The Moores

I talked to a friend last week, well actually I talk to him all the time. Dave has something like the same job I have at the company's Sellersburg plant, so we talk a lot about truck loads and things. But last week he read my postings here and asked if I would like to help him out a little. Dave has a son named David who was born with a very bad heart defect. It is called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. In this syndrome the left side of the heart does not develop properly and basically the child is left with half of a heart.
I took a look at Dave's web site, you can see it by clicking HERE, and there is an awful lot of information about different congenital heart defects and the medical procedures that can be performed to help out. (Make sure you click the "Our Story" link to learn the whole story about Dave and his family.) Notice I didn't say procedures to cure the children since there really is no cure for most of the defects. Surgery can help the hearts pump better or at a better rate, some procedures can rebuild defective valves or arteries, but nobody can repair a heart that has not developed properly, only work some miracles and make the heart run more efficiently and pump blood more effectively so the children can lead a more normal life.
Dave read my posting last week about wanting to help out in some way. He called and suggested that instead of becoming a nurse (yeah right! I am going to empty a bed pan!) maybe I would like to help him raise some money for children like David. How could anyone say no to that?
I'll be posting more about David in the future. He is getting ready to have his fourth birthday on May 24th. He is doing well but still has more that needs to be done to his heart. He has had a rough time over the last four years. He has had heart surgeries and a stroke, but keeps on fighting.
I've had problems with my heart, but I can't imagine being required to watch as my son fought something like this. Dave, his wife Tammy, and their daughter have had a tough time, but with God's help they are doing alright. So keep them in your prayers and I will be adding links to sites where you can learn more or give a little to help kids like David.

Back to work

Well here I am, back to work and feeling great. On my first day back (May 5th) I even moved furniture around and cleaned my office up a bit. It is slow going trying to get back into the swing of things, it is surprising what you can forget when you don't do something for a couple of months!
While I was out of work my boss, John Knable, did my job along with his. He is a great guy and he did a really good job of keeping everything up to date. I don't know how he did it, I can't keep up with it and it's the only job I do! I actually think I do a pretty good job of keeping everything running smoothly, but John did a wonderful job of taking care of the paperwork. Adam Kepley, the supervisor for the shipping department, did a great job as well. While John took care of the reports and things Adam handled the scheduling of trucks and getting everything loaded. He is a real asset to the company. I am lucky to have such good people involved.
John asked me yesterday if I want to move my office. My office is currently upstairs and I have to go up and down quite a bit. John was worried that I may not be up to the stairs quite yet. I assured him that I am fine with the stairs and I actually enjoy the exercise. How many bosses out there actually give a darn about the people working with them, enough to worry about someone needing to climb a few stairs? I'd bet there are not too many. Thanks John, you are one of the great ones.
Speaking of jobs, I am thinking of moving out of the manufacturing side of things. While I was in the hospital I did a lot of thinking. Here were all of these wonderful people, doctors and nurses and aides and surgeons, taking care of me and I realized that I have never had a job in which I helped anyone. So that's what I am thinking about, moving to a field where I can help people, maybe to pay back some of the people who helped me. I have no idea what area to get involved with, but I'll be praying for some guidance and looking for an area that will fill the bill.
I would miss everyone here at work if I were to find something else to do, they are all great people and have really supported me through everything. Thanks John, Adam, Mark, Paula, Melinda, Stewart, Andy, Tony, Rhonda, Sandra, James, and anyone else I may be forgetting.