Linda

This blog is about Captain Bill, but I can't let another day go by without writing about Linda. She's been a constant companion for Dad, in our lives for about 7 years. Although they both faced deep losses, Linda and Dad have embraced life together: Traveled around the world; taken the Beech Buoy to far-away waters; gone to lectures, plays, concerts; visited grandchildren; remodeled homes; adopted pets; enjoyed time with friends and family; rode motorcycles.

Now, they face Dad's battle -- together. Way back in May, Linda called us with the news about Dad's supposed stroke. Her voice was calm and even than I could hear her resolve to help him regain his health. As a nurse, she has incredible knowledge of the medical field. And unfortunately she'd been through a medical nightmare before with her first husband, Phil. But here she is facing adversity again. That awful day we learned that Dad had brain cancer, the day I wailed and made a scene at the hospital, part of my tears were for Linda, wailing right next to me. I thought, "How could this happen to her -- again." Shepherding another husband through a disease.

But our time this summer with Linda has proven that she just simply adores my father. And he adores her right back.

Linda's constantly by Dad's side. Walk around my house and you'll see all the things she's created and organized to take care of Dad: Pills and shots neatly in the cupboard, a medication chart stuck to the fridge, hospital schedules, stocks of snacks Dad likes to take with meds, weights she bought him for exercising, plenty of prunes! You'll notice that not a lot of my blog mentions hospital reports because Linda's been the one to take Dad to every radiation treatment, day-after-day, for 6 weeks. Linda's been at every doctor's appointment since he got out of the hospital. Her dedication to my Dad is never-ending. And, Bill would probably readily admit this, it's not always been easy playing nursemaid for him. His steroids have caused pretty nasty mood shifts. With accompanying exhaustion and other nagging symptoms, Dad's not always a happy camper. In fact, occasionally he's quite a mean camper. But Linda hasn't left yet!

Thanks to Linda, I was able to keep my job while she focused on taking care of Bill. And she not only takes care of Bill. She's a killer cook, cleans house, plays with kids and even irons Scott's shirts -- a duty that I've always neglected, much to Scott's disappointment. So Linda is pretty popular in this household.

As I've reported, we've had fun this summer -- picnics, parties, out to eat, trips, etc. But remember that Linda left her beautiful home on the lake. More importantly, she left her son Lee and all her friends and family. I hope I've made it comfortable for Dad and Linda; still, she's living in my basement, away from her home. From the beginning of this ordeal, Linda's always said she would do whatever is best for Bill. She's done that.

From the bottom of my heart: Thanks, Linda. We love you.