A "Stroke" of Good Luck

Just in case you missed the excitement, I experienced what was diagnosed as a stroke on March 7th. It was accompanied by a burst blood vessel causing a bit of bleeding deep within the brain. At Susan's insistence, we drove 45-miles to the emergency room in Alamosa, Colorado (The NEXT day) and I was promptly air lifted several hundred miles to the SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER in Denver where they worked on getting my blood pressure under control.

Finding no noticeable resultant damage other than a bit of temporary intermittent slurred speech, I was home in six days. I don't know how they could ever tell if there was any brain damage, what with my perverted sense of humor. The staff is always checking your memory and reflexes. At 3:00 a.m. one nurse asked me if I remembered her name, to which I replied — Michelle Obama. Her facial expression was priceless. One military-type occupational therapist stood in front of me, raised his hands high in the air asking, "Can you do this?"

I promptly tickled him! To him THAT wasn't funny! (Only to the rest of the folks in the room.) Yes, he WAS very ticklish! My antics at Swedish Medical are legend. (Especially when I asked if Medicare covered a Swedish massage!)

Send this underprivileged kid to camp!
(Milt in his fashionable Christian Dior designer gown practicing
his tongue strengthening exercises while in CCU.)

Hopefully by now most of you are aware of Susan and my philosophy that everything in life happens for a good reason. We are victims of nothing, and that even the seemingly negative challenges are but lessons for our soul growth opportunities. (Like strokes.)

During this adventure Susan and I were blessed to meet Robert Jagoda, a native of Argentina, and an emergency medical technician on my flight to Denver that day. Engaging him in a dialogue of animal-care, we learned that Robert's passion is his concern with the treatment of abandoned and sick animals, and he and his wife's (Robin) dream is to one day establish an area center for the care of abandoned and sick animals. (Hum… Ring a bell with you relating to Susan and my frustration over the lack of such care in the San Luis Valley?)

An instant bond was established between us and this Angel from South America. How fortunate we felt at this meeting. Little did we know just how fortunate we were. You'll remember our newly rescued and adopted puppy — Puppy Sanderford.

Well, several days after I returned home from the hospital, Puppy escaped our yard. He didn't return that night. Very unusual for him. As a stray, he always found his way "home" to our makeshift front porch protective structure. Fact is, he was missing the next several days. Something was very wrong. We searched, to no avail. On the third day this little trouper, dragged his way to our porch. How — we have no idea.

It was obvious he was savagely attacked by an animal(s) and left for dead. The flesh on his legs had been torn away, and had become severely infected wherever he had lain for those two days. In panic we began to call the area for emergency care to save our dear puppy. Out of desperation we called our new friend Robert. Through his many area contacts he directed us to a pet hospital in Monte Visit some 65 miles to the north. If we didn't get Puppy there soon we knew he wouldn't make it.

With recuperating MILT tending Puppy in the back seat, Susan drove the very long 65 miles to the Alpine Vetrinary Hospital, where we were met by another wonderful angel, Dr. Caylie McClair. She admitted it would be touch and go for Puppy. A good chance the infection would make it into his blood stream. After six days of TLC and antibiotics, we got the word that Puppy looked good and was ready to come home.

Our excitement was dampened when we went to pick him up. The Doctor opting not to stitch his wounds, wishing them to heal from the inside out, they were still open and deep. (Exposing tendons and muscle that should not be exposed.) In our fragile emotional state, Susan and I were just not ready for such a painful task of caring for this dear hurting Puppy. We called Robert hoping his contacts would include such a person. "I'll be happy to care for Puppy!" was his immediate response. "Bring him up!" (Did we mention Robert is descendent from angels?)

It was instant bonding when Puppy got to Robert's house. He perked up as though just having received a major shot of healing energy. Over the past eight days puppy Has been making a major recovery under Robert's care and love. We'll be picking up Puppy in another six days. Our secondary plan is to assist Robert and his wife in whatever way we can in establishing their dream-fulfilling animal center.

That's our long winded way of saying, the "stroke" was a minor happening that led to some major great stuff — thank you Spirit for this, and other lessons that will flow as a result. SO — that's the Sanderford's version of MARCH MADDNESS. We're ready for a vacation:-) Thanks for your many calls, emails, cards, and prayers on my behalf, and Susan's as well. (I do not make for a good (easy) patient:-) You are all so loved and appreciated.

My dearest child…

Life is Love at work.
Even the struggles are gifts of Love,
helping you to call out to the Divine for assistance.
Helping you to find the right answer which
brings your heart to peace.
You are in the times of the great awakening.
Know that some will experience great struggles
in their earthly journey.
Know help is but a prayer away.

Mother Mary

April 1, 2009

One of our goals with the Casa de Santa Maria is to be an asset to the community of the San Luis Valley area. We have chosen projects to help uplift and support Costilla County, one of the poorest county of Colorado.

Thank you to all those who have donated money and goods to pass along to those in need. Here are the programs the Casa supports.

The San Luis and Fort Garland Head Start Schools
supplying Christmas presents for the 60 plus, 3 to 4 year old students,
and 50 brand new books for graduation presents
We are looking for folks that would like to purchase
Rhythm Band Instruments for both schools. (We need four sets at $85 each)

Vertero Open Press
A new non-profit center for the arts — encouraging young area artists.

Centennial Elementary and High School
Coats for Kids Program

San Luis Valley Animal Rescue
to date Susan and Milt have personally rescued
2 cats and 2 dogs and have fed and offered shelter to
numerous neglected San Luis animals.

Now we have Robert Jagoda working with us to start a Animal Shelter for the area. If you would like to donate to any of the above projects we would greatly appreciate any gifts toward that which speaks to your heart.

www.casadesantamaria.org/donate

Please tell us in the comments sections where you would like your tax deductible donation to be applied. Of course we always need donations to the Casa Creation Fund as well!

Tele-Seminars

Art Gallery

Book Store

The Casa de Santa Maria is a not-for-profit organization and currently exempt under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible and may be sent to:

Casa de Santa Maria • P.O. Box 64 • San Luis, CO 81152
Email: casadesantamaria@mac.com

Please feel free to share the Casa Newsletter, website or Mother Mary's Messages with others!