And that day comes..

 

 

And that day comes.. the day you know that will come, but you put it way back in your mind so you don't think it will ever come.

 My dear friend Marv, who I have wrote about many a time here at The River, had a stroke. 

Click here.. 

Click on the above link to meet Marv.

Marv and I met years ago and became fast friends. We gardened together at the Community Gardens for several years. He was my gardening mentor and taught me so much. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and love for growing vegetables and flowers.

Marv gifted his Garden Angel to me last autumn. This angel had sat in his gardens and he wanted to pass it on to a friend.

Marv is 92, he is very independent and healthy. I call him weekly. I called him the Tuesday after Labor Day. He shared about his recent trip to visit his family in Illinois. I updated him regarding the boys.

That Saturday I received a call from him, " Carla, don't worry. I am not dead, I am just in ER, I may have had a stroke."

Marv did have a stroke. His family came from Illinois and they took him back with them. He has a little house on their farm. He can go to therapy and heal with family surrounding him.  

The day he was released from the hospital, we got to go see him and say "Goodbye".

He cried, we cried, and his niece Kathleen said to us "you are family, we will keep you updated and you are welcome to visit anytime." She also said, "Carla, I was with Marvin, when he called you. Oh my what a way to tell you he was in ER."

That was how our relationship has always been.. serious, yes, but always looking at the bright side.. not matter what.

  Our Sam and Marv.. Army Friends.

Marv loved to share stories about the army with Sam. Technology has changed but several of the other things with in the army have not, so it was always fun listening to them share stories.

I was so thankful Sam and Marv had some time together this summer in between Sam's deployments.

 

Kathleen called me Sunday with an update..

Marv is home in Illinois. He is living in his little house. He has physical therapy daily and a care aid comes to help him give a bath. He is doing well learning to use his left side again.

Kathleen did say, "he does not feel he has a purpose to live." She said that worries her. She has hired two young neighbor girls to come play checkers and visit daily.

I plan on sending weekly letters.

Please share any advice of how I can encourage Marv.

Thank you for the love you all have given to Marv in the years I have shared his stories here at The River.

 ♥

Carla