JMJ
Nov.28, 2018
My husband, John Caswell now walks without a cane. The exact dates and years are blurred . The events span from 2014 to now. John was taking more and more Ibuprofin and Motrin. His stiffness in his hip was getting worse. Not surprisingly since those pain killers destroy cartilage . We discovered this from an old magazine dated 2003. The Southend Clinic still passes out Motrin for everything from boils to severe arthritis . After a 45km trip in a madical taxi, neighbours who can’t walk come back with Motrin and nothing else. I hid the Ipubrofin, restricted it, then eventually it went out. We never went shopping without getting Tylenol. Then John quit the Tylenol habit. For @ years he used no pain killers . We began with bottles of shark cartilage but due to pressure from any number of people who began a long and insistent campaign that he needed surgery and because they didn’t seem to do anything he resented taking twelve large pills. At St. Mary’s Church in Saskatoon a fellow stopped him to tell us of the wonders of Newman Grape Juice. At Thompson’s Camps , Otter Lake a fisherman stopped to tell us of Krill Oil. We’re still using those things.
For about a year John would sit for hours and feel sorry for himself. This sitting of course would make it worse. I got him to his feet . We would move the couch, start saying the Rosary . His hands would be on my shoulders and I’d walk backwards. Eventually we’d stop after a decadeand he would take a few steps independently . Then resume again When he took twelve steps by himself I told everyone in the village.
We have a Chi machine . He theoretically is to spent the time to stay a rosary for 25 minutes on the machine. Like all regimes it doesn’t always happen but progress continues.
We learned a lot about people. One La Ronge businessman publicly ridiculed John for fifteen minutes . He is noted as a Christian. In Nipawin we opened the door of a restaurant and a lady we never knew shouted “ Well, well ,here comes Speedy Gonzales! “
We all laughed . Nicholas Blum at St. Mary’s in Saskatoon watched John make his way to the Communion Line and back came up to him afterwards and said “ John don’t you know, you’re not suppose to run in Church ?.” We soon learned the difference between people laughing with you and those deriding you.
In Moose Jaw , a woman , leaving a restaurant kept screaming “ he needs a walker! He needs a walker ! “ This time, I ,not so politely, let her know, we are not amused.
John could walk without much pain before he abandoned his cane. When he defintely decided to give it up , I quickly made sure it was on its way to the dump.
Those who want who want Our Lady of the North School and mission to collapse are definitely not happy. They refuse to tell anyone that John can walk independently and is getting better everyday. The mission never depended on perfect health for either of us. This is our home. This is our trench in the battle. We carry on.
Oh and some of your Advent almsgiving would help. Our furnace needs repairs . Since we live 200 km from the repair centre , it will be very expensive. Have a blessed Advent and Carry On. Gay -30-
