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February 19, 2002 - My Painter, My Friend
Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"Life breaks us. And when we heal, we're stronger in the broken
parts." ~ Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
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Free angel pin! With every "Angel's Legacy" book order you will get a FREE angel holding the American flag or red, white and blue crystal angel pin! Take a journey of life through the heart of an angel and get this sweet angel to accompany your book! Authored by Susan Farr Fahncke, your copy will be personally signed to you or to whomever you choose! Click here! http://www.2theheart.com/angel_s_legacy
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This story was very moving on its own, but given the battles and tragedy its author has faced in his own life, the tribute to his friend and the courage he sees in him lifted my heart. I truly think Michael Segal is a hero on many levels. (And a great friend!)
"My Painter, My Friend"
by Michael Segal
"I HATE THIS PEELING PAINT," screamed my wife as she was inspecting our kitchen's woodwork.
True, we had been in our house for a few years without ever repainting. So, I decided to "bite the bullet" and get a professional painter to "touch up" the entire house where it was needed. My boss' wife suggested her painter, so we gave him a call.
We were so happy with his work that we also used him for other painting projects. We then discovered he was not only a painter, but a contractor as well. Sharon (my wife) and I used him for
everything - from painting, to sheetrocking, to putting in lights, to building closets.. You name it, David Jones could do it.
Through the years, we developed a relationship with David - not only as our "super handyman," but more importantly as our friend. Soon, he had a key to our home. We trusted him and highly recommended him to our family and friends.
One day, as I was about to call David to wish him a happy birthday, our phone rang. It was David and something was wrong - terribly wrong. David was frantic, explaining that Sean (his son) had been in an accident. "He and his friend were testing a motorcycle and Sean ran into a tree." The injury to his spinal cord was bad and David said, "He might not make it."
For a while, it was touch and go. However, miraculously, his condition changed from critical to stable. Sean was eventually transferred from his acute hospital to a rehabilitation hospital. My father taught me a long time ago a corny but true quote:
Mile by Mile, it's a Trial;
Yard by Yard, it's Hard;
But Inch by Inch, it's a Cinch!
True, Sean still had a long way to go, as he was a quadriplegic; however, I told David to look at how far he had come, as Sean had been only inches from death.
One day I visited Sean and I saw him feeling sorry for himself. I stated, "Sean, yes, you have experienced a severe loss; however, I hope in time you will be able to look at the gains you've made and not dwell on your losses."
I visited Sean in the hospital quite often and from that day on, I only saw him with a smile, trying to achieve new gains.
What about David, his father? Even though David put on a good front, he was constantly worried about Sean.
Then, approximately one month after the motorcycle accident, we received another frantic phone call. David stated he did not know what to do. He was in the hospital with his wife who had suffered a severe heart attack.
We quickly went to the hospital to offer any kind of help we could. Unfortunately, it was too late. Judy (David's wife) was in critical condition and she soon passed away. Still in a state of shock, David asked me if I would deliver the eulogy for his wife at her funeral. I felt very honored, and yet I was very sad.
David is my painter, but more importantly, he is my friend. Anything I could do for him, I would. After the eulogy, we offered some prayers. The funeral was a comforting one and hopefully the eulogy honored David's wife.
Now, David had suffered two huge losses -- his son's accident and his wife's death. On the surface, David tried to act like things were going well. However, they weren't -- I knew it, my family knew it, and, most importantly, David knew it.
He began making excuses for not showing up for work. I tried to talk to him, but in the beginning, he would not "let me in." Gradually, he did and he is presently doing better. The losses he has experienced are huge, but David is a fighter. He was "knocked down," but David will never allow himself to be "knocked out."
True, David Jones is a great painter, but, more importantly, he is a great man. I feel honored to be able to call him my friend.
© copyright 2001 by Michael Segal
MSegaHope@aol.com
Mike is an inspiring person and writer, whose kindness is matched by very few that this editor know! His story "My Miraculous Family," was published in "Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul." Mike has written an autobiography entitled Never Say Quit and is currently looking for a publisher. He lives in Houston with his highschool sweetheart, Sharon, and their daughter, Shawn. He can be reached through his web page at: http://www.allworld.net/segal/ Read his stories "The Chosen Few", "A Giving Heart", "Crossroads of Life", in our archives! www.2theheart.com/archives
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The Letter Box:
My name is Tina Huffine. I am a Non-Hodgkin's B-Cell Lymphoma Survivor and a Chemo Angel. I was diagnosed with Cancer in July of 2000. I spent most of my time before my diagnosis feeling weak; sick with flu and bronchitis. I knew, deep down inside me, that something was going on other than bad luck with infections. I went from doctor after doctor trying to find out why I was so sick. Through all of four years, I was told I had everything from Lupus; Aids; Hepatitis to Fibromyalgia. None of them were right.
It wasn't until my side ached with pain that a doctor sent me to an Oncologist. My second one. By the time this doctor found the Cancer, I was in stage four. The Cancer was in my blood; bone marrow; chest and spleen. My spleen was the size of a basketball. And the doctor was not holding out much hope.
I began C.H.O.P.S. Chemo; blood transfusions and medications to numerous to mention. I was scared; angry and faced with passing before my parents or my daughter. I didn't know what I was supposed to do or think. I just knew I couldn't go. I had to stay.
My daughter, Mandy was only eight years old. How would this affect her? Money was little to none. I had little to no insurance. My parents were both ill themselves and my sister had her hands full with six grandkids to help raise. If it were not for Susan and Mandy. I would be facing this alone.
I must have cried a million tears and prayed a thousand prayers. But all I really had to do was let go and let God drive. God gave me all that I needed. The right doctor. The right family. The right people around me and the strength to survive. He has blessed me in many ways. In February of 2001, I had my spleen removed. It was at this point that we would know if I really was in remission. The results were clean. What a birthday present. On my thirty-ninth birthday, I was given the news that I had beaten Cancer.
Today, I try to pay it forward. Just like the movie. I testify to anyone who will listen to gods healing hands. And I try to support those who have Cancer because I know, first hand, that having people around you to support you does make a difference. It did for me.
I don't know if this story will help anyone else who has or has had Cancer. But I do know that being involved with Chemo Angels has helped me "Pay It Forward."
Thank you for listening and may god bless those in need and those who are needed.
~Tina Huffine
tcboo69@hotmail.com
Dear 2theheart,
I read the story about chemo angel Kelly today with tears in my eyes. My husband was also the recipient of chemo angeling and I first found out about it from reading "Angel's Legacy" and from 2theheart's postings about the group. The out pouring of love to my husband was just incredible and he knew more love in his last days than in his whole life. Thank you to the chemo angels and thank you to 2theheart for sharing this with us!
Sincerely,
E.M.
The story (An Angel Named Kelly) was posted on 2TheHeart today!! Yay Chemo Angels (and big hug to "Angel Kelly"). Thank you to Betsy for her touching story.
Peace & Hugs,
Angel Jenn Borjeson
Dear 2theheart,
I am a Chemo Angel and it is so rewarding to see the impact our angel love has on the patients and their families! It is a wonderful part of my life and I know that I am making a difference with my small gifts of angeling. Thanks to Betsy and Dale for sharing their experience with their angels!
~Chemo Angel Sue
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