[Dialogue] A report about Brian Stanfield

[BG Robins]

  Dear Colleagues,
   
  As you have experienced, an email from Brian Stanfield is a miracle and no less.  Jeanette and I felt like a slightly longer email may fill in a few gaps for you.
   
  Brian has now been home 3 weeks and has progressively improved, to everyones' surprise and awe.  He is able to talk in simple phrases and for short periods.  
   
  His big hurdle has been eating and digesting his food.  He has trouble swallowing.  However, his food is pureed and as long as he is careful he avoids gagging.  
   
  He is developing his walking skill again and is determined to get mobile.  Inevitably, as he said in his email, he has fallen a fair bit.  We know that babies can do that without a problem, but for an old man it has more serious consequences.  
   
  Jeanette, her niece Emily, and the visiting district nurses, try to keep an eye on him, but he tends to wait his chance when they are not looking!  When we visited a couple of weeks ago the women were busy, so Brian grabbed his walker and came out to greet us at the door with a wicked twinkle in his eye!  He has a great spirit and we could only admire his decisional stance.  With Jeanette as co-driver, he is also riding his scooter and seems to remember how to control it like a pro.  
   
  Brian has wanted us all to get together for a House Church and last Friday night was our opportunity.  Kevin Balm was visiting in connection with an up-coming ToP program, so we invited Joan Firkins, Frank Bremner and the Oakleys to come.  Unfortunately Barry is in trouble with Angina and they had to say 'no'.  But the rest of us gathered.
   
  Finding the liturgy for House Church caused a bit of a problem and when we did find it we were somewhat surprised at it's antiquity.  However, with the use of the delete button here and there, we knocked it into appropriate shape and we all had a great time.  
   
  Brian enjoyed a Scotch on the Rocks during the happy hour, and entered into the singing with gusto.  He paid careful attention to the liturgy and helped us a bit when we got confused about rubrics.  It was a wonderful time indeed.
   
  Despite everything that is happening and everything that we hope for, we are sobered by remembering that his old brain has taken a fair beating as a result of the strokes.  His spirit is strong, but his body and mind are somewhat unpredictable.  This is not meant to be gloom and doom, but it is meant to confront us with the fact that he is far from well.  It is right for us all to be optomistic, and Jeanette is constantly encouraged by your helpful emails, but it is doubtful that he will ever again be the Brian Stanfield we remember. 
   
  I am not sure that Jeanette would have me say this, but she and Emily (her niece) and the nursing staff who continue to care for Brian have all played an incredible role in responding to his return to consciousness.  Please remember Jeanette and Emily especially as carrying a tremendous responsibility on Brian's behalf.  
   
  This is truly a moment for rejoicing, but it is rejoicing peppered with caution.
   
  Grace and Peace.




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