January 7, 2021 - A Historic Day for Mother

 Once again, my mother's conviction that the Bend in rural Osage County  is one of the best places to live has been reinforced. With friends in metro areas unsure of COVID-19 vaccination timelines for elderly inoculation, Mother is thankful for her experience this week. 

Last week, Dee and Bill Bledsoe, our fellow Benders, contacted us with news of COVID-19 vaccination availability for those age 65 and in Fairfax, our closest healthcare providers. I thanked Dee and Bill profusely for thinking of Mother but wondered whether my overly cautious mother would consider this. 

A somber, but cute school
 picture of Bill Bledsoe
 at age 8 from Grandma
Gladys Smith's photo
collection. On the back, he
had written "Billy Bledsoe."

Ben, my brother-in-law and nurse practioner, has made house calls to maintain Mother’s health, but since I knew he was very busy seeing many patients per day, I contacted my sister. She contacted Mother to say even though Ben had provided the exact type of flu shot she needed right in her home; the COVID-19 vaccine was being rolled out solely through the state department of health. He advised looking into the over-65-inoculation effort in Fairfax at the Robert Clark Family Health Center.

We learned from relatives that people received their first round shot to combat contracting the virus. With a hopeful heart, I saw Mother move a bit toward at least considering receiving the vaccine.

On Sunday, she agreed that would be a good idea to call about the local inoculations. I phoned and found out they were still being given to the over-65-crowd and Mother would be contacted. Upon returning from cattle feeding, I was pleasantly surprised that she had received an appointment callback for Thursday at noon.

My sister and I accompanied her since Mother had been homebound since mid-June. We were concerned her mobility had lessened a bit as her walker is used more due to her horrible right knee.

Mother, for a 96-year-old, sailed through her preparation. Angie arrived. Mother managed quite handily her back steps with the walker.

Upon arriving at the Robert Clark Family Health Center, Justin Brown met us in the foyer. I quickly introduced him to Mother and Angie as he took temps, explaining Justin and I spent a productive year together when he was a fun third grader to teach. She received her shot from Lindsey Looney. Of course, I had to make Mother aware of Lindsey’s ancestry. We waited the required 15 minutes. No reaction. Hooray!

Third Graders in  1998-1999 Class of Bernadean Gates
Front Row - Natasha Murray, Josh Corley, Thomas Schaffer, Jessica Dummer, David Miville, Bob ____
2nd Row - Breanna Ferriel, Carrie Roberts, Bo Harrison, Kelly LaRue, Jamie Combs, Kelsie Hightower
3rd Row - Clifton Hall, Maci Heppel, Jobie Renfro, Tanner Marston, Sydney Franks, Logan Dilbeck
Top Row - Zach McGee, Talby Boone, Jennifer AmericanHorse, Joseph Smith, Charlie Dawn Crabtree,
Last but not least in the upper right corner, Justin Brown  
Photography by Blunck's Photography
So many of these students are responsible parents, productive citizens making a difference for good in their communities, and what a joy to see!

            As I reflected on the success of the day during our pandemic, I recalled Mother’s father, as a healthy 24-year-old World War I medic based in St. Paul, Minnesota, contracted the Spanish flu and was placed in the area for the dying, beyond hope for recovery. God healed him miraculously.   

            Thankfully, Mother faced nothing like Grandpa did. At 96, God  granted mercy and grace to Mother, keeping her healthy as she practiced social distancing and judicious handwashing. Now she had been able to get the first dose of the vaccine.

           How we appreciate friends, neighbors, and relatives who told and encouraged her to pursue inoculation!. Helpful local health care professionals enabled her reception of the vaccine to become reality.           

            What a wonderful example of how we can be transformed from a death sentence to a life of purpose, free of guilt and an assurance of forgiveness for our sins! All humans are under the sentence of death because we are all sinners, choosing our own way instead of God’s way of hope, forgiveness, and life. God did not leave us in this helpless situation. He provided His Son, Jesus, as the perfect sacrifice, taking our place on the cross, and offering His gift of salvation and life.

            May these words of Jesus from John 5:24 prompt us to receive the only inoculation for our sinful state - Jesus. If we have received Jesus, let us be sure to share the good news of Jesus with others, just as Bill and Dee let Mother know of her opportunity to receive her vaccination.

Very truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 – NIV