Recovery - mhudgins
Many of you have observed my rapid recovery from my accident. Yes, I continue to heal and have surprised myself. The result was that I missed only three days more than I had planned to be out of the office, and one Sunday from the pulpit. I have asked myself how this was possible. The following are some of the things that helped me:
- Prompt ER: We were in the Emergency Room as quickly as possible. Thanks to Marti, I was at the Emergency Room within twenty minutes.
- Good Medical Care: I can’t say enough about the care I received: from the Emergency Room to the orthopedic surgeon; to the nurses - including my wife, Marti, and Shirley Gordon, a friend who was visiting us at the time. Marti dressed my foot each night and morning before I could stand to look at it.
- Balanced Walking and Resting: I was walking the next day with the help of crutches. For the next two weeks I would sit in my lounge chair with my foot abovemy heart. The surgeon credits this with my healing process. He knew Marti was on my case. When she wasn’t with me, she gave others permission to continually remind me. I increased my walking each day. I walked the labyrinth and was hitting golf balls in five weeks.
- Encouragement: Encouraging words from relatives, church members, and colleagues, even those in Transylvania, were much appreciated. I received over 250 phone calls, emails, cards and letters in those first two weeks. I looked forward to these each day, and am grateful for each one.
- Visitors: My daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter came to visit me a week after the accident. Seeing my granddaughter, hearing her say “Grandpa” to me, and “Good-bye” to each golfer as they passed by our house, was wonderful.
- Work Incentives: Getting back to work. Just three days after the accident I worked out of my home on computer, writing and editing my sermon, reading and answering emails. Two weeks after the accident I was back in the office and pulpit. In the interim, I knew the church was in good hands. I thank Anne Clark and Bob Kiefer for reading my prepared sermons.
- Humor: I appreciated all the toe jokes shared by loved ones and friends, and the comedy routines of Bill Cosby and Mark Twain (by Hal Holbrook) on CD and Video. Marti lovingly referred to me as “Nubbins.” Dick Somer named me “Rev. Stubs.” Another called me “Twinkle Toes.” When I said to Ian Sole that I may need some help swinging a golf club, he responded, “No, Morris, you don’t need help with your golf swing. You need help with how to operate a lawn mower.” Through all of this I have seen the need to laugh at myself.
I am very grateful for all the help during this time of recovery.
Rev. Dr. Morris W. Hudgins
Interim Minister
minister@uucharlottesville.org
293-8179 extension 1#
