Thank you--everyone who has prayed for my sweet sister
Clytie's recovery . . . tonight, as I write to you, it is with a thankful heart.
Clytie had a stroke at 5 a.m. Friday morning. She was taken by
ambulance to the hospital--it took me an hour to get there from where I live. Her right side was paralyzed and she could barely speak. To write of this, just . . . well, as I type here I am weeping . . . I have lost a brother and came close just now to losing my beloved sister, my friend.
I stood by her side. They had done everything they could do--it was a waiting game. She would get better, worse, then better, then worse—that last time was the most frightening, I was rubbing her numb foot when suddenly I realized she
wasn’t feeling the pressure of my fingers.
I walked over to her bedside and looked at her right hand and it was starting to curl. I felt so scared for her. I took her hand into my own. The nurses did some tests, and she could not lift her leg or her arm, and her
speech was blurred. So I walked to the head of the bed and I put my hand on her hair. She had closed her eyes, and was so still.
I was praying over her when I had such a compulsion--I felt I was to put my other hand on Sissy's head and pray for her healing. I felt a little foolish—but I obeyed. But then, as I prayed, my hands got hot—like an oven. It was the
strangest thing--I could feel the heat actually radiating down from my palms. My prayer was that healing would pour down through her body like warm oil. In my mind’s eye, I saw the connections that were hurt, reconnecting and sparking. I don’t know how long I stood there praying. But as soon as I was done,
Clytie opened her eyes and said as clear as a bell, “
Aren’t you getting bored standing there with nothing to do?” I said, “of course not, I’
ve been praying for you.”
A couple minutes later
Clytie lifted her right hand—the one that she
couldn’t move before and was looking at her fingers and hand with astonishment. She started wiggling her fingers. She curled her toes. The numbness began to
recede from her limbs.
Just after that, I left for my parent's house to bring her twins to see her. By the time we returned the numbness was completely gone. Clytie could lift both her right leg and arm easily, she could speak clearly, the numbness was gone.
Clytie has steadily improved since then—Tonight she ate dinner, she sat up in the chair and she’s been walking the halls—if all goes well she’s going home tomorrow afternoon. I’m just so amazed, and moved. Clot busting drugs and the prayers of a loving sister. I am convinced a miracle happened.
All the doctors and nurses are just agog. The physical therapist says
Clytie is a “rock star!” (grin) They are astonished she’s completely recovered, given that just yesterday her entire right side was totally and utterly paralyzed. One nurse told me a full recovery like hers is exceedingly rare. The doctor hardly knew what to say, except that sometimes things happen they can't explain.
Please pray for my precious sister's continued healing and growing strength—the CAT scan shows she did have a stroke—the doctor says it is an area the size of a
Lima bean, with a kind of vulnerable halo around it. She says she
doesn’t feel anything is different than it was, but she’s still a little weak and tires easily.
I am so thankful for your good thoughts and prayers for my precious little sister. I promised
Clytie I would upload a picture--which was taken this morning--and she sends her grateful love and thanks to each and every one of you.
Sometimes we wonder if God cares about us as we live our lives here on earth. He does--He cares. He's watching over us and loves us! All Glory to God for the things He has done!
Have you ever had the sensation of being watched? The hair prickles on the back of the neck and one's shoulders hunch to ward off an unwanted gaze.
This photo is for my sister Clytie--Queen of Hearts! My husband and I were enjoying a quiet evening together, snuggling on the sofa watching the lights of the Christmas tree and the play of the firelight upon the bricks. Suddenly I saw a glowing red heart in the flames. To my husband's astonishment, I leaped to my feet, grabbed my camera, pulled the screen door from the woodstove and started clicking away.
I was visiting my parents when the cat hopped up onto the arm of the sofa where I sat. After a few moments I realized the little thing was fast asleep. I've never seen a cat sleep this way before . . . sitting up, head tucked into toes, tail wrapped around nose.
On one of our long walks through the forests of our childhood, Clytie and I found this amazing conch growing on the side of a huge stump. I love these kind of conches. If removed from the stump, they will dry exactly as you see here and last for years. 
Okay, okay it's just a mushroom!
On our last walk in the Forest of our childhood, Clytie and I unexpectedly found the most amazing dangles of curling bark. Of all the photos I took of those beautiful and graceful curlings -- this one seems the most intriguing.
I was intrigued when I noticed a hollow column of ice which had formed where the small waterfall splashes into the pond in my garden. As you can see, the water runs down through the middle! Of course, I had to click a photo.
This is a photo I took last Fall of a cloud touching the sun. This morning, as I perused my myriad collection of photos, this one seemed to fit the day best.
Thursday my delightful sister Clytie and I went for a long walk through the forest and fields near where we grew up. We had such a great time together. Truthfully, I will never take those times spent with my sister for granted, ever again . . . 
Thank you--everyone who has prayed for my sweet sister Clytie's recovery . . . tonight, as I write to you, it is with a thankful heart.
Here is my tiny partner in adventure! The picture was taken last summer during one of our great explorations. (grin) When my darling girl comes to visit, we color, we play, we walk, we swing, we look at birds and flowers, we visit the river and explore. I love being her "Auntie Bee." What a wonderful, fabulous privilege to be a part of this precious little person's life!
