Author Archives: madge

Tahoe and Toddlers

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Occasionally we get the opportunity to talk to children about service dogs on behalf of Canine Assistants. Tahoe demonstrates general obedience, picks up objects on the floor for me, opens doors, and turns on lights. It’s fascinating and educational for the them.

He is an affectionate, ‘people’ dog. His favorite part of a visit is when we take him ‘off duty’ and allow the children to gather around him for a gentle pet. He rolls over enjoying every second…talk about the center of attention!

Tahoe has an innate ability to bring a dose of cheer to a day and his ministry touches people everywhere we go!

A cheerful heart makes you healthy.
Proverbs 17:22

Keeping it Real – Quadriplegic Cough

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Keeping it Real – Quadriplegic Cough

There are times my disability smacks me in the face and knocks my feet right out from under me. This week has been one of those weeks. I have a cold…that simple rhino virus that many people fiercely fight off without missing a beat. ‘Well say it ain’t so!’ the quadriplegics exclaim.

Because of the paralysis, our respiratory systems are compromised. Congestion in our lungs is difficult to extract because the muscles don’t contract to force enough pressure to productively cough. Developing pneumonia is a possible danger and the leading cause of death for quads.

The simple cold is a serous matter. Proactive zinc and vitamins have helped me avoid a cold for several years, but somehow this rhino crept up on me. I’m always hopeful that prayer, rest, water, vitamins, ginger tea and chicken soup will do the trick quickly, but inevitably the dreaded antibiotics seem to be the added dagger that fights off the bronchitis and threat of pneumonia.

Friends, family members and office mates are heroes as they rescue me with an ‘assisted cough‘. Brent was out of town the other night when my cough was starting – two of my best friends slept over and effectively assisted with my cough, ate popcorn, played on computers, and crashed (thank you Naomi and Krista).

Brent has turned a few heads when he’s helped me cough in the store or at church! At a glance it can look like CPR or spousal  abuse!

For emergencies, I keep a note written in my phone that says ‘I need help coughing and may not be able to talk before we clear some congestion. Please press my diaphragm with the palms of your hands as I exhale. We will need to do this multiple times and you will push harder than you think you should’.

I haven’t had an assisted cough for a couple hours and I’m off to get more water. My motto for the day: “March on my soul, be strong.” Judges 5:21

I’m glad you read this post…don’t be afraid…you can help me cough…press hard, just don’t break a rib – Just kidding!

Paws to Remember

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My friend, Krista, said goodbye to her precious Gracie yesterday.  Gracie was in her family for 12 years and helped Krista and her husband raise four children. She loved her squeeky toys, and her bark was bigger than her bite as she mastered the role of ‘pseudo guard dog’ upon initial greeting. Before you could blink she’d curl up next to you. Everybody loved Gracie.

Losing a ‘pet’ is often given too little emotional weight – these creatures are not ‘replaceable’, and I pray friends and family appropriately grieve when this situation occurs. It’s natural to mourn when we lose our beloved four-pawed companions. It calls for the jolt of ‘a new normal‘ in our lives. Gracie, you will be missed.

A trip down memory lane is in order for those of us who have experienced the loss of a furry friend…Today, Gracie reminds me about my past losses.

Mindy was our first family pup.  She joined us when I was eleven and passed due to cancer during my first year of college. There was a strange void when I came home for a visit after she was gone.

It was years later when my heart welcomed ‘Mr. Murray’; he was the first pup who claimed me as ‘mom’.  Murray was a party dog and an enthusiastic Canine Assistant.  He retrieved everything from keys to dollar bills for me and was the office mascot who sometimes took the role of Santa’s helper in the lobby at Christmas.  Murray, in my opinion, is the reason that my dog-whisperer husband, Brent, noticed me. He loves animals and had Boone, a black lab, when we met. It was a match made in doggie heaven.

Boone was loyal, loyal, loyal. He was Brent’s dog through and through, and he was my adopted little one when we married.  For over ten years he served as a therapy dog at Eggleston Children’s Hospital and he claimed the foot of our queen-size bed until his last days.

Awwww. Now it’s just Tahoe!

Gracie, Mindy, Murray and Boone you are missed. Thank you for your display of unconditional love and acceptance. The world would be a better place if humans could be as kind, forgiving and accepting as you were.

For those who grieve and face ‘a new normal‘ – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

An Open Door

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Yesterday afternoon when Tahoe and I returned home from a class, we headed through the garage entry to the kitchen.  ‘Yikes’, I thought, as I realized that, ‘Houston, we have a problem!’  The bi-fold doors to the laundry room were ajar and one of them obstructed the garage door from swinging fully open. Let’s not discuss the flawed architectural design of these two passages…they are what the are…barring an expensive renovation.

Previously, on more than one occasion, this situation created a broken laundry room door, and I was keenly aware that there was potential damage and destruction on the other side of this pathway. If I gently push through the doorway I might have a chance to protect and salvage the laundry entrance.   ‘Be careful. Ease through the door with caution,’ I thought.  For a moment, I was tempted to get upset because the laundry room doors had not been closed…um…again. Hmmm.  ‘Who can I blame?’  I was irritated.  But, as I squeezed through the garage door (as if a wheelchair can squeeeeeze through anywhere) to minimize damage, I reasoned, ‘It’s only a door. It can be fixed.  I’d like new laundry doors anyway!’  Victory over the blame game is oh so sweet.

I ignored the damaged door and gave Tahoe a break and some playtime, worked on emails, ate a bite and made a few calls.  Then I headed back to the door to inspect the casualty. Fortunately, it was merely knocked off it’s track and was easy to maneuver out of harm’s way until my hero engineer husband came home and repaired the minor mishap.

Doors…

I like closed doors.  I really like closed doors.

Closed doors are clean and attractive.

Closed doors give privacy.

Closed doors hide the chaos behind them.

In our house, it’s my ongoing adventure to ‘control’ the disorder even if it’s behind a closed door.  Let’s straighten, organize and label!  Let’s make everything tidy and neat, and if there’s not enough time to thoroughly clean, let’s stuff the disorder in a drawer or behind a door and close it so the house ‘appears’ spick-and-span .  I have amazing helpers to ‘physically’ organize – you don’t want that job, do you?

This year has challenged me to move beyond my ‘closed door compulsion’ to ‘open new doors’, particularly in the area of friendships…to move from control and closed  to open and intentional.   I’ve recognized that as I tread toward more transparency and vulnerability, I’m able to relinguish myself and encourage with greater passion and effectiveness.  It’s made me a better friend.

Closed doors are a barrier.

Closed doors exclude.

Open doors invite.

Open doors allow exposed messes.

Open doors create opportunities.

There’s no doubt that closed doors protect.  Protection and safety are good things to a point – there are seasons and occasions to keep doors closed.  But there are also times to wrangle our tendencies toward risk-aversion and self-protection so they don’t cost us the intangible riches of fully living and giving.

I admire those who seem to have a knack for outward focused openness.  God’s helping me learn to navigate new ‘open doors’ with wisdom and trust – as well as respect for the person He made me to be.  It’s scary and exciting!

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
Proverbs 4:6

Is the balance between trust and protection a challenge for you?  Would love your insights. Leave a reply or if you prefer a little more privacy, I get it…feel free to email me.