Unity Spirit

What is a good gift for a Catholic baptism?

My friend wants me to be the godfather of his son, the ceremony is on Sunday. What is presented I bring? I thought that the kid is only 7 months old, I buy something that parents who wanted and useful. My wife says we should buy something for the baby. My other friend said that a rosary is a traditional baptismal present, but I think a baby can get an eye or swallow or something.

A very nice and child as a crucifix would be good to put in your child's room and then you can pass down to their children.

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You Know I'm Not Dead

"You Know I'M NOT DEAD"

It was Friday, December 19th l986 and I was fixing dinner while anxiously waiting for my husband home from work. My emotions were at their usual high for the week before Christmas and was also the night at the monastery where attended the Mass and blessing. In fact it was the highlight of our week. We come to love the serenity and closeness that we shared by others through participation of Jesus.

My preparations and introspection of the night was interrupted by the phone. The voice on the other end changed my Serenesse a disease that will live in me forever. "Is this Mrs. McKenzie," the voice asked, "yes" I replied. "This Scarborough is the Police "and proceeded to ask me if I was sitting. I was not so she asked me to do. Suddenly, the monastery, Christmas and all what was gone except for what he said. "There has been an accident, Ms. McKenzie, and has taken her husband to Maine Medical Center." She could not or would not tell me what condition it was, only he was there.

I hung up the phone and tried to understand the reality of what had occurred. Not really knowing exactly what steps to take next, I sought to try to make the hospital, maybe it was a mistake. There was no error, the nurse at the emergency room told me. He was there and he needed me to come and make a positive identification. He had been hit by a car while waiting for a bus to get home from work.

I took a few minutes to convince me was real and had to come, but there was no way I could lead my twenties of miles was the hospital. I called my brother in law and asked if he would take us both there.

There was nothing else that silence while driving on Route 1 in the hospital. I think it was the longest drive in my life. What was my life anyway? I thought and prayed deeply into me. If that Bruce was there, he was my life, it is my life. "Not mine, but Thy will." I repeated over and over again, what God could do, and why? Such things only happen to others. Not this time, now that I was going.

The state was fascinated was called to an abrupt end when Mark got into the emergency entrance of the hospital. I felt like I had to crawl there, while simultaneously running. I think the nurse at the door knew who I was just by the way should look at her. She accompanied me to a room and they had to identify a man who prayed was another person.

Unconscious and in coma, there he was. Your body is not so bad, at least that's what I said. He had cuts and bruises, but his head, as I approached him, was swollen out of proportion. Her beautiful smiling face, once could hardly be recognized. I had enough medical knowledge to know I was in trouble. He was alive but had a hematoma in the formation of his brain causing pressure to build.

I was asked to leave because needed to X-rays on it, so I went to the waiting room for a vigil of waiting indefinitely.

After what seemed like hours in my state unconscious oblivion, was called to a halt, when the doctor was going to have such an impact on my life came and introduced himself. Much to our good fortune, which was the best known neurosurgeon and more expert in their field. His ability and experience, however, had absolutely nothing to do with dealing with patients who have suffered greatly. His arrogance and the attitude was as cold as a cold Maine winter, not to mention his tongue, spitting the words as sharp as a razor's edge. "We did a CT of his husband and has a lot of pressure on his brain. We'll have to take him to surgery and remove fluid. "He showed us a photo of your analysis .. Your brain had been pushed to the right side of his head completely out of focus. "What are your possibilities", I asked, her curt response, "50-50" and left. Now began the wait time, praying and pacing. I thought negative thoughts, prayed for the positive thoughts and avoiding therefore requested God's will be done.

By now some of the family had arrived and knowing that it would take to special care, we proceeded to go there and wait.

When the doctor arrived, greeted us and told us what they had done all they could do. He had eased the pressure for now and if I could get through the next 72 hours? __ Left as quickly as possible and even if we could have thought of some questions for him, just gave us time.

As it was getting late, I was forced to return home to try to get some sleep. He left the way he knew it would be. I spent night rhythm of the story. So much for sleep.

Early morning the phone rang. It was the hospital. Bruce had to make the surgery again. It seemed that the pressure had built up again and had to make an emergency craniotomy. This is an incision made in his head like a V only to the sides. It measured about six inches long and closed with great grotesque looking staples. As I recall now that was a sort of Frankenstein's creation. Tome my decision then, I stayed in hospital until they died or got better.

It was now a couple of days and two surgeries later. He had to have burr hole in the head, called drill drainage. This was to remove the liquid that was continually on the basis of his brain. He was attached to everything. Intravenious goes different parts of your body. Different fluids for different needs. He had a breathing tube down his throat. He was connected to him had sufficient air and oxygen electrodes control of his heart and head tracking inter cranial pressure. He was taking 150 mg. Pentobarbital every hour to keep him in a coma. The severity of the situation warrants because they had to have it very quiet. I had woken up, it could have been dangerous, as any movement that have made their head pressures rise. Due to excessive Pentobarb level, blood pressure was very low, so it was given dopamine, which is a blood pressure medication, to keep in a more stable level.

Doctors and nurses did everything that was expected of them within twenty-four hours a day and me and my family and friends did it was expected of us. We pray without ceasing, maintaining a vigil at the chapel, said many rosaries and tried to fight the depression that they face because of the attitudes most pessimistic of the hospital staff.

During the time that the pressures of Bruce should have gone down, they are increasing, decreasing their chances of survival and with it, not much more than a life of vegetation. It seemed that the odds were totally against us.

About a week had passed and the state continued to worsen Bruce. Blood pressure had little or nothing in the timing and inter-cranial pressure, their high in the shortest movement that had to do with it. To make matters worse it was, he developed pneumonia and it is important to be moved frequently. This was an almost impossible situation because of pressure from his head, which rise to the slightest movement.

There's little or no brain activity going on inside him and this one occasion tried to talk to him, were about eight hospital staff around her. Unbeknownst to me, then, is trying to revive him. Apparently, there dead and this happened at least three times, to my knowledge.

After this episode of loss of blood pressure and the fact it had been in state coma for so long, the doctor did not feel as if I had much hope for her to have any brain function left. He said he would make an evoked potential in him. This is similar to an electroencephalogram, but becomes mother in brain activity only. The doctor told us that if they found no activity in his brain, they would disconnect. I thought to myself: "This is what he thinks."

They did their tests, but found minimal activity. Minimal was more than expected, therefore could not legally remove him from his life support. This was the beginning of many miracles that would be caused by constant prayer and faith for me and his family and friends.

It is difficult to know exactly how much time passed, but the good doctor came to greet us. I asked how my husband was doing, his clumsy response, this is how this is like a piece of meat in your freezer, we will not be able to tell if everything is fine until you thaw out. "Once again we are stunned with this statement incredible lack of tact.

Of course I later learned that the reason for the remark, which might have been told to us in terms that would have been much more charitable, it meant that, having been in a coma for so long that he could not tell the condition of its functioning, mentally, to regaining consciousness.

Another statement that I remember so clearly, after asking the same question as before, how are you doing, he said, "so it's really dead, alive or indifferent." Can you imagine how difficult it was to keep her positive attitude and faith, when he had to deal with a man so cynical and pessimistic, which seemed to have little faith or himself? I thank God for His love and mercy to me and to Bruce, because if it were not for this, I had bowed to this kind of attitude around the world. I was willing to let God have his way with Bruce, because he may have wanted, but that did not stop me from maintaining a positive attitude and constant prayer. Despite my constant positive attitude toward recovery, the medical staff sees this as a denial of reality and I forced to see someone in the department of social services at the hospital. It was supposed to be your job to convince me of the futility of thinking that my husband would live. Good, did not change my thinking, except that helped me, though unknown to them, to be more in line with the will of God. Until then, I really was living with the certainty that Bruce was going to be fine, simply because I had been praying all so much, and others, how could not do without he God? It was then that there was an illumination for me. The will of God was always greater in my mind, but in the hope that His will encounter mine, not I his. It was at this point I honestly would say, "Not mine, but Thy will." I told God that if He wanted Bruce more than I was going to live with that decision. I also said that if he wanted to spare him, that would take him, no matter what the outcome. So in a sense left him and was willing to let go if necessary, but was forming an ultimatum to God if you decide to let him live.

The next few days were very difficult for us all to address, and Bruce in that condition and see a body that seemed to have no spirit left. He just lay still, only moving when it moved. It depended on everyone for everything. He was always very independent, he would have liked to know what was happening. Always he did for others and now these foreigners were doing everything for him.

Although these foreigners are doing everything necessary to keep it alive, acted as if dead. I knew that even in a coma, there can be no recognition and mind can still be encouraged. I talked to him, read him, put some of their favorite music and even shaved and put on my favorite after shave. Well, maybe not like what he was doing, only God knows for sure, but did a difference for me and I continued to do so.

After two weeks some people who are not family came to visit him and pray for him. There were several pastors from different churches, who were all friends of ours and each in turn did their part in offering their prayers for Bruce. On one occasion I remember, a priest Franciscan Monastery came to see him. John's father was a good friend to us and believes in the healing power of God. There were three of us present at this time. My mother, I and Father John. All holding hands around Bruce, each of us the prayer our own prayer. During this time a strange but wonderful thing happened. My mother felt, as described later, as if lightning had passed through his hand, which was in Bruce's left arm. When that happened, Bruce moved his arm. A moment later I felt compelled to pray the rosary, which started telling myself. At the same time, Father John stopped me and asked if I ever said the rosary. I replied that, indeed, say that often and I had said then. It was at this point in time after these two small miracles that I somehow knew that Bruce was going to be fine.

Well Bruce did not recover with an instant cure, in fact, took a turn for the worse. His temperature soared to 105 degrees where it remained for some time. He had developed a brain infection. He also lost his blood pressure again was probably the third time or more. His pulse is very slow at best. They were having trouble controlling their medications. It would give a class for one thing, but affect something else and therefore should be given another drug to counteract the one. He was very unstable. It seemed that the end was near him. The only person, a nurse who had been my only friend throughout this whole thing came up and hugged me and said: "Bruce can not do." Both to mourn.

My emotions were really sat back and forth over this time. With what medical science was pulling on me and that I believed in the healing power of prayer, I was in limbo. I wanted desperately to believe it would be nice, but what he told me not to do so easily. God does not always say it would be easy and this was certainly proof of that. "Not mine, but Thy will." I repeated it again and tried to ignore my feelings I think. What is really matter anyway. Logically speaking, God will have his way, despite how we feel about it. I gave up, ie, di Bruce God and accuse him completely. I left his room and left him with God.

The Bruce a couple of days started to show some changes. It was becoming increasingly alert. As the doctors told me, was becoming immune to excessive levels of pentobarbital that had been given to keep him in a coma. He began to come around. Actually could not keep this more, because the length of time that had been in was too much and may have caused brain damage. They come slowly. This was well, I thought. They said otherwise. All I meant was I was waking up, but how far would be a normal functioning human being remained to be seen.

Since pentobarb was weaned off slowly became more and more awake. His eyes were open, but could not see. I could not hear well because could not respond to verbal commands .. Do not respond to any stimulus, and could not move.

Doctors were surprised that even felt a state of life, but to what extent he was alive was that no one knows at this time. They were still quite pessimistic about their general condition and how it would be.

Few days passed and it became clear he could feel touch. Was the response to pain. He began to move very slowly with his fingers on the right side, but it was a start. I asked if I could squeeze your fingers to see if I could follow a command. He was weak, but he did. He listened and followed the order to tighten fingers.

We still were not sure if I could speak at all, because the ventilator was still in Doctors tried it out, but he could not manage on their own. The hyperventilated so the breathing apparatus is placed back in he tried to make moaning noises though. Should Several attempts to remove the tube, before I really could leave it out and could not breathe on his own.

His movements were now widening. His entire right arm was starting to move and I was seeing something in her eyes, she might be starting to see. I stood at the side of his bed to see if their eyes followed me. The made and no two eyes never looked so good to me. I was seeing! Praise the Lord!

Accelerated healing from there and improve their movement, breathing became normal, but still could not talk. I do not know if that would ever come or when.

We wanted to see if there were signs of memory or recognition of persons and things around him. It had to be informed about the accident and the environment in which it was in every one of us began a regiment of training who he was, where he was and what had happened to him. It was a day, sometimes every hour task of redirecting it in time, place, and why he was there.

I was tortured to say the same things over and over to him until he showed a power of reasoning on your part. You are in the hospital, which were hit by a car while trying to drive home from work. Again and again. The date and time of the accident was repeated, and his condition and that he would be okay now. It seemed as if he would never understand what we were saying, it just looked into space with a blank stare.

After days of that repetition, that was much more than alert, really understand what he tells him. The shock of it hit him and formed big tears in his eyes, that lets us know that he knew.

Now it's time to move him from bed, to see if I could move any other part of your body. They brought in a reclining chair for he could sit on it. As his body was limp had to be strapped into the chair, so as to keep it there. I kept going the way out of it. It was funny to see, like a rag doll stuffed. I knew it would be fun, because he put a big smile on his face every time you slipped off the chair. I just knew he was making fun of him by the landslide.

He seemed to be increasingly aware of who he was and where he was, although not yet talking. He smiled occasionally and show recognition of the different things I'd like to bring to show.

I visited every day and stayed as long as he could, and on this special day, when it was time for me to leave, I realized for the first time a hint of sadness in the big blue eyes, green. Was Clearly he was upset because I had to leave and I knew for the first time in recent weeks was showing an emotion. It was very sad but very good at the same time. He does not need to talk, to let me know that night that he was sad. I assured him I loved him and would return the next day, he seemed to understand.

Now that the critical part of his hospitalization was more, could safely be transferred to a step for unity. However special attention, but less supervision necessary. He would be sent there and start to receive some of this large number of therapies that would give in the coming months.

Your muscles each to be worked, her speech therapy begins to leave, although his swallow should be controlled and would have nothing else to eat and he shakes thickness shown how to walk again.

After a few weeks, his voice box was healing and was able to say a few words, but nothing extensive, but was a start.

Incredible as it seems unlikely, as in the eyes of medical science as it was, Bruce was alive and was a proof of love and mercy God. He fought against the odds and if someone had seen on that day in December 1986 had not believed that this could be the same person who was given a prognosis death or a life of vegetation. It was truly life. love the progression of the miracles that continue to this day in their healing.

I'm not sure the exact date of this, but in this particular incident, Bruce had not yet been able to complete a full sentence. I asked if there was anything I could do for him, before leaving for the day. He gestured to me over and then took the leaves and gestured for me in with him. This took me by surprise and shock as I just said, "Bruce"! His reply: "Well, I know I'm not dead"

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Last Rosary-Stabbing as they cry murder through the eye