It has been over a year since I fell ill and I have been long reflecting on all I appreciate, especially my family and friends. I give public thanks to them. I have mentioned before how humbling it was to discover how many people have been praying and offering Masses. I was shocked how rumors of my illness touched the ears of some school friends with whom I had long lost contact and the extraordinary sleuthing they did to find my family.

Both my wife and I were hospitalized with the COVID. Luckily my wife was only hospitalized for a week, but she and all our children were knocked down badly, remarkable especially in view of their young ages (clearly our whole family was genetically at high risk from that COVID gene weapon). When my income ceased, my wife filled the breach. Even though she had not fully recovered, she broke her back then, as now, to keep our family afloat.

Our children have been heroic and perfectly Catholic for the year+ of my illness and ongoing work of recovery. When I awoke from 2 months of coma, the doctors and nurses told me that our children had visited me every day while my wife went to work. For the first month they were not allowed direct entry (not even our pastor was allowed), so they stayed outside praying and peering through the ICU window. After a month, they were allowed inside to visit. When I awoke, I was quadriplegic.  They stayed for hours giving me range-of-motion to move my limbs, minimize contractures and muscle wasting. At first the COVID neuropathy caused hand and foot pain and numbness elsewhere in my entire body. Every day they massaged my hands and feet to reduce my pain. Touched by their kindness, the nurses allowed our children to stay well past the nominal visiting hours, then our children would go home and work past midnight on their schoolwork.

I learned that they had similarly doted on my wife for her month-long recovery. All the boys took over my head-of-household duties such as weeding, home and auto repair. They used my credentials to log into our online accounts to pay the bills and help our accountant to file our family taxes.  Our daughter shopped, cooked, and cleaned as did the boys. When the doctor finally pulled my PEG feeding tube and I was able to eat, our babies hand fed me treats and meals every day until I could feed myself. In every way they were kind, loving, and well beyond dutiful.

For the first six months home (July 4-to-New Years), our children drove me to my surgeries, doctors appointments, and physical therapy. At first I couldn't even wipe myself, stand, arise from the commode or shower unassisted. Unflinchingly they helped me with all that. Now that I can walk and drive and have returned to work 1 or 2 days per week, they still are solicitous and offer to help in any way they can. No longer homeschooling, they have excelled in school and sports and have never given any worries to my wife or me.

Our wonderful children are direct descendants of 3 martyrs for the Faith. Their mother and huge family suffered greatly under Communism and escaping Communism. Undeservedly I have been carried by the graces that flow around them.

My wife, children, and friends are all an undeserved gift from God. Deo gratias! May He remain so Merciful.

As I repent my too frequent intemperance, my thanks continue to go to all my family, friends, and even strangers.

It has been over a year since I fell ill and I have been long reflecting on all I appreciate, especially my family and friends. I give public thanks to them. I have mentioned before how humbling it was to discover how many people have been praying and offering Masses. I was shocked how rumors of my illness touched the ears of some school friends with whom I had long lost contact and the extraordinary sleuthing they did to find my family.

Both my wife and I were hospitalized with the COVID. Luckily my wife was only hospitalized for a week, but she and all our children were knocked down badly, remarkable especially in view of their young ages (clearly our whole family was genetically at high risk from that COVID gene weapon). When my income ceased, my wife filled the breach. Even though she had not fully recovered, she broke her back then, as now, to keep our family afloat.

Our children have been heroic and perfectly Catholic for the year+ of my illness and ongoing work of recovery. When I awoke from 2 months of coma, the doctors and nurses told me that our children had visited me every day while my wife went to work. For the first month they were not allowed direct entry (not even our pastor was allowed), so they stayed outside praying and peering through the ICU window. After a month, they were allowed inside to visit. When I awoke, I was quadriplegic.  They stayed for hours giving me range-of-motion to move my limbs, minimize contractures and muscle wasting. At first the COVID neuropathy caused hand and foot pain and numbness elsewhere in my entire body. Every day they massaged my hands and feet to reduce my pain. Touched by their kindness, the nurses allowed our children to stay well past the nominal visiting hours, then our children would go home and work past midnight on their schoolwork.

I learned that they had similarly doted on my wife for her month-long recovery. All the boys took over my head-of-household duties such as weeding, home and auto repair. They used my credentials to log into our online accounts to pay the bills and help our accountant to file our family taxes.  Our daughter shopped, cooked, and cleaned as did the boys. When the doctor finally pulled my PEG feeding tube and I was able to eat, our babies hand fed me treats and meals every day until I could feed myself. In every way they were kind, loving, and well beyond dutiful.

For the first six months home (July 4-to-New Years), our children drove me to my surgeries, doctors appointments, and physical therapy. At first I couldn't even wipe myself, stand, arise from the commode or shower unassisted. Unflinchingly they helped me with all that. Now that I can walk and drive and have returned to work 1 or 2 days per week, they still are solicitous and offer to help in any way they can. No longer homeschooling, they have excelled in school and sports and have never given any worries to my wife or me.

Our wonderful children are direct descendants of 3 martyrs for the Faith. Their mother and huge family suffered greatly under Communism and escaping Communism. Undeservedly I have been carried by the graces that flow around them.

My wife, children, and friends are all an undeserved gift from God. Deo gratias! May He remain so Merciful.

As I repent my too frequent intemperance, my thanks continue to go to all my family, friends, and even strangers.

👍👍👍 What a uplifting story! God bless you and you and your wonderful family!