You just never know....

It was Dec. 30th, Earl's birthday and our anniversary. My brother, DeLoy and his wife, Trudy, were home for the holidays. We were going to get together to celebrate! Since living in New Mexico, they have become specialists at making tamales, so we were having a huge Mexican Fiesta with our family and theirs. Around 5:15 pm, I was on the phone with my sister, Mary Lou, asking her if she and her husband, Al, wanted to come up and celebrate with us. She was telling me her grandkids had spent time at their house and Al had picked up the stomach flu from Amber. She said he was having some pretty severe stomach cramps. I advised her to get out the DigestZen. She laughed and said, "You know how he can't stand the smell of that stuff!" (It really is strong...smells like black licorice...strong black licorice!) I told her to forget the DigestZen and rub Peppermint on his stomach. She passed that word along to him and I could hear him tell her that the chicken she was cooking was making him nauseated and that he was NOT having Peppermint! She and I were laughing and then I thought I heard him say, "I think I'm gong to faint!" I asked her if that was what he said and she said, "Yes!" We laughed again and I told her she had better go tend him.
About a half an hour into the party, the phone rings and it's Mary Lou. She is crying and sounds very shaken up and says, "They have just taken Al in for emergency surgery!" We concluded the party and DeLoy and Trudy and Earl and I ran to Salt Lake to the hospital. We arrived just as the doctor came out of the surgery. He basically told them he had done everything he could but he could not guarantee that Al would make it through the night.
It has been 19 days since Al's first surgery. He has had an additional surgery, plus a tracheoctomy and last night when I visited him, he looked like an entirely different person than he has for the many, many previous days. On Sat., the 14th, he was beginning to return to us and Sunday he looked even better. I didn't go down on Martin Luther King Day, but when I went Tuesday, the 17th, he looked like himself. He tries to talk with his eyes and hand gestures. He will write what he wants if you can't figure out what he is saying otherwise. The area of concentration right now is getting him breathing completely on his own. They are thinking they will be moving to rehab rather quickly. He doesn't want to go to rehab...he wants to go home...I guess we will see!
Mary Lou has never left him. She has stayed night and day ever since he went in. She has managed to stay positive and encouraging, even through all the ups and downs. Al has had so many visitors. I am amazed at the number of people who come to the hospital. Laura has kept a record, as Al will probably never remember -- especially since they had him in an induced coma for the first week. He has many, many people who love and respect him.
We are so thankful for the faith of the family and friends and for the many prayers in Al's behalf. Priesthood blessings are miraculous and that power here on earth to act in Heavenly Father's name is one of those blessings I am overwhelmed with. This great power has definitely guided doctors, nurses, radiologists and many others who have been responsible for Al's life.
I love Al and Mary Lou. They have been a huge presence in my life. We are still praying constantly for them.
You just never know.......