Dignity of Man ourfatherswillcommunications.com

Setting the scene: It began with a fall and a slightly sprained ankle: my better half got up and steady again — with the help of the local fire department — and went to bed.

Then came the back pain, followed by severe sciatica, alleviated by heavy- duty pain pills.

The next few days brought more falls, more  fire department rescues and then an accidental overdose of pills — no one person’s fault, just old-fashioned miscommunication.

Then pneumonia, an ambulance, a hospital and suddenly talk of end-of-life decisions.

With the help of numerous prayers (thanks in great part to Noreen McCann’s e-prayer tree) and the right medicine (Thanks to Dr. Jennifer Delaney) , within 24 hours the patient turned himself around and was, in the words of his doctor, “progressing on all fronts.”

A week at a skilled nursing center followed, then home before Christmas into a new world of 24/7 nursing-aides…