our friend Eddie

Orilus and Eddie August 2008

Last week our transplant friend, Eddie, came by for a visit with his mom and younger brother. We were excited, as this was the first time Eddie was allowed into our house, and Orilus and Jackson were proud to show him our new place. It was a precious time with him and his family, and a joy to watch the ways in which Orilus especially tried to encourage his friend. As Orilus said to me before they arrived, "Eddie is so sick, and I don't just want to sit on my butt and do nothing."

And it's true that Eddie continues to be unwell. Last week the doctors noted that CRV (a virus that can be fatal in immuno-suppressed kids like Eddie) had returned. Eddie continues to struggle on an abnormally-high dose of steroids and 3 immuno suppressants (a worse situation than he was in immediately following his transplant over 2 years ago). GVH (rejection disease) continues to cause him problems, particularly on his skin. And ongoing issues with a faulty central line and dental problems are plaguing him--he needs to go in to the OR, but can't until some of the other issues are resolved. On the other hand, he needs a central line to resolve the other issues, which he can only get in an OR. It's a vicious cycle, and Eddie has not been able to catch a break.

Last week I wrote another check from Eddie's fund to continue to help Eddie's family pay the usual bills. Eddie's medical schedule--multiple day-long visits a week to Jimmy Fund--and his ongoing isolation requirements require Kori to stay at home with him. If you had told me a year ago, when I began planning our Eat for Eddie event, that Eddie's family would still be in need of financial support one year later, I would have been incredulous. Really, how could that be possible? How bad could things really get for one lovely eight-year-old? It turns out, pretty bad indeed.

To those of you who continue to support Eddie's Fund through monthly donations of any amount, thanks. Our family, too, contributes to the Fund, and it's one way that keeps me from feeling completely helpless as I watch our friends suffer. To those who are interested in helping, your one-time gifts or monthly donations are gratefully welcome. You can mail all checks (made out to Eddie's Fund) to the Fund at:

Eddie's Fund

Eastern Bank

405 Paradise Road, B337

Swampscott, MA 01907

Thanks for caring for our friend. Eddie's family, and ours, thank you.

the boys in their new room

Orilus (bottom) and Jackson (top) show off their new sports-themed room--the orange and blue the colors of their choice!

connections

To start with, Team Winchell is online again. We woke up Friday morning at Mace Place to find that Verizon had already turned everthing off--phone, TV, and Internet. And since they couldn't come until today to hook up our new house, we've just now re-established our connection to the outside world.

Not that we had much time for that sort of connection, anyway! Friday we finished up some errands and spent an afternoon with Orilus and Jackson. I had an interesting dinner meeting that night with some people from Gordon College about an emerging urban education emphasis there. Saturday morning we were up bright and early and the moving began! It was a LONG day. While Jason helped the Gentle Giants pack Mace Place, I worked with my two moms (Mom Kerr and Mom Winchell) to finish up some things here at Henry Avenue. We received our new appliances that morning (though we were surprised to find our fridge wouldn't fit up the stairs!), cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, moved some doors, and began unpacking some kitchen boxes. By the time the movers and the rest of the family arrived around 1pm, we were already tired!

The moving in took until about 4:30 or so, and then we went out for a hamburger supper at Fuddrucker's with Mom Kerr and Mom and Dad Winchell, who braved our day to its end. I don't know where they found the energy, I really don't.

Sunday our friends Amanda and Angel were moving into our former house at Mace Place, and we decided to go over and lend them a hand. After a quick breakfast (note: we had no fridge until yesterday, so eating has been out-and-about until then) we showed up to find...that we were NOT late, were the first ones there, and with the exception of one more person, we were the only ones! Whew! I have to give tribute here to my husband, who despite his own sense of being completely overwhelmed by the zillions of projects at Henry Avenue motivated us all to go over and help them out, and then stayed energized until 5pm that night when we moved the last of their items out of their moving truck and into Mace Place. After 2 full days of moving boxes and furniture, he did not complain once, and embodied for me what "church" (and, in our case with Amanda and Angel, house church/community) really can be. Friendship is a sacrifice sometimes, but I had a sense that day that we were making God smile. As Angel and I remarked, some people might have lost friends through a business transaction as big as buying a house from one another, but we actually gained friends through that process, and are so blessed to consider Angel and Amanda among our dearest friends here in Lynn now. That is a blessing, a God-work, and we are grateful.

Sunday evening we went home to Henry Ave (Jason thought it was a little strange to walk out of Mace Place and leave our friends there without us, but I felt happy--what was stranger to me was how empty it had been between our moving out and their moving in), popped some popcorn, unpacked some boxes, put the boys to bed...and then, at 9:30, one of my students came over because he needed help with his bicycle (which Jason fixed). Also, he wanted to talk with us about some immigration issues he's having. Amanda and Angel came over, too (Angel made a great translator!) and we heard the most humbling and incredible story of a 15-year-old driven by poverty to flee his country and to migrate without documentation to the United States. Please pray for this student as he is facing a rather hopeless situation and as we try to do what we can to help to him.

Yesterday I went back to work! I had offered to facilitate some curriculum-writing teams in the district, and decided to head to the Language Support (ESL) office to get some of that work done, and to attend 2 meetings.

Which reminds me...I didn't want to post here until I was sure it was official, and those affected here in the district knew, but I got a new job for this school year! I will be a Chairperson in the Language Support Office now. That means I am leaving the high school for a job within the school department (read: desk job). I've been asked how I feel about this, and I really can't say (I haven't had much time for processing this change given all the other changes this summer), but I feel I'm answering a need, and I'm excited to grow some skills--particularly in coaching teachers (I'll be supporting all ESL programs in the middle and high schools in our city), mentoring, curriculum writing, and professional development. I will stay within the teacher's union for now, which means I have all school vacations. I just think it's the right time. As I begin my doctorate I'm also beginning to work and see leadership in the city's school department. It's an interesting match (studying leadership, and participating in it), and I'm excited about that.

But I will miss the high school and the students. A lot. I hope to continue volunteering (maybe at the refugee center where I've been teaching this summer, or by mentoring a refugee family for a few months). I need that refugee-connection in my life, to stay true to my passions and to keep me grounded in the "real world."

So we are connected now...back to work a bit. A telephone. A computer. And a house closer to the heart of the city. I am loving the city view here (of Lynn, of the Boston skyline, and the ocean!), and I really like turning on to streets that are too often in the newspaper. Now this neighborhood is our neighborhood, too, and we hope to invest here as we can and to work for its peace. Pray for us as we work to connect with our neighbors--it's going to take some balance as we have many projects here to do (unpacking, hooking up a washer and dryer, cleaning out the previous owner's things, tearing up the molding basement so Jason can have a work space). But I really want to remember that loving people is really where it's at, and why we're here. We'd like to build a house, but would rather build a neighborhood.

about the summer of Orilus and Jackson

Hey guys!

This is Orilus and Jackson. This summer we've been doing a lot of things. We got a new car. And a new house. We've been doing basketball camp. We found a mini motorcycle at our new house and a Game Cube. And we will fix it up and ride it. Maybe. If it works. We painted our new bedroom orange and blue. We each picked our own color. I (Orilus) picked blue and I (Jackson) picked the orange.

Our two parakeets are doing fine. Their names are Flash and Thunder. Kobe, our new dog, is getting really big. He's been biting a lot because he's getting new teeth.

We are moving this Saturday in 4 days. Almost all the house is packed. Cuz there's nothing on the walls, nothing on the shelves and there are plenty of boxes.

Dad's been at Henry Ave all day. Every day he goes there and he stays there all day and works. Mom and Dad have been doing good.

Last night we had a big party. We invited our neighbors for a party to cook cookies and play video games and eat the cookies. We had 6 friends over.

We entered a contest to win a free trip to Disney World.

I'm (Jackson) done with my two summer reading books. I still have to read one more book. I read The Secret of the Indian and Holes. Now I need to read Because of Winn Dixie. Then I'll be done with my summer reading. I (Orilus) read In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. Then I read The Borrowers and I'm still not finished. But I'm almost finished. Then I have one more to read.

Have a great summer.
from Orilus and Jackson

new address

Hello family and friends!

As of this weekend, please direct all mail to our new address:

133 Henry Avenue #2
Lynn, MA 01902

Thanks!

on fear

This morning in house church our friend, Karen, led our discussion of Matthew chapter 4. There, we read about the tempations of Jesus. Karen pointed out that Jesus responded to each temptation with the words, "It is written...," quoting the Scriptures (Orilus and Jackson remarked that He must have spent a LONG time memorizing the Bible). And then she asked, what temptations have we been struggling with lately?

An interesting question. I don't often think of being "tempted," but immediately I knew that I was in a struggle of sorts. For the past couple days, fear has been trying to make a home in my heart. Fear that we really are making a crazy decision to move out of our beautiful home by the beach to a two-family closer to the downtown. Fear that we will not be safe there. Fear that we have taken on more than a too-enormous project in the midst of an already-full life. Fear that lots of people think we are crazy, and don't understand. Fear that our dreams are not going to work out, that we will live in a smaller place but without the "community" we desire to create. Yesterday while brushing my teeth I looked in the mirror and thought, "We are leaving this house," and I felt I couldn't breathe. Fear does that, you know. Takes your breath--your life--away.

So my dear friend Karen, a Buddhist-raised Christian, reminded me this morning to align myself with Love. What does the Word of Love (the Scriptures) say about my fear? It is written there that perfect love casts out fear, that I am loved perfectly, and so I do not need to be afraid. It is written that God is with me. It is written that God is for me. It is written that all things work together to good for those who love God. It is written that God is the strength of my life, and that mercy will chase me down all the days of my life. It is written that He will keep me safe in His dwelling, and hide me with his wing.

I'm so grateful to my friend for helping me to find my way back to Love today, and we appreciate your prayers as we spend our last week here on Mace Place and transition to our new home.

Speaking of fear, and of love, I want to ask you once again to pray for our friend, Eddie. I talked with Eddie's mom yesterday, and Eddie was re-admitted to the isolation floor of Children's Hospital on Friday afternoon. He is still suffering from post-transplant complications, and there are so many things wrong with him, and the doctors don't know what to do. My heart is breaking for Eddie and his family, and for Orilus, who prays faithfully at least once a day that God will heal his transplant-friend. We continue to appreciate all of you who have prayed and supported Eddie's Fund. When I talk to Eddie's mom, I feel the static of unspoken fear between us, and she, too, needs to be touched by Love. Please pray with us for love and peace for Eddie and his family this week.

new way of living

I'm making the transition from academic to manual laborer. :)

On Wednesday, I completed the final paper (a rough draft of a dissertation proposal) for my doctoral classes. I'm finished with classes now! To say that I LOVED them probaby sounds completely nerdy, but is also the total truth. My dad would understand when I say that I ventured to the 9th floor of the UMass Boston library last week (to find some books in the stacks), and when the elevator opened on the 9th floor, I almost cried, I was so happy. Rows and rows on books...my version of heaven on earth...

Since Wednesday afternoon, I've become a full-time laborer (Jason keeps teasing me that I've gone from academia to blue collar). We're working day and night on our new house. Lots of things have been CRAZY wrong--fleas, a water main break under the street in front of our house (apparently the sound of a rushing waterfall is NOT a sound you want to hear in your home), fleas, some windows covered by panelling, mold, fleas, lights that don't work for no apparent reason, fleas, wallpaper that all but refuses to come off. Did I mention we had a flea infestation, too?

Um, yeah. It's been quite a different world for me these last few days!