Tag Team Recovery

SURGERY AND THE INCREDIBLE HULK

On April 2nd I had surgery on my right shoulder to replace a long standing problem. It took two and a half hours and when I woke up I not only had a new shoulder but saw a green hand coming out of a sling that had been placed on my arm. My right bicep was also green and unusually large. I thought, “Wow, I’m becoming the Incredible Hulk.”

Do you remember the 1978 television series based on the Marvel Comics super hero The Incredible Hulk and the subsequent 2008 film?

Alas, I found out that my green hand, arm, and shoulder were not a sign that I was turning into a super hero, but that it was an antiseptic painted on prior to my surgery. No incredible hulk, just a lot of physical therapy ahead.

THE TAG-TEAM RECOVERY TEAM

Both in the hospital and since returning home, I have been blessed that Sharon’s and my five daughters have been tag-teaming taking care of me as I heal and recover. Number 4 daughter, Leslie, drove me to and from the hospital and stayed with me the two days I was there.

Leslie then stayed with me until Numbers 3 and 5 daughters Stephanie and Kathryn took over. They were followed by Number 2 daugther Kristin, who flew in from Portland, Oregon to spend the next two weeks, making sure I was icing, exercising, and eating well.

My hand and arm are still swollen but so far I am recovering well. I am avoiding crowds as my doctor warned me about bumping into people or having someone slap me on the back. “Let’s slap Linus on the back!” Please, don’t even think about it! 🙂

WHAT ABOUT YOUR FIFTH DAUGHTER (Number 1), LAINA?

Laina is scheduled to tag-team in a few days. She was in Madrid where we gathered together Global Training Network Divine Expedition leaders from Uganda, Brazil, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Guatamala, and Sierra Leone. Phil Graf and our Divine Expedition international team met with these leaders for several days of sharing, vision casting, and strategic planning. The time together was inspiring.

Divine Expedition International Gathering

Laina and Phil, along with Richard Wallace (also pictured above), went on to Ethiopia where they conducted several Divine Expedition trainings. More about that in my next update.

Meanwhile, here is a photo Laina (right) who will come next week to work her culinary magic on my behalf, and Kristin (left) who just returned to her home in Washington State having done so.