We left you last week as Norma and I were landing in Las Vegas to enjoy some much needed time away. I am happy to report that it was “just what the doctor ordered”!

We had a great time relaxing and collecting some much needed “healing hugs” from industry friends…so mission accomplished!!!

I was so wrapped up in the hugging and hand shaking and wonderful conversations that I forgot to take some photos of many of our friends greeting Norma at the trade show. Please trust me when I say she was (and still is) beaming with joy from the love and affection that she received from all of you (me too). So thanks to you all! It was great sharing meaningful time with you!

We did manage to take a few “pics” while we were “out and about”. The “Giving Tree” offered a big smile to Joann, Norma and Lynny at the Bellagio while we wandered through their garden. We thought you might enjoy a few additional shots that we have attached as well.

Norma continues to do well through her various therapies at Marianjoy in Wheaton. However, when Norma had her EEG at UIC on April 10, we were informed that she is experiencing some “activity” that still puts her at risk for seizures for the next six months. So her neurologist has put Norma back on her anti-seizure medication for the next three months with a follow-up EEG to be completed at that time in July. She is also scheduled for an additional CAT scan on June 10. Also…no driving and no return to work at this time. We ask for your continued prayers to protect Norma from seizures and for her road to a complete recovery. We believe that Norma is still with us and doing so well because of all of you and your prayers. We can’t thank you enough! Please call or contact us if you should ever need our help and support!

In our last posting on Friday, April 25, we sent out several prayer requests for some of our friends. We had a “click on link” for baby Camille Schneider who was born on April 13 with birth defects. Camille is in heaven today after her short stay with us for only 17 ½ days…but a time that will be remembered by many for a lifetime. I know for most of us, if not all, we question why children like Camille aren’t granted more time. I know that I have no answers but if you are looking for answers from Camille’s loving parents, Kari and Jared Schneider, I would encourage you to read their story for some inspirational nuggets and answers as to “the why”! Again…there are no “accidents.”

Link to Camille

This past weekend, we were watching the movie, “The Green Mile” starring Tom Hanks. His character is that of a head prison guard who is responsible for executions on death row. This is a great movie so in case you haven’t seen it, I don’t want to give you too much information. The story starts out in “the present” when Tom Hanks’ character is an old man; then flashes back to his younger days working on death row. One of the inmates sentenced to be put to death by electrocution is a character by the name of John Coffee…who turns out to have “special gifts” - “A miracle of God.”

In the end, we discover that Tom Hanks’ character is 108 years old and has outlived all his family and friends...and is hoping and waiting to die. To me, this adds perspective and parallels to the events of the past few days and weeks. On one hand, we find a person who can’t wait to leave this earth…he has had more time here than he wants. (Since Norma had her event on February 8, we have heard many stories of folks who have since lost loved ones, or they themselves have become disabled or learned that they or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness or disease. This occurs every day. We are just more “dialed in” than we normally are…more aware…more sensitive). To continue…Norma and I are still feeling sad and sorry for ourselves after losing our little Maltese, Scooter, after receiving his unconditional love for 17½ years…and then our friends lose their daughter, their little angel Camille, after only 17½ days!

It occurs to me that we all come into this world with nothing of material value other than God’s (and hopefully a mother’s and a father’s) love, approval and affection. And during the dash in life that separates our date of birth and our date of departure, we gather material things…that we ultimately can’t take with us. So we come in with “nothing”…and we will be leaving with “nothing”.

I often wonder if we knew we only had one more day here on earth that was healthy and pain free…and that was the most beautiful day we had ever seen or experienced, would we trade everything we had…for that one day? If Scooter could have one more cookie, or if Camille could have one more taste of mother’s milk, what would we trade?

Give it some thought…’til next time!

Love,

Norma and Ken

kenireland2@aol.com