Two steps forward, a buckled knee step back

Cool things continue to happen, but another pothole along the way has been encountered. Cool things first.

Last week I met with the main guy from IRC and the leader of another Rotary club, a much larger one. The gentlemen from IRC answered all of the questions that the very thorough Rotary club leader asked. It was incredible to see the Rotary guy really catch the vision and grow in confidence that if the funds are raised, the project will actually become a reality. The experience and the on-going similar type projects that IRC brings to the table seemed to really solidify to him that it has a real potential to actually work! He has now summarized all of his findings and has forwarded it on to his and a few other clubs.

Meanwhile, we received a couple of missions board members from the church in Albuquerque. They are continuing to raise funds also. As of now, with their fundraising and the one Rotary club, it looks like we have about 35 percent of the needed funds raised. If this bigger Rotary and a few others come on board, we might be able to meet our goal of having the wall up by the middle of June, so we can plant the last week of August.

On a personal note, I've had another strange health issue. On April 26, as I was walking from my car to the church office, my left knee buckled. I didn't fall and at the time, it didn't seem like that big of a deal. As my legs have continued to weaken due to the Kennedy's disease, I've fallen a few times, and my knees have buckled fairly regulary. Well, apparently, this time was different....because of the Cumaden blood thinner that I've been taking due to the blood clot I had.

Within 24 hours my knee started to swell and stiffen and by Wed. I couldn't move it. I made a trip to the VA, got checked out and discovered that there was some soft tissue damage and because of the Cumaden, my knee joint and the surrounding area was filled with blood. Above my knee cap, it looked a mushball, (larger than a softball,) and it was very painful. The doc said I had to get off of it, ice it, and then stop taking the blood thinner. I was given crutches, and last week actually got a wheelchair, which has made mobility a lot easier. But, I still can't drive, and I've basically been cooped up in the house for two week now...and I don't do sitting around very well. My already sore "buns" where I have lost a lot of muscle mass due to the Kennedy's, are screaming all of the time now as I pretty much spend 24 hours a day sitting down.

The swelling is down a bit, but I still have only limited motion and can't put any weight on it. I'm scheduled to fly to Philadelphia on May 20 to speak at a missons conference and then teach at a Sunday morning service at a fairly new church plant outside of Philadelphia. If I had to fly today, I couldn't do it. I need MAJOR prayer that God will get my knee back in shape, at least enough to make the trip...which I REALLY want to do. I see the ortho doctor this Thursday and I'm thinking that's the time when I'll need to make the decision.