The Silver Lining

July 24-26, 2018 After Monday evening’s awful experiences, we had hoped to just sleep in.   The choking episode had really taken a lot out of both of us, physically, mentally, and emotionally.   We crawled into bed at 11:30 after returning home from the hospital and slept.   That is, until the phone rang Tuesday at 7:00 am, waking us up.   “This is Dr. S__.  Is Ms. Tarlton there?” I didn’t know a Dr. S__, had not seen a Dr. S__.    So David asks, “Excuse me, who are you with?”   She identifies herself as a member of the hospital Neurology team.   She spoke quickly, informing me that my case was “too acute” for their practice, and they were releasing me as a patient.   She suggested that I might find a doctor at Duke, Emory, or MUSC-Charleston.   Oh, and your follow-up appointment with us has been cancelled. Good luck!   Buh-bye! I’ve been “fired” as a patient, so it seems. Honestly – I was relie...

I didn’t know Kelly very well. But she made a significant impression on me the first time we ever met. I was visiting at David’s church, for the first time. I knew NOBODY, other than David, and felt more than a little bit self-conscious since I was the “stranger in their midst.” But after the service was over, there stood Kelly. She had reddish hair, and glasses, and a huge smile on her face. “Hey there, my name’s Kelly, and we’re SO glad you are here today!” Then, with a big hug, she added, “Love ya!” And then she bounced down the sidewalk, in search of her husband Kirk. As David and I continued to see each other, I’d attend services at the Winnsboro Church of the Nazarene about every other Sunday. And every Sunday, without fail, Kelly would speak to me, hug me, and before we parted she’d say, “Love ya!” She truly made me feel good. I began to look for her smiling face at church on Sunday mornings. Aside from small chit-chats at church, I only got to really talk with Kelly ...