Gary Johnson - September 2017

Dear Ones,
​
     I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all you did during the time I had the brain bleed and during the time of recovering from it.  You provided emotional, physical and spiritual support for Joanie and our family.  You provided support for me while I was in the hospital ICU for 10 days, most of which I do not remember, at least not in detail.  I was told by Joanie and some others that I was pretty much out of my head during that time.  The nurses were asking questions every hour for several of those days and I had a really hard time coming up with the answers.  On one occasion they asked me my wife’s name and my answer was “mashed potatoes”.   On another occasion they would ask me to smile and I would answer “ok” and then not move my lips at all.  There was a lack of connection between my brain and my body. 

     As time went on I improved and they sent me home.  They said to rest up.  They didn’t really need to tell me that; I could not stay awake.  I was falling asleep in the middle of sentences.  At first the only time I was awake was while I ate and when I went to the little boy’s room.  I still need more sleep than I have for a long time.  I do pretty good a few days and then have a day or two when I’m really tired.  I am back to putting days in the office and preaching part of sermons the past three Sundays and will preach part of this Sunday’s message.  I think I can preach a full message until Sunday night and I’m dog tired and realize that I would not have been able to.  Each week I seem to be gaining strength.  It’s that two steps forward and one step back thing.  I realize it will take time but I’m impatient.  I don’t know how many cards I received; it was a lot!  Also a lot of emails and text messages.  All appreciated! 

     You visited, gave money, brought food, offered to provide transportation and multiple other grace filled actions. In addition to this, many of you helped to move my folks here from Kentucky.  I was on a 5 lb weight limit at the time and not feeling that good anyway.  The church at Russell Springs had a crew help load and several folks from Sterling came down to help as well.  You drove the moving truck back to Indiana.  We asked for folks to help unload at 10:00 a.m. and at 10 minutes until 10:00, there was one person besides us.  I went into the house to see how Joanie had labeled the rooms to direct where to take the boxes.  When I came back out in just a few minutes there was at least 20 people there helping.  I carried a small box in and when I came back out there were at least 40 people there.  You guys had the truck unloaded in 20 minutes.  Amazing!  You made the beds, placed the dishes, and set the furniture.  You have provided a garage to store mowers and tools in until Mom and Dad are able to get a storage garage built at their house. I am so blessed.

Love,
​Gary