Gifts For Sheila

Back in August, when Sheila was first diagnosed with this latest cancer, she received a lot of love and attention from all her friends, family and co-workers. Visitors and telephone calls were very common during this period and it was all very much appreciated not only by Sheila but by me as well. Besides, we needed some social interaction and, actually, still do very much. The social interaction is a nice break from the seriousness of cancer and we don't get much social interaction since the cancer has returned.

Although Sheila had changed jobs a year ago, her old co-workers all got together to provide a card and some much needed cash to help with any of our expenses. That was definitely appreciated by both of us. Thank you, everyone, for that!

Around the same time, Sheila's old boss from her old job called to ask what she could do for us. Wilhelmina has always been very thoughtful and a supervisor anyone would want to have on their side so her question came as no surprise to us even though both Sheila and Wilhelmina had moved on to new jobs more than a year ago. 

Sheila hesitated and didn't know how to answer this question because she wasn't too sure about what anyone could do for us during this hectic and emotional time so Wilhelmina suddenly asked if we needed a snowblower... "actually, we really could use a snowblower!" 

Shoveling snow has become quite difficult for both of us for various reasons and dealing with Vermont snowfalls while going through cancer treatment is absolutely brutal and about as far from fun as one could get. 

Sheila still tells harrowing stories of trying to shovel out the driveway while in treatment for her first breast cancer. She would be out there shoveling after enduring surgery on her breast... she was exhausted but the snow kept coming... just as she would get close to having the driveway finally cleared enough to get out and go to work or to the hospital for treatment, the plow would drive by and fill the driveway with snow again before she would have time to move the car. 

The neighbors still vividly remember the troubles Sheila had 11 years ago! Actually, one time, a neighbor across the street noticed Sheila's defeat, frustration and overwhelming emotion when the big plow buried the driveway again just as she was about to get out of the driveway... the neighbor chased down the big plow to let him know he just plowed in someone going through cancer treatment and probably mentioned that she was about to collapse in the snow he just plowed into her driveway... he turned around, came back to the house, and plowed out the driveway for her. Something like this doesn't happen everyday so a snow blower would definitely be a tremendous relief. 

Wilhelmina got together with Barb (another one of Sheila's old co-workers) who happened to have a snowblower sitting in her garage of her house that was for sale. They felt the snowblower would benefit Sheila more than the new owners of the home so Barb arranged for Wilhelmina and her husband to load the snowblower in their pickup truck and they presented it to Sheila at our house one weekend.

I haven't written about this until now because I was waiting to get a photo of Sheila using this new snowblower. Adam was home for a month so he used the new snowblower all through December to clear our driveway. I used it a few times as well. Sheila had yet to touch it though.

I was hoping to get some nice photos of Sheila using this snowblower in the daylight while snow was falling... easily throwing snow across the driveway... clearly being able to see Sheila in the photo... but, nothing ever seems to go as planned, especially lately. Sheila never really had a chance to touch the new snowblower until last night.

So there I was, out in the darkness standing in six or seven inches of fresh snow, frigid temperatures, trying to teach Sheila how to use the snowblower. Even though it was far too dark and too cold for photography, this was my chance at some photos so I attempted to capture a few photos in the frigid darkness. 

Anyway, I just wanted to express here in this blog that we are both very thankful for this thoughtful and exceptionally useful gift. Thank you to all those involved in making this happen!