Russ

It has been some time since we have updated anything about Russ, but that is because he is doing well.

January 2010

I thought I’d write to give everyone a quick update on Russ. Here’s a thumbnail sketch…

2009 saw the removal of Russ’ trach tube and his gastric feeding tube.  These were both big advances, but not without some complications. All the food he eats must be in puree form. He must have liquid thickeners in all of his beverages. Nevertheless, he looks forward to meal time and maintains a hearty appetite. His tracheotomy wound is still not healing properly. He continues to be given antibiotics to fend off persistent infections.

Russ remains an unadulterated football fanatic. Every Sunday afternoon he texts me the St. Louis “Lambs”–as he calls them–score. A favorite past time for me has developed this past NFL football season.  On Sunday nights, Nathaniel James and I depart from the Harrison hacienda between 7:30 and 8:00 PM, grab milkshakes at Sonic (Russ enjoys any flavor while Nathaniel only likes chocolate) and head over to watch Sunday Night Football with Russ. He cheers, boos, and dishes out high fives liberally, making even a mediocre game a special event.

Russ can be a text messaging machine. He enjoys receiving texts. In step with his independent nature, he exercises lots of freedom in how promptly he returns texts, but normally will do so in just a few minutes. I have found this to be a wonderful way to converse with him. In single sentences he easily conveys his intelligence, irritations, and sharp wit. If you have a texting plan I encourage you to shoot him a text daily. You can get his phone number from the church directory, or ask him for it when you see him at church. He attends every Sunday morning.

2010 has brought with it a motorized wheelchair for Russ. He is still getting used to it, but told me today he liked it. Speaking of that…I texted him today to ask him about the wheelchair and instead of talking about that he wanted to know how my eye was. I type, “No vision yet. The oil has to stay in my retina three more months, minimum.”
Russ: “Wow, that is a shocker. You O.K.?”
Me: “Doin’ fine. God is in control.”
Russ: “Good deal. Yes He is. That is a fact.”
That exchange encapsulates the spirit and character that I love about my friend and brother in Christ, Russ Townsend.

God Bless,

Pastor Mike