The spirit leads on

On Sunday as we were getting ready for church, the phone rang. It was my sister Sue with news that her husband Mike had suffered a heart attack during the night. So, plans quickly changed, and we packed the car and were on the road to Albuquerque within an hour.

The nice thing about West Texas roads is the 80 mph speed limit. We did that part of the trip quite quickly and then headed cross country on 285 to Clines Corner and then west to Albuquerque. Jerry and Marlene had dinner waiting, the hot tub going, and we ate and relaxed and went to bed after having determined that Mike was stable.

On Monday we met Sue and her family at the New Mexico Heart Hospital and visited Mike quickly, as his only visitors are immediate family. The rest of the time the family talked and entertained many of their friends who came by to give support and prayers.

Anne, you will be pleased to know that now that whole family plays Pitch. We played two rollicking games and left for home quite tired.

Sue is holding up well, and they have a pump in Mike's veins to try to rest his heart and get ready for by-pass surgery currently scheduled for Wednesday. They are resting his heart as much as they can so that the grafts will succeed. Mike is flat on his back and trying very hard to be a good patient. He sleeps much of the time. Nine years ago he had angioplasty, and they managed to put in several stints, but all these veins are completely clogged now. So they are now anticipating at least a triple bi-pass. Please put this lovely family in your thoughts and prayers for the days ahead. Son Charles the Geek is putting together a web site that allow anyone interested to keep up with Mike's progress As soon as he has it up online, we will let you know what the link. Ooops, here it it! www.carepages.com/carepages/MichaelDemers . This will be updated by Charles as he receives news.

This year the Spirit has been leading us to many different family needs, and it has been our joy to help where we could. We never know where we will get lead next. Happy travels.