Day 3- Monday Evening: Looking Up!!

The glass was half full this morning...

I waited an hour or so to ask the math question. I needed to know but hesitated as I did not want to take that wonderful demeanor this morning and stir in any frustration.

"Can I ask you the math question?"

"Uh sure" Marci halfway smiles.

"What is one hundred minus seven."

"Um" she said hesitantly. She looked up. In a couple of seconds you could see it come to her. "Ninety..." (thinks) "...three."

We are both relieved. Full smiles and laughter.

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Awake for five minutes. Nap for five.

Up for ten. Nap for five.

Up again. "Sunday New York Times?" I ask. "Oh yeah." she says

She read to me aloud. Perfectly. Like on our car rides to pick up Kira at Cabela's on Sundays after grandparent weekends.

Awake and alive for up to 30 minutes. "I am ready to be home." says my love.

Oh yeah.

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Marci takes a walk around the whole ICU with the physical and occupational therapists. No motor dysfunction. No immediate need for a nap.

We both have some appetite.

MRI- "Initial results look good."

Happy. Happy.

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"We're taking her off of antibiotics as all of the cultures fail to grow."

Spirits grow.

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Doctor visits for cursory inspection.

"You may be able to go home tomorrow..."

"Seems like a miraculous recovery..."

"We're moving you to a regular room..."

No way!!

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My mom and dad can come to visit today and it was wonderful to finally see them. (Remember that we were supposed to be quarantined but that changed.)

Mom told Marci a story about this past Sunday morning.

(Warning- the following is mom's story as retold by me. Proceed at your own risk)

Before you go - peace and love to you all. Big thanks for your continued support...


THE LOURDE'S PRAYER

I did not call my folks Saturday afternoon or evening thinking that things would have to get better. They were not as of early Sunday. No change after more than 16 hours. "She's real bad." I told dad haltingly when I could speak.

I would count on dad to break the news to mom as I knew she was at what I thought was a small religious retreat and dad would know how to break the news (without crying like me).

Mom calls me as I am driving back from the round trip back to from New Braunfels to Austin Sunday AM to get supplies and clothes for all. She said my dad had called her and mom asked if I wanted her to pray for Marci. Of course. All good thoughts are welcome.

Unbeknownst to me, mom is at a global convention of some sort. She prays with a priest and someone she has met from the Lourdes' contingent (say Lourdes France where the shrine and famous healing stuff happens).

Mom ends up being coaxed into a meeting room with over 200 people. The speaker asks everyone extend hands to her to her and pray so mom can focus on Marci. Laying of hands on momma from those near her of course.

The prayer ends and she walks out of the room enveloped by the energy.

Not very long after the payer session, she gets a call from me. Minutes before that I had gotten a call from the hospital saying that Marci had sat up and knew her name and age. This after 18 hours of Marci mimicking portions of the Exorcist (brown, not green; speaking in yelps, not tongues).

Today, my mom brought holy water and asked to sprinkle Marci with some. Marci asked if I wanted to. I told my mom she could do our hands with some while I held Marci's hands in mine.

Mom then put some on her own fingers and made the sign of the sing of the cross on my forehead with the holy water.

"It burns!" I screamed...

True story.