Home At Last

Oct. 19.  Home at Last
Thank goodness for wheelchairs @ airports!!!  Elder Reynolds rode  in style.

 Rusty hauled luggage & I tried to keep up. We were grateful for bulk head seating most of the way.  Was so sad to leave Hawaii.  Arrived in Seattle  about 4 pm.  Waited 3 hrs for next flight to SLC only to be informed the airplane has pressurization problems & wouldn't leave until 7 the next am. Gary was exhausted & so were Rusty & I.

We ate a complementary supper @ Ivin's Fish House then took shuttle to our motel & much needed sleep. The flights to SLC & Idaho Falls were great with no more delays.

 What a welcome sight to see our beautiful family waiting for us in the airport. We were soooo very elated to greet everyone & receive much needed hugs. Enjoyed Stevens lunch treat @ Puerto Vallarta.  

Was wonderful to sleep in our own bed and finally be cool!!

We enjoyed many visitors & phone calls during the next couple of days.
We were released from our mission Oct. 22.  We shared a weepy but very entertaining report  to the high council. We will miss wearing those "Black Name Tags".

Gary continued to recuperate quickly, now he was finally home and on Nov. 17 we reported our mission.  What exciting and spiritual experiences we shall hold dear in our hearts forever.

Round 2 Recovery & Randy's Visit

Oct. 2. Happy Day!   Elder R had improved enough that we once again moved him from Castle Hospital back up to Kauhku Medical Center.  I was so thankful Robyn & Ranay were there to drive & help him get settled in the exact room where he was when he recovered from the brain surgery.
 

  Pic.   The grandkids had sent pics to decorate the walls of his room. He was settled in for another 16 days of PICC line antibiotics & physical therapy. Our goal was to have him improve enough that we could fly home Oct. 18
Robyn & Ranay left that evening to return home to their families. They had packed suitcases, cleaned & helped in many ways to express loved to both of us.
Pic. Robyn bought matching rings for all of us & made a fun friend @ PCC.
Aloha to 2 wonderful daughters.

Oct. 5. Randy, Stacey & family arrived.  We once again were so thankful for loving support from family.  

They enjoyed a fun week hiking Punch Bowl, Weimea Falls, playing @ the beach & eating fav. Hawaiian food. Eugene & Candace cooked stir fry food, bought us Ted's Bakery cake & took us snorkeling. 

Oct 11. Farewell party
Eugene & Candace gave me a farewell party @ the Physical Facilities Building. I will miss many friends I met while serving @ Give & Take. It was fun to have Randy & Family support me.  Just wish my companion could have been there also.

Oct. 14 - Rusty arrived to help us prepare to go home.   Swensons brought him from the airport. He was another welcomed blessing. He motivated Gary to progress with his physical therapy.
We were able to go to the swap meet, eat at our favorite Kahuku Grill & visit north shore.   Pics

Gary's PICC Line was removed Oct. 17.  He will miss these sweet nurses, and his wonderful friend Eluu who gave him numerous blessings.  Pic.

Elder Pollock drove us to the airport early the next a.m. It was a very happy day for Elder Reynolds. I had mixed emotions. I knew I would really miss Hawaii & our mission service. What an eventful 13 months.   Pic. Wheelchair.

Round 2

Sept 16.  Gary started coughing & running a fever so back to Kahuku Med Center we went.  Dr. Hughes prescribed an antibiotic but he continued getting worse.

Thurs. Sept. 19 we went back down to Castle Hospital for another Cat Scan & MRI.  He was diagnosed as having a rare type of pneumonia which blanketed both lungs. His oxygen level continued to decrease. They had to put him on a ventilator so he wouldn't die.  This was heart wrenching for me to see him laying there in an induced sleep & unable to talk with him.  I have  never seen so many tubes & attachments. Once again the PICC line was inserted in his neck.

The missionaries were so kind. Sister Cooper and Sis. Maples came almost daily to check on us. Several called & would travel down to Kailua to see us. I was so grateful to all of them.
Our kids & family members @ home fasted & prayed for us.  I knew I was receiving special help to ease my worried mind & help me with driving the 45 min curvy road back & forth daily.

Tues. Sept. 23 - A special fast was called in his behalf. The entire PCC office fasted for him. All the missionaries fasted. All the "Blue Shirts" (including Maui, Raymond & Pita (his mechanic buddies) were fasting & praying. Shirleen sat with me the entire day & crocheted some hot pads she later gave to me.

That night Robyn & Ranay arrived. What a treat to hug those beautiful daughters!!  Maples picked them up from the airport & brought them right to the hospital.  Wed. was another day of waiting & praying for some miracle. At one point they thought he might have tuberculosis so we were required to 'suit up' so we didn't catch it too.

The miracle happened on Thurs. when the ventilator was removed with no complications. Gary was still on oxygen & very weak but the medications were finally helping his lungs heal.

 He was moved out of ICU the next day. Tony, was an excellent nurse who helped him start walking.  The hospital doc. Thought he was pretty comical as he made several jokes, calling the U. S. Pres. "O Bummer".  It felt wonderful to finally laugh!  

One afternoon, we sat @ the beach while Gary was sleeping.

Sat.  Night - Ranay, Robyn & I went to Mindy Gledhill Concert @ PCC Was hard to be joyful as we knew how weak & sick our dad still was. I was so thankful to have my daughters to share long days, drives & nights with.

Retail Therapy

One day during the 50th anniversary celebration week, I was feeling sad that we would be going home soon, so Sis Cooper & Sis. Radzik & I walked around the PCC looking at special displays.

I was so impressed with the beautiful carvings on display.  There are several carvers.  Pulotu was an amazing "Master Carver".  Check out the intricate details.

I found a vendor selling fresh water pearls. I've always wanted a black pearl ring so I fished for an oyster & pulled out a dark navy blue pearl.  It means "wisdom".  Happy "sad day" to me.

 

50th Celebration Parade

Sat. Sept 7 culminated the week long activities with a parade. It was pouring rain but Coopers picked us up. We waited in the car & the sun shone just as the parade passed by.

Russell M Nelson was in Hawaii. He came to dedicate the new BYUH educational building.

Leandro, Gary's working partner was in the band. 

Elder Maples float was beautiful with tons of fish blowing bubbles.

 Our sweet single missionary sisters rode the tram bus. 

Even the horses wore gorgeous flower leis. 

The "Blue Shirts waved to Gary & later honored him with a "Blue Poly Lympic  Shirt" & blue beads.  

Even the Cackle Fresh Egg Farm  shop was represented. (Used to buy eggs here)
Gary was exhausted so we went home & rested.

PCC 50th Anniversary

The first week of Sept was the 50th Anniversary of the PCC.
I was fortunate to be able to attend many special events. Denis (Elder Cooper) didn't want to go to mist of them so he would go sit with Gary. Sherleen & I would go together to see all the musical performances.

 
I never tired of watching the hula dancers perform. The little girls are so graceful & pretty with beautiful black hair.  

The trees @ the PCC were decorated with metal charms that sparkled in the sunshine
When we went to the talent show, flags were carried in from every country that was represented someway @ PCC. The faculty members of BYUH performed an outstanding musical number & were dressed up like the "Men in Black". Pres. Grace is quite the dancer!

 
Sherlene & I got tickets for the Golden & Silver Luaus.  They were fabulous.