Difficult Changes
My sister Patty and I are very close in age. In fact, we share the same age from October 23 to November 10 each year. This year has been very difficult for Patty. It all started with her falling at her house. I got a call from her workplace, telling me that they could not reach her and that her co-worker was not able to pick her up at her house that morning. I called my younger sister, Linda, and she also had not heard from Patty. When I finally received a call from Patty, she told me to pick her up at the hospital. Thanks to Donna Haines, Patty was taken back home. After that, there was the Sunday morning that Sue Turner had a message from Patty that concerned her. She contacted Randy and Ellen Stoesz, who went to Patty’s house at the beginning of the church service. After I managed to get the storm door unlocked, we all helped Patty get off her couch, because she had not been able to get up on her own. The following Tuesday, my sister Linda and I tried to reach Patty all day. When we did not succeed, we got very worried, and I went to her house to check on her. I am so glad I did, because I found her lying flat on her back on her bedroom floor, unable to move or get up. Even though these were distressing events for Patty, they luckily resulted in a series of emergency room exams and the diagnosis that she had infections in both of her feet. Surgery was done on both feet, and she lost a portion of her heel on both. In discussions with the doctors, it was then determined that the right leg was so bad with infection that amputation was the only option.
Patty’s world has totally changed—and so has mine. I take care of her laundry now. Sundays, after the church service, I spend time with her at Spring Mill Meadows (Indianapolis). I usually stop at Starbucks for a Chai Latte (now a Hot Chai Latte) to take to her. Both of us are learning to play old card games with Patty’s lunchmates.
So many thanks go to all who have visited her and helped her in this life-changing process she is going through. Thanks for all the concern you have shown. Patty is still awaiting a prosthesis. Hopefully it will be done this week.*
Patty Graber (photo credit: Kenton Graber)
About the Author
Kenton Graber
Kenton Graber has a long history with FMC, having been a member since 1981. In fact, Kenton helped build the building FMC is currently using. Specifically, he helped build the shelves for the library when it was in its original location (now Jonathan’s office). Patricia (Patty) Graber—also a long-standing member of FMC—is Kenton’s sister.
