an impressive vocabulary and often had a lot to say. One time Dad was headed out the door to go to work and she pointed her finger and said, “No. No. No. Don’t go anywhere!“

Jody was very seldom crabby, always happy and she wasted no time in spreading that joy to everyone around her. Jody’s favorite place was to be perched on the lap of Mom or Dad or playing with her toys spread out all over the floor. Jody was always affectionate, wanting hugs and “moochies” as she called smooches on the cheek.

At around two, Jody’s illness began to attack her. It took a beautiful, innocent child and put her through untold pain and suffering,

I know that through all of that she was not afraid. She had the heart and spirit of lion. She never gave up; time after countless time, she would open her eyes and there would come that smile. Jody lost her speech, but never was at a loss for words. She could say more with a look or a half smile than most people do yakking all day long.

After numerous doctor, hospital, and specialist visits, we were given the news of her illness. I remember that moment frozen in time … it was as if the entire world stopped. It was in that brief moment we both knew that we must make the very most of the time we had remaining together and not dwell on the despair of all of the things that would never be.

Jody was not expected to live more than three or so - but she had too many things to do and stories to tell, so she cruised by that birthday and over two more decades of birthdays, Christmases and millions of smiles and hugs. Jody was well-liked by other kids; once when she was being wheeled into her classroom at Handicare, one of the children yelled, “Hey everybody, Jody’s here” and all the kids cheered.

Two of the biggest joys in her life were her two little brothers, Joey and Sammy. She would just beam with joy when they would sit next to her and when they began to get older she’d love to listen to them running through the house and playing together. The two of them would start laughing and Jody would laugh right along with them. She would listen intently to everything they did and they would include her as often as they could. The three of them loved watching Saturday morning cartoons and The Three Stooges.

Joe and Sam did without a lot of things that other kids had, did and took for granted … and they never once complained or were resentful of the way things were. That shows a special kind of love and a special kind of family.

As the years went by and the boys grew up into strong and healthy, Jody’s health slowly and steadily declined. She would have long stretches where she was fairly stable and then would become so very ill.

Many times we were sure the end was near and then she would open those sparkling blue eyes and stretch just like nothing had happened at all.

Once she was in the hospital with her usual bout of pneumonia and lapsed into a coma; this went on for 8 days. One Dr. came in, examined her and just shook his head. Later that night Jody’s eyes popped open and she was refreshed from her cat- nap.

People over the years have commented, ”I don’t know how you do it. ”This always struck me as odd. My thoughts would always be: How could you even think of turning your back on someone who needs you that much?

It was always our promise to Jody that she would always live at home with her family and I think she found comfort in knowing that.

But, no one person can take the credit for caring for this wonderful young woman. It has taken an army of doctors, nurses, teachers, aides, pharmacists, friends, and family over the years to maintain Jody at home, and we could never begin to thank you enough.

Jody always kept her head held high and never seemed to be afraid; she has truly been my inspiration on many occasions. When things were gloomy and seemed hopeless, just one smile and a hug was all I needed to go on. Jody will always be my hero. I love her and will treasure the time we had together.

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