Dave W7PTL and Sharon KA7DAC Shortess update

Hi Lew,

As I said earlier, thank you for reaching out to us.  Our morning was busy, but I'm free now for a couple of hours. Here's what's been happening with us.

We are not on the air for a couple of reasons. One, Dave's radio doesn't seem to like having his amp hooked up to it and for some reason, it doesn't give him much output. (Probably it's the operator unable to figure it out.) Two, with the Parkinson's, Dave sleeps late; usually not waking up until 9:30 or later. That's long after the net is done. I could get on the Chat Room; but I'm usually trying to get things done that I can't do when Dave is up, and I just don't think about it. We really miss keeping in touch with all the guys on the net.  We do pray for those who have special need that we are aware of. I guess there are several new folks checking in the past couple of years. That's good because the numbers were dwindling.

The Parkinson's also causes a lack of motivation. Dave just doesn't have much interest in anything on his own. If I suggest something and follow through on it, he's OK in doing it. Dave has physical therapy once a week and also goes to a wellness class: Boxing for Parkinson's Patients once a week. That's a lot of fun, plus very good exercise, not only physically but also mentally. His memory and cognitive ability have been diminished by the Parkinson's. Processing information is slow. He can't remember how to do a lot of things-like using his computer to get his email or phone, except to make or receive calls. There never seems to be an end to going to various specialists, dentist, hearing aid repair, glasses, etc appointments. All those keep us pretty busy.

Dave has problems with balance and stability. He uses a rollator (walker with really big wheels) to provide the stability and balance he needs when he walks. Even using his rollator, he can't walk very far though. Sometimes he says his legs feel like jello and they won't support him. When that happens, and we never know when, he uses a wheelchair. When we go anywhere, we have a transport chair that we leave in the car to get him from point A to point B.  

We praise the Lord that he has only had one fall this year and he wasn't hurt.  But we are ever so careful to prevent falls as much as we can.

We do thank the Lord also that we are both, overall, healthy all the time. Dave sees various specialists for his Parkinson's, but we only go to our Primary Care Docs once a year. That's a blessing that we don't want to take for granted. 

We are thankful for our church and the opportunities the Lord give us to go to services there, to hear God's Word preached and fellowship with the new friends we've made there. I occasionally serve in the children's ministries. I have  a daughter & her husband who live in Tucson, also two grandchildren and their significant others. I also have two other grandchildren and two great-granddaughters  who live in Mesa, about and hour and a half away. It's nice to be close to my family. Dave's kids have all visited us at least twice since we moved to Tucson. They live in WA, CA, and TN. They are always welcome, as we have two spare bedrooms. 

We do know how hard it is to lose your spouse. Lew, there is amazing grief support resource called Grief Share.  It is totally from a Biblical viewpoint and so very helpful.  It's a 13 week course that's so very helpful. I went through the program 3 times after Don died. Because, as time went by, I was at different stages of grief and the program always seemed to meet my needs at those times in a different way. Google "Grief Share" and see if you can locate a one of the groups at a city near you. It will be worth the drive.

 As I told you in the text, we do pray for you almost every day. I so hope you have good support from family, friends, and your church. It's not a journey you want to go through on your own. I honestly don't know how anyone who isn't a Christian can do it. I was always crying out to the Lord for something. Tears are OK because you've lost something very special to you. Jesus cried when His friend Lazareth died. And, it's OK to ask "why?"  (Jesus did on the cross.) Because if we knew "why?" we wouldn't need God. He's right there with you. He knows how hard it is to lose someone you love, He lost His only son. I Peter 5:7!

We've both been through the grief journey twice. It isn't any easier the second time through, either.

And, we know, it will come again for one of us. I just pray the Lord calls Dave home before he does me. Dave is so very dependent on me as his caregiver. His kids or a facility just wouldn't provide the one-on-one care that I'm able to give him. But, the Lord knows and we leave it in His all-knowing hands.

We are here and please feel free to call, text, or email us if you need to. 73 & 99s.

One day closer to Heaven.

Sharon and for Dave.

25 September 2024