Full coverage of the Casey James Visit!

Casey James' visit to Texas Health Fort Worth was nothing short of amazing! I have documented his entire visits with the highlights pictured below. I also want to mention that his visit has been well documented on People.com, MTV.com as well as on Fox 4 last Friday. We also have been told that the segment from his visit will air on Wednesday night on American Idol. Please tune in...

Texas Health Fort Worth surgery nurses made their own posters and came to catch a glimpse of Casey!
Hundreds of fans waited in anticipation of his arrival!
The police motorcade that escorted Casey all over the metroplex!
He finally arrived! And in style...
Fans first glimpse of Casey!

Casey took time to stop, sign autographs and take pictures with his fans! He was so gracious!
This precious boy brought his guitar for Casey to sign!
Casey and his mama seeing Dr. Cory Collinge, orthopedic surgeon at Texas Health Fort Worth, for the first time.
Casey presented Dr. Collinge with one of his guitars that said "To the good people that saved my life, I love you!" This was a very touching moment!
From left to right: Lillie Biggins, senior vice president of operations at Texas Health Fort Worth, Dr. Cory Collinge, orthopedic surgeon, Casey James and his mama!
Dr. Collinge and Casey James with two of our excellent clinical staff in Trauma ICU!
Dr. Collinge and Casey!
Casey doing an interview with the local Fox affiliate about his accident and what the staff at Texas Health Fort Worth mean to him!
Casey even made time to stop and visit with a patient, Dalton Williams, who recently was in a motor vehicle accident and was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet Casey!

Casey gave one last hug and picture to the PR girls at Texas Health Fort Worth!

I have to say after working at this wonderful hospital for six years, this media event goes down in the books as one of the most memorable and most touching! I am proud every day to work with such incredible physicians, nurses, administrators, volunteers and professional staff who make it their goal to improve the health of the community!

Thank you, Casey, and American Idol for stopping to pay it forward to our clinical staff! This day was truly one we will all remember for the rest of our lives!

- Whitney Jodry

Texas Health Fort Worth spokeswoman

Bariatric Diaries 2: Getting closer

I woke up early today to visit Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth to have my pre op testing done for surgery day. You can schedule your pre op tests up to 5 days out from the date of the surgery. The tests were pretty straight forward. They did blood work, an EKG, a couple chest x- rays, and of course a weigh in. Also, be prepared to give your life history. I am almost positive they asked me over 1000 questions. Ok, maybe it was more like 40 or 50. Before all the testing I paid a visit to a friendly admissions counselor who verified all my information and collected my deposit for the surgery. I was in and out in less than an hour.
So now I am preparing for my last weekend before surgery. A friend asked me earlier today what I had planned for the weekend, and I could hear in their voice they were waiting for this great lineup of events. No, I am not going to go slay a dragon, or go bungee jumping, or anything crazy. It’s just another weekend like all the others. I am going to relax with my wife and son while trying to get some things done around the house since I will be out of commission for a week or two. If it doesn’t rain too much, I will be coaching t-ball on Saturday morning. I will probably slip away to do a little shopping for chewable vitamins, protein, and all the other supplements that I will begin taking once I am home from the hospital. Other than that, I plan on spending most of the weekend at home.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention how the weigh in went this morning. Drum Roll Please………. I have lost 23 lbs since my last weigh in a month ago. Great way to start the morning!
Have a good weekend everybody!! The journey continues….

- Casey Armstrong

All about Casey James today!

What a day we have had at Texas Health Fort Worth! So glad to have former patient Casey James and top 3 American Idol contestant in the house! Here are a few pics from his visit...

Casey exiting the limo to hundreds of fans!

Casey was so generous and signed this little boys guitar! He probably made his year! He also took pictures and signed autographs with hundreds of fans!
From Left to Right: Lillie Biggins, senior vice president of operations at Texas Health Fort Worth; Dr. Cory Collinge, orthopedic surgeon at Texas Health Fort Worth and Casey's doctor; Casey James and his mama!
Casey presented the hospital and Dr. Collinge with one of his guitars signed "To the good people who saved my life. I love you." Signed Casey James.

What a priceless gift!

Dr. Collinge is quite the miracle worker. I love the beaming look on his face after receiving one of Casey's very own guitars - signed!!!
Casey also went and visited one of our trauma patients, who is also a musician and loves to play the guitar! Glad we could have you participate today, Dalton!

These fans made today even more special! Thanks to the community for coming and showing your support!

I will be posting more pictures as I get them, so make sure you check back! What an incredible day we have had and can't wait to share more photos and video with you!

- Whitney Jodry

Texas Health Fort Worth Spokeswoman

Guess who is coming to Texas Health Fort Worth Today??? Casey James!!!

If you want to catch a glimpse of Casey today, be here at 11:45 a.m.

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue
Fort Worth, TX

Fans will be welcome to line the streets of W. Cannon Street!

Hope to see you there!

Bariatric Diaries 1: A Perspective from Casey Armstrong

My name is Casey Armstrong. I am a fat guy.
I have been an obese person since the day I was born. It all began August 18, 1979 when my parents gave birth to a strapping 10 lb baby boy whom the doctor proclaimed needed to be playing for the Cowboys. Growing up I was always active in sports and other activities and I always made a mental note of the fact that I was always the biggest kid in the group. That might have bothered some people, but I was lucky to have been taught that I shouldn’t let people’s words bother me. By junior high I was already hovering around the 200lb range and by high school I was nearing 275. After high school I went on to college at SMU in Dallas and after tearing my ACL and becoming less active, I was quickly over 300 lbs. I am now 30 years old and at the beginning of the year I was close to 350 lbs. All these years I would make excuses as to why I didn’t need to diet, I was in denial.

This year has brought lots of twists and turns to my already jammed packed life. Back in January I got some bad news, my mom was very sick from complications of congestive heart failure. Not long after that, I found out that an old friend had passed away at just 37 years of age. My mind raced with the idea of death, illness, and my family. Life is short, and the fact that I have a family history of medical issues a mile long and the fact that I was overweight didn’t help my cause much. Later that night, I stood in the kitchen with my wife and we talked about death, our family, and the fact that I needed to do something to change my life because I didn’t want to die. We decided that I should call to get more information on weight loss surgery. At that moment, I knew my life was about to change.
I contacted Dr. Lorimer at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth and scheduled an appointment. My wife went with me to find out what my options were. I was nervous to the point that I was sweating and almost couldn’t think straight. After talking to Dr. Lorimer, I knew what I had started down a path of no return and now I had to finish it. I began all of the prerequisites set out for me by my insurance company so that they would help pay for the procedure. A pulmonologist visit, then a psychiatry visit (I now have proof I am not crazy), a monthly trip to see the “Lovely Ladies of Bariatrics” at the hospital, and finally attending a monthly support group (yes men go to support groups too) for weight loss surgery patients. After 5 months of appointments and mentally and physically preparing myself I am scheduled to have gastric bypass surgery on May 18, 2010.

I get asked a lot of questions lately, so I thought I would get those answered one more time for anybody out there reading this. Here we go…

Why am I doing this?
That’s easy. Although I don’t have any major health problems, my family does. I am married and have a 6 year old son, and I want to watch my marriage grow and be there for my son as he moves on in his life. Most importantly, I am doing this for ME!! I am smart enough to know that if I don’t change the way I live, I will most likely miss out on things in life. I am not one to miss the party, and I plan on being here for many more years.

What do I look forward to the most with losing the excess weight?
I can finally walk into any store and buy clothes off the shelf rather than paying more money to buy big and tall clothes. My wife always reminds me how good it will feel to lose the weight when I get discouraged or try to venture off my plan.
What is the worst part of getting to surgery day?
Two words, CHICKEN BROTH!! You will have to go to a liquid diet 2 weeks before surgery and Chicken broth cannot be altered enough ways to make it appetizing. Also note that once you put no sugar into your body for a few days and then you accidentally eat something sweet, WOW you will get a rush. I experienced this at the hands of a cherry Popsicle. I bounced off the walls for hours. It sounds horrible to go to a liquid diet, but it becomes easier the further you go. On top of that I have lost over 20 lbs after my first 8 days on the diet.

What is my goal?
My goal is to lose approximately 120 lbs. That would put me close to 200lbs for the first time since junior high. Also I have made it a mission to compete in some type of endurance race with a few of my friends within a year of my surgery.

How long will I be away from work?
I have been told 2 weeks. I am stubborn and want to go back sooner, but I am playing it safe and doing as I am told. I hope to be fully recovered within a month.

What does everyone think about this?
I have some of the most supportive people on the planet in my corner. My family and friends are rooting for me the whole way and have already told me that I will be under watchful eye. Your support group is probably one of the most important elements in this process. This is not a quick fix, it is a lifestyle change.
I go in tomorrow morning for my preop testing; I am nervous and excited all at the same time.

I am having surgery in 6 days. Now more than ever, my life is changing. The journey has just begun! Keep you posted!

- Casey Armstrong

Nutritional Facts - Coming to a Restaurant Near You

There’s a lot of talk about menu-labeling laws requiring restaurants to post exactly how many calories, fat grams, sodium, etc. are in that quick lunch you eat on your way to your next meeting or your daughter’s soccer practice. Americans are spending almost half of their food dollars on food outside of the home, specifically at fast food restaurant and food-service vendors. And most don’t know exactly what they are eating.

The nutritional facts are available for most of these restaurants and have been for years, but research from the American Journal of Public Health show that most don’t look. Researchers observed 4,311 patrons of several very popular fast food restaurants to see if they accessed in-store nutrition data. The info was not on the menu board but in a pamphlet, on a wall poster or an on-site computer. Only six, or 0.1%, of the patrons looked at the numbers.

Some will argue that consumers don’t care or won’t change their selections based on nutritional information, but does that mean we shouldn’t have this information readily available. Would you choose to super size your order, knowing it adds 220 calories and 6 grams of fat? Maybe, but it would be an informed choice.

We cannot argue that obesity, heart disease and diabetes are growing rapidly. If laws require us to know what our clothes are made of and how to properly launder them, shouldn’t the same be said of our food?

- Tiffany Norris
Bariatric Nurse Coordinator

Knowing Your Rights

If you are admitted to our hospital or come to our Emergency Department, you’re given a small stack of papers to sign. While it’s tempting to quickly sign the forms and feel that you’re done, these forms are provided for your protection to empower you while you’re in the hospital. It’s more than okay to read the forms and ask questions before you sign them.

One form you or your loved one will receive is titled “Patient Rights and Responsibilities.” It lists numerous patient rights which are based on the inherent values of dignity, respect, and consideration. Some of the patient rights on this form involve important topics such as privacy, freedom of choice, and obtaining information from the medical record.

I think many people underestimate their influence over their own health care decisions. For example, you could be going into a state of the art operating room with the best physician in the country with our amazing nurses ready to help …but it still comes down to you consenting to have the surgery done. The surgery starts with you and ends with you.

Just as looking at your favorite restaurant’s menu is the best way to see what to order and what to expect, reading the “Patient Rights and Responsibilities” form at the start of your hospital stay is the best way to prepare for a very satisfied experience.

Craig Pomykal
Patient Advocate

Boat Safety and Summer...

It looks like spring has officially arrived here in North Texas. The skies are clear, school is nearly out and the bluebonnets are everywhere, making even traffic jams tolerable with their incredible beauty. There is just something about spring that brings a new found energy and beginning.
Folks spend more time outside this time of year. In Texas, that also means on the lake. We have more square miles of inland water than any other state. I have lots of memories being pulled behind a boat trying to get up on water skis. Thank goodness that was before personal video cameras. Remember those big orange life-jackets?
Speaking of life jackets, it is a law that anyone younger the age of 13 must be wearing one. Nearly 85% of all boating fatalities were not wearing a life jacket. Of course they don’t have to be the orange ones, just one that are coast guard approved, and they have come a long way baby. In fact, life jackets are a requirement for personal water crafts.
Be the “designated driver “and avoid alcoholic beverages while boating. Alcohol plays a role in 50% of all boating accidents. Boating while intoxicated carries penalties similar to driving while intoxicated.
It’s also a great idea to take a boater education class. They will tell you to maintain a 50 foot distance from other boats, personal water crafts and swimmers unless operating at an idle speed. They will also let you know that weekends between noon and 7PM are the busiest times on the lake, so operate your vessel at safe speeds, especially in crowded areas. Information can be found at the Texas Parks and Wildlife web pages.
Both of my sons love the lake. They spend hours perfecting their wake boarding flips including “front roll, back roll and half-cabs”. They post their pictures on various social networks. It’s an enormous workout. I know my heart rate increases when I see the photos! But most of all they have a great time with friends and family. That’s what spring and outdoors is about.
Until next time keep it safe and shipshape!

--Mary Ann
Injury Prevention Coordinator

Buying medications online

Internet pharmacies have increased in popularity over the last few years. Although pharmacies provide customers with a convenient, private, and affordable way to buy prescription medications, the use of online pharmacies can be a safety concern, particularly when unapproved drugs are dispensed.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) conducted a review of over 5,000 internet pharmacies and found that 96% of online pharmacies are not in compliance with the laws and regulations set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medications dispensed by these non-compliant pharmacies may be unapproved by the FDA and contain the wrong ingredients, too much or too little of an active ingredient, or even dangerous substances. For example, recently the FDA purchased and analyzed several products claiming to be Tamiflu, a medication commonly used to treat flu. When analyzed, some of the products did not even contain the active ingredient found in Tamiflu, but instead contained a common over-the-counter pain reliever, acetaminophen (Tylenol).

In order to protect the public from the dangers of illegal online pharmacies, the NABP has set forth guidelines to help identify websites from which prescription drugs may be safely ordered. Signs of a trustworthy website include a valid physical address in the United States, a license by the State Board of Pharmacy where the website is in service, and a licensed pharmacist available to answer your questions. Prior to dispensing the medication, internet pharmacies should require a valid prescription from a physician who has physically examined the patient and determined the prescribed medication to be an appropriate treatment. Some illegal online pharmacies issue a prescription without a physical medical examination, which may result in an incorrect diagnosis and/or treatment.

The NABP has also developed a program, Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS), to help reduce confusion and ensure customer safety. This program places a hyperlink seal on a pharmacy website (image shown below). When a customer clicks on this seal, they should be linked to the VIPPS website which contains information about the particular pharmacy website they are visiting. The VIPPS seal verifies that the pharmacy has met state licensure requirements as well as the NABP criteria for a valid pharmacy practice. An additional tool for consumers to use when considering an online pharmacy is a list of approved online sites provided by the NABP. (www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/listall.asp).

Online pharmacies can provide benefits for patients and their healthcare as long as precautions are taken to ensure their privacy and safety. The NABP is continuing to research internet pharmacies in order to help educate the public on the dangers of buying prescriptions online. With a little research and the use of the VIPPS seal, consumers can help ensure the safety of their health and privacy information.

Nicole Day, PharmD

Cultures of Flavor

The Texas Health Fort Worth family is a melting pot of the world’s culture. I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to many of the places from where Texas Health Fort Worth employees originate. Before I pack my bags I research the culture, which includes the food; it’s actually the impetus for my chosen destination.

For five days the Cramer Café will feature dishes inspired by street foods and world comfort food, from a host of Mediterranean, Asian and Latin food cultures, and across the Caribbean. Highlighted regions and food cultures include Korea, India, England, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The phenomena of world street food and world comfort food each imply a broad range of food traditions—some of which overlap—but together represent flavors, dishes and culinary ideas that often fall outside of the realm of fine dining menus. In recent years though, American chefs, even those with the most upscale menus and operations, have found new inspiration from these “fast casual” and slow cooking world traditions.

Well-traveled chefs and their savvy, foodie customers have long known that in many cultures, “street food” and other non-restaurant foods (including bar foods, snacks, and the prepared foods of open-air and wet markets) represent the best, most delicious cooking in a given country. From Singapore’s famed hawker chefs and the street food vendors of Delhi, Luck now and Mexico City to the market stalls of Saigon, Bangkok, Penang and Marrakech (a personal favorite) to the tapas bars of Spain and meze hot spots of Greece and Turkey, these are food experiences packed with vibrant flavors; hand-held, in a bowl, or otherwise easy to eat; and inexpensive. A world-class bowl of noodle soup can still be savored “on the go” in much of Asia for a couple of dollars—or less! Street food is especially ubiquitous in tropical cultures where much of life is lived outside, and the perfect evening meal is a string of small bites from street vendors who are typically famous for one or two dishes, having perfected them for 20 or 30 years.

Hand-Held & Full of Flavor
These foods utilize all methods of preparation and cooking, from the steaming of tamales in Cuba and Mexico to the very hot, wood-fired oven baking of pizzas in Naples, and from the olive oil-frying of Andalusia and deep-frying of Indian pakoras and Brazilian salt cod and potato fritters to the charcoal grilling of skewered meats in Istanbul, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Tokyo. In many cultures, bread creates the wraps for handheld street foods. Consider the tortas in Mexico City, the pressed Cuban sandwiches of Havana and Miami, the delicious harissa-spiked, grilled pepper and tuna sandwiches of Tunis, the porchetta sandwiches of Italy, and the falafels of the Middle East. In Southeast Asia, rice paper (think salad rolls) and greens (think Vietnamese sizzling crepes) are the wraps of choice, with a singular starring role for baguettes in Vietnamese banh mi. In Peru, crispy dough encases the savory fillings of empanadas.
And at Japanese train stations, nori wraps up inexpensive grab-and-go sushi

Join us as we plunge into a five-day, sauce-slopping, noodle-slurping, tandori-sampling, jerk-nibbling, tortas-savoring, bulgogi-grazing epic tour of the best of world street food and world comfort food!

- Chef Hugh Gittens

The Gift of Life

As we enter spring, we enjoy all the new life sprouting up, the beautiful spring flowers, the blossoming trees and the baby animals. We are surrounded by the gift of life in many shapes and forms. One of the most meaningful ways to share the gift of life and leave behind a true living legacy is through organ, tissue and eye donation.

Currently 107,015 men, women and children are in need of a lifesaving organ transplant and numerous others need tissue and eye grafts. Every 12 minutes, a name is added to this national list. Sadly, an average of 17 people die every day waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

As the sister of one of the 107,015 potential recipients, I understand the day-to-day waiting, as well as the ups and downs of living life on “the list.” We prayed not for the death of someone, but for a family to have a heart big enough to say yes to organ, tissue and eye donation in their time of grief and let their loved one’s legacy live on by giving the gift of life. We prayed for peace for the families that consented to donation and that their loved ones would be blessed and honored. Sadly, my sister died last month – one of the 17 – still waiting for that precious gift.

The topic of organ, tissue and eye donation is not a typical conversation that one has around the dinner table. But, I challenge everyone to change that. We need to create a culture where everyone says yes to organ, tissue and eye donation.

The first step to achieving this culture is to talk to your family about your wishes in regards to donation. Second, sign up as a donor on Texas’s state registry at www.donatelifetexas.org. Finally, be an advocate for donation. Slowly we will change the culture and see the waiting list getting smaller. One day in the future, we may even eliminate the list altogether. What a day that would be!

So as we close out National Donate Life Month in April and we continue to enjoy all the new life that we are blessed with, think of the ultimate gift that you may one day pass on through organ, tissue and eye donation.

- Amanda Williams
Donation Clinical Specialist
LifeGift

The Serving Size Dilemma

Have you checked the serving size?

The Serving Size Dilemma

In February 2010 the New York Post published an article discussing the challenges with the serving size on food labels. Many “individual” food items have more than one serving per container such as a can of soup, a pint of ice cream and even a bag of animal crackers. You think you are eating 120 calories, but wait! If you look closer there are actually three servings in the container so you just ate 360 calories! The question becomes, “Do you really know how much you are eating?” Unless you are examining the food label and using a calculator, you may not!

A New Trend in Food Labeling

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to simplify grocery shopping and label reading for the consumer. They are considering two things that might help you grocery shop smarter. First, the FDA is considering putting food labels on the front of the package. This way the calorie and serving size information will be starring at you on the shelf. Second, they are re-evaluating serving size and making the serving match how much is in the actual package for applicable items. For example, a muffin’s food label would provide the nutrition information of the whole muffin, not just half of it.

With 64 percent of America overweight, we have to wonder if making the food label more visible will help people be aware of calories and thus eat less. After all, that is the goal. So many Americans snack mindlessly. It is not uncommon for people to come home from work, grab a bag of chips and munch until dinner. They likely have no idea that every 6 chips they eat can be 150 calories.

Putting the food label on the front of the package might jolt reality and hopefully help them think twice about grabbing another handful.


Eating Wisely

The key to eating wisely is paying attention. In order to know how many calories you are consuming, you have to flip the package over and scan the food label, specifically the serving size. Then you can evaluate if you are getting the best caloric bang for your grocery buck!

If you are a person who does not like to think about nutrition or calculate calories, it is likely best for you to buy foods that have one serving per container. This should keep you from over-eating this particular item. It is impossible to avoid foods that have multiple servings per package, but buying less of them should help you on your nutrition journey. However, if you don’t mind a little calculating, there are some creative things you can do to avoid eating an extra serving at a snack or meal:
 When you get home empty the package and divide it into individual servings. Then put those in snack baggies.
 Separate loaves of bread, packs of bagels and containers of tortillas in half and put half in your refrigerator to freeze for next week.
 Write a list of what snacks you will have for the week, gather those foods and group them together in the appropriate serving sizes.
 When you cook a bag of rice or pasta, immediately refrigerate half of it.
 Locate your measuring cups and spoons and have them handy for measuring things like cereal, grains and peanut butter.

If you have a question for the dietitian, visit www.texashealth.org/askamy

Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD
Registered Dietitian
Ben Hogan Sports Therapy Institute
Executive Health Program

Working for a pay check or following your passion?

Vincent Van Gogh said, "Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling."
This passion, intensity, and spirituality are what we experience each day in the Palliative Care Unit. We opened our unit for patients July 15, 2009, and as we approach the end of our first year, I gain a new respect for the people that work on this unit. If you were to visit us on any given day, you would see the staff busy caring for their patients. They are eager to meet the needs of each patient and their family members. Additionally, the nurses and techs work to educate their peers throughout the hospital on the amazing service we can provide patients with progressive diseases. During the past 9 months, we have transitioned from what Van Gogh calls individuals coming to work for a paycheck, to a team; you might even say a family.
Our staff family works hard to ease the pain and burden of their patients. During this year, we have helped a patient achieve his last wish by working with the ICU in allowing him to spend his last few moments outside in the Meditation Garden. We have seen patients come and go that were not expected to live. We have helped a couple renew their wedding vows. We have watched wives curl up in bed beside their husbands, for one last hug. And we have held each other during difficult times.
Our family is not unlike your family. We have our struggles, our hopes for the Palliative Care Unit and each other, and we come to work each day hoping to provide the best possible care for our patients and their families.

- Ashley Hodo
Palliative Care Nurse Manager

From the heart of one of our patients...

I was completely devastated when I first received the news, on June 25, 2009, that I had an aggressive cancer. It was as if I had been punched in the gut by a two ton gorilla. I felt complete despair. To my surprise, the entire staff at Texas Health Fort Worth came to my rescue. Not only did they restore my sense of hope, but my sense of humor as well. Each day I was lifted up by their enthusiastic spirit, their absolute professionalism and their deep concern for my well being. They took what could have been a hellish experience and made it a heavenly one. They restored my sense of self worth and my hope for the future. This was done as a matter of course. Not rehearsed, not falsely, but truly from their hearts. I don't have the words to adequately express my sense of gratitude to this organization during my time of trouble. The doctors, the nurses, the technicians, even the clean up crew, were there to help me every step of the way on my journey with cancer. I will forever sing their praises. May God richly bless each and every one of you. May you continue to be a beacon of light in the darkness that is the despair of cancer. Thank you all.

With deep gratitude,

Perry William Allen III

The profusion of newness...

April! Newness bursting forth everywhere. The new leaves on the tree at “my” parking spot in Klabzuba now block the view of JPS. I went to the Botanic Gardens one morning recently and the profusion of daffodils and some small wild lilies that grow close the ground and azaleas, etc., etc. was impressive. As I drive between here and Granbury, the plum and red bud trees are marvelous, as are the large clumps of bluebonnets and verbena. I’m looking forward to the progression of black-eyed susans, Indian paintbrushes, fiery pokers, Queen Anne’s lace, wine cups and many other wildflowers whose names my grandparents taught me and I have now forgotten. All of this natural beauty brings me great joy.
Reflecting on this beauty and joy, I’m reminded of some lessons from childhood. Every summer my family went to a cabin in the mountains. My brother and sister and I liked to play on what remained of a huge fallen pine tree. We dubbed it “Tree-mendous”. We clambered over the rough bark, which as years went by crumbled at our touch. We explored the crevices where the standing tree trunk had been invaded by the beaks of red-headed woodpeckers, squirrels needing nesting places, and branches too heavy with ice or over-growth had broken off and exposed the tender, bright wood (softer than the protective bark. In these crevices now, soft mosses grew and doodle bugs and beetles found nourishment and made homes (We often took the doodlebugs from these metropolises and raced them on tracks we made of sticks and rocks. I hope that we returned them to these former abodes, but I don’t really remember.). Other places where the original tree was deteriorating we found lovely flowers—some of which, I confess, went home in our hot little hands to be presented with great love and admiration to our mother or grandmother. These flowers were put on the kitchen table where we ate and reminded us of the bounty and gifts of nature that almost matched the profusion of love shared in that home in the woods. In still other spots weakened by time and the elements, shoots of new trees were taking root: natural reforestation.
I could go on and on, but I think I’ve said enough for you to notice what all the present newness of spring has reminded me: new life and growth springs from disaster if we allow it to do so. Often human nature wants to bulldoze away the great falls, the results of the lightning bolts, the tremendous tragedies that befall us in life. Modernity wants to clear out all the deadwood of difficult or broken relationships, flawed or shattered dreams, overgrown or unrealistic expectations, losses from separation and death. Yet, even if what has befallen us is moved out of the way, for healthy new growth to occur, compost and fertilizer (manure) must be applied and allowed to nourish and strengthen.
As you enjoy the beauty of spring and the profusion of newness this April, I urge you to be reminded of the bleakness, rain and darkness that has made this newness possible and I encourage you to engage in prayer about them and to find friends, family, a support group, a chaplain or some other individual or group with whom you can share the tragedies of your life so that with time they can nourish newness of your life in all its profusion. And when the new growth begins to sprout, celebrate it and share it also. Life is good, and when you think life might be over, know that new life can be even better!

- Candace Stroup, chaplain