Love is the Key

Patrick watched his Mom struggling with the groceries and ran out to help her. Dorothy has Multiple Sclerosis. She never knew what her day would be like until she put her feet on the floor. Symptoms vary widely, depending on the amount of damage and which particular nerves are affected. People with severe cases of Multiple Sclerosis may lose the ability to walk or speak. Multiple Sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose early in the course of the disease, because symptoms often come and go — sometimes disappearing for months.

This had been a good day, her leg muscles weren't severely spastic, and everything was functioning. On good days, she could dress in casual clothes rather than a robe, cook a simple dinner and even do some housework. The best days include family time and a spasm free long nap.

Everyone said she had such a good attitude about her condition. The town gossips all said she was so understanding when her husband left because of the Multiple Sclerosis.

She simply put it, "What choice do I have? You do what you have to with a child to raise."
Then she would go somewhere quiet, perhaps beat on a pillow, crying hot angry tears until she was empty. You can not make a man love you when he feels you are a burden.
Those times kept her sane, just to let her emotions flow.

This was a really good day as she and her favorite guy headed into the kitchen.

"How is my handsome son?"

"Good, Mom, you had a good day?"

"Just fine. How about a kiss?"

He softly touched her cheek. He was always gentle with her.

"I smell meatloaf. Very Cooll".

Patrick's smiling freckled face was all she needed to feel blessed. He was ten and looked just like his Dad. How she missed Russ as a husband. She went through a roller coaster of emotions every day.

Dorothy had already guessed her diagnosis from her Internist and information off the Internet.
When the two sat in the neurologist's office, she was watching Russ' reaction even as she gripped the chair. He did listen intently. The physician discussed the care she would eventually require. She watched Russ' face become pale and the lines on his forehead deepen. Dorothy wasn't surprised, although she had hoped and prayed. Dr. Vann emphasized how much an understanding spouse helped.

Russ had left several weeks after she had been diagnosed. For that period he had been out of the house most of the time. Reality is what it is and Dorothy really knew it wasn't that he didn't care for her at all. They had been married sixteen years. He was scared to death.

When his Dad was dying from cancer, he went to his boyhood home twice that last month. He watched his Dad from the doorway, crocodile tears in his eyes but when Big Russ held out his hand, Russ turned his head and walked away. Dorothy believed he was afraid he would just fall apart or dissolve into the Wicked Witch's puddle of water.

She took some time to cry but after twenty-four hours she had to get busy and plan. If she was Patrick's functioning parent, she had to make decisions about what, when and how to tell him.

Dorothy read all she could about M.S. and it's progression. She took some time to let it sink in. Then she explained the disease to Patrick. She joined a support group.

She had no plans to let this rule her life. She truly believed a positive outlook was the key. She told Patrick how devastating President Roosevelt's Polio was at age thirty-nine but he became a Senator and then a President for three terms. They talked about how he guided us through a war and also helped many people that needed government services badly. Patrick didn't know the President was never shown in his wheelchair because he wanted a nation to see he was strong in body as well as in heart and mind.

Patrick was there when Russ packed his bags.

He said, "I will hire a full time nurse for you and Patrick can live with me."

"I don't need a nurse yet but when I do, I will hire her. It is up to Patrick who he wants to live with."

"I am staying here to help Mom. I can't believe you are leaving her," fierce tears were behind that ten year old voice.

Russ walked out the door.

Patrick looked at his Mom with steel resolve in his eyes, "He is a lousy coward. Don't worry, Mom. I will be more help to you then he could be."

She felt responsible for her poor choice in a husband and father. She had noticed Russ was a guy that was pretty good when things were smooth in the boat. It was the storms he had no control over that sunk him.

He had changed diapers, taken turns with two in the morning feedings. He played with Patrick, coached flag football.
As a husband, he was pretty good; responsible, romantic and caring at times.
Her own father had been a quarter of that.

His fault was illness and his own inner fears. So, now Russ helped her out financially, paid the mortgage, and tried to spend time with a very angry son.

He had his own apartment. He hadn't mentioned divorce. As far as Dorothy knew, he didn't date.
As a matter of fact, for the last three months, he had become a close best friend, calling her to see what she needed. He would try to explain his feelings.

She said, "hush, it is what it is."
Excuses would anger her and she needed positive energy. Damn his feelings! He had a chance.

As a matter of fact, there was a man named Scott Channing that belonged to her support group. He had taken her out several times for dinner. He had never been married. He was newly diagnosed and he was as her Mom used to say "smitten with her". His kiss had been nice but didn't stir anything.

One problem with M.S. is reduced sexual feelings due to nerve endings. They hadn't opened up that sensitive subject yet.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and she needed some adult humor. They went to a drive-in movie, a symphony and play. He had suggested a weekend.
The tall long haired attorney was well built, kind, and a whole lot more she liked.
She used Patrick as an excuse. Some of that was true.

Patrick was proud to be "the man of the house." He unloaded groceries and put them in their proper place. He cooked if she wasn't up to it. Dorothy knew her boy would be a great husband someday.

The following week, Dorothy was shopping and without warning, her legs couldn't carry her to the car. She had fallen in the parking lot and a gentleman drove her home.

Dorothy collapsed into her recliner at home. Patrick, home from school, brought in a cup of mint tea, her favorite. She called Russ to pick up her car.
The two adults talked about her getting worse and decided it was time for full time help.
Later, she explained it to Patrick. He seemed worried but relieved.
He said he would not worry so much about her at school. He was reading that M.S. can change suddenly. She had no idea he worried so. She started crying and he hugged her tightly. They had reversed roles. When he was little and fell down she had comforted him.

They changed subjects to school. Patrick had an "awesome" idea for building a volcano for his Science project. He even wanted his Dad's help.

Saturday, Russ came over with Chinese and it was a friendly evening.

The next Monday, a life changing phone call came at three thirty in the afternoon.
Dorothy was reading and she called Russ at the car dealership. They both arrived at the hospital at the same time.

Holding hands, they were taken into the trauma room. Their boy looked so little with all the tubes.
A ventilator was breathing for him. He was covered in bandages. Tubes were everywhere.

One of the ER Physicians told them what had happened. Patrick had been riding his bike from school when a car was speeding around the corner of Whitlock Drive and hit him. Patrick had spoken to the paramedics and could move. Then at the hospital his intercranial pressure had gone up, so there was bleeding in the brain.

The physician also said they placed a chest tube from a collapsed lung. Patrick wasn't responding to any kind of stimulus right now, even deep pain when his sternum was pressed on. The answer was surgery, to go in and relieve the pressure on the brain. Hopefully this would change his mental condition.

Dorothy's eyes met Russ's and he knew she was counting on him now. Stress has a very negative effect on Multiple Sclerosis. She was so exhausted, her voice was only a whisper and Russ had to put her in a wheelchair. She was like a wilting flower and could continue to deterioate.

She whispered, "He is my everything. What if he doesn't make it? Do you think he is hurting?"
Russ was sobbing: he shook his head.

They waited together anxiously for eight hours. Russ treated Dorothy like precious china. He got food from outside the hospital, found blankets and pillows, all he could do. His hands shook. She knew he was terrified but he kept moving.

When Patrick came out of surgery, he was pale and looked extremely ill. They both sat by his bedside for hours. Although he was hooked up to a ventilator and couldn't speak they talked to him about future adventures and getting a puppy.

His eyes fluttered open and he squeezed Dorothy's hand.
They were ecstatic but the nurses said not to get too excited. It is a "wait and see" process, requiring patience.
He had to show more purposeful brain activity first. Dorothy had read enough to know if he survived, there would be weeks or months worth of physical therapy, possibly speech, hearing and sight.

In the evenings, Russ and Dorothy left together, stopping somewhere to eat and then exhausted, they fell into bed hugging. They needed each other to share this tragedy.
Days went by and Patrick came off the ventilator, then he began to speak slowly, mixing words. Therapists worked with Patrick for weeks and his parents took turns at home. The two discussed everything which created a family closeness.

Patrick's rapid progress surprised everyone. The Rehabilatation Specialists, physicians, registered nurses, physical and vocational therapists agreed children do seem to make progress much faster. A follow-up MRI showed the brain injury on the right side of his brain didn't leave as much damage as they anticipated. Everyone was thrilled. It appeared almost all would resolve.

Since the damage was not as severe, he was back to school in six months. It was only for four hours a day. He had a vocal defect that caused an occasional slurring of words. His left arm and leg had about a twenty-five percent reduction in function. He used a crutch and wore the rubber tip out in one week.

"Must--t-t be-e Mom-m gene-s-s-s!" Patrick's smiled wide.
Russ chimed in, "With my stubborness."

Dorothy was warming up to Russ' way with Patrick, his patience was wonderful and the two laughed about many things.
She felt herself falling in love again as they bonded as a family. Russ let her lead the way when it came to helping her. They shared showers so she wouldn't slip and they were a reason to play and she loved it.
They spoke about the "what if's?"
He said caring words and they even wrote things downs about her illness and Patricks' and responsibility.

One day, Dorothy blindfolded Patrick and the three went to the Humane Society.
With all the dogs barking he had already guessed where they where. He picked out a German Shepard that had been abused by a previous owner burning it with scalding water but the dog could run slowly with him. The Dog was named "Major" (after President Franklin Roosevelt's German Shepard).

It was six months after Patrick's accident when Russ proposed. He had asked Patrick's permission and then had to wait a week.

When Russ and Dorothy had married before, they wrote their own vows. Now they had another chance with vows that meant more with all they had experienced.

As each spoke, they joined hands with Patrick making a circle, small freckled hands, strong hands with slightly rough skin, and feminine ones with chipped nail polish and a plain wedding ring. Dorothy could feel Russ' powerful heartbeat and Patrick's more rapid one.

All three hearts were open now, to give and receive love and cast out fears. They were nourished like a tree with healing tears, and in doing so, they can grow together and independently with strength and happiness.


By Kathie Stehr
August 7, 2008
Word count 2125