2.30 a.m…

Yes, I am awake…and am having trouble sleeping…

So, I am meditating upon these verses….

Psalm 63:6

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

Psalm 119:148

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

Lamentations 2:19a

Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children…

Irene is restless, tossing and turning…but sleeping…

Thanks for caring…and oh, by the way, did I report to you how she ended the traffic accident interaction with the young lady who RAMMED her yesterday?

Irene gave her a HUGE HUG and SMILE…

Amazing…
Dave

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8.15 p.m.

“…just another day at the office…”

I awoke this morning at 3.45 am in a Newport Beach hotel following a productive day with clients.  As is my pattern, I checked my “Crackberry”…I mean, Blackberry, for any developments or urgent matters that needed immediate attention.

The following was particularly compelling…At 1:02 am I had received an Instant Message from the CFO at Bethany University.  The message was simply this:

“We had a fire on campus tonight.  The cafe burned – probably a total loss.  Call me in the morning?”

Click here for the full story.

After immediately responding to the Instant Message and emailing my technical team of this urgent development, I called Southwest Airlines and made flight changes which would allow my early morning arrival in San Jose.

I met with the executive team at Bethany this morning and we discussed the multi-million dollar insurance claim and several mitigating strategies.

Later, I was back in the office when Irene called, alerting me that she had just been in a traffic accident…the second crash in six months…!!!  I immediately responded to her location and learned that as she was yielding for pedestrian traffic in a crosswalk, a young lady RAMMED the rear end of Irene’s vehicle.

Irene has WHIPLASH and acute nausea from the impact.

Following the CHP report, I drove Irene to dialysis treatment in Watsonville then drove back to Bethany University in Scotts Valley to meet with the insurance adjustors.

After that meeting I drove back to Watsonville, picked Irene up and took her to see our friend and chiropractor, Dr. Buford McCharen.  Dr. McCharen caringly treated Irene for severe whiplash.  She will return tomorrow for another round.  She’s extremely soar and has limited shoulder and neck movement.

It’s been a full day….as Irene recovers from dialysis treatment, the ongoing nausea, and the second rear end accident she’s experienced in six months.

“…just another day at the office….”

Thanks for caring,
Dave

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M A R A T H O N defined:

…. a test of endurance, a lengthy and difficult task, event, or activity

So, when Persia was dust, all cried, “To Acropolis!
Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due!
Athens is saved, thank Pan, go shout!” He flung down his shield
Ran like fire once more: and the space ‘twixt the fennel-field
And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through,
Till in he broke: “Rejoice, we conquer!” Like wine through clay,
Joy in his blood bursting his heart, – the bliss!

Wikipedia, Pheidippides

June 15, 2007 will be a date long remembered.  It’s hard to believe that we’re closing in on TWO YEARS since that rendezvous of time as we contemplate Irene’s SECOND Stem Cell Transplant Birthday.

Irene endures today by the grace of God, answered prayer by a multitude of people, combined with the AMAZING UCSF Medical Team.

I’ve been slowly scrolling and reading through various pages of Irene’s website as I cogitate on the 2+ year journey…

Yes, we realize that she faithfully perseveres the following:

3 days a week of dialysis treatment — Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s she leaves the house at 1 pm and returns near 6 pm
Inveterate fatigue — Irene wakes up on most days feeling depleted rather than rejuvenated because she doesn’t sleep well through the night; another classic symptom of kidney failure.
Unremitting nausea — Since June of 2007 and ever constant, it comes in random WAVES, oftentimes a tolerable 4-5 on a scale of 1-10 but on dialysis days the “tide” can rise to 10

…. and we remain hopeful for an eventual kidney transplant donor.

What is even more amazing is that Irene endures the journey with JOY.  For those of you who visit this website regularly, you personally witness her signature smile.  For those who have interaction with her, her optimistic countenance and poise is ever present.  This doesn’t mean she’s happy about her circumstances but she faces them with inner STRENGTH and PEACE that she appropriates into her life through faith in Christ.

Consider it pure joy, my Brethren, when you face trials of many kinds
James 1:2

Irene truly exemplifies that verse

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